A.Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Pour-Le-Merite Tourbillon Platinum Limited Edition

The A. Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Tourbillon “Pour le Merite.” Model Reference 760.025. Limited edition of 100 pieces. In addition to a fusee and chain, this watch has a three subdial regulator style display, tourbillon and a stop seconds mechanism (stops the seconds hand when you pull the crown out for more accurate time setting). The watch, based on certain regulator clocks of the past, as well as an historic pocket watch, is beautiful. The fusee and chain movement is quite interesting, a tiny hand-made (bicycle style) chain in a watch helping to move power from the mainspring to the movement. The dial of the watch contains three overlapping subdials. These each represent either the dial for the hours, minutes, or seconds. This concept is not new, but this particular arrangement is uncommon. Lange ups the ante a bit by adding something additionally interesting. The seconds dial is cutaway – with a view of the tourbillon and movement underneath it. There is also a small retractable section that makes up the “full” hour dial to the right of it. That disc is moved and “hidden” for a full, unadulterated view of the tourbillon window when not in use. When the watch is telling the time from 12 – 6 o’clock, the portion of the disc that roughly has indicators for 8 – 10 o’clock is hidden from view. When the time is 6 o’clock, the hidden dial segment instantly moves into the view! Once the time reaches 12 o’clock, the disc instantly moves out of view. Aside from being cool, allowing a full view of the tourbillon window, this complication ensure that the watch wearer will never have to guess what time it is! It is a little thing, but ads to the complexity, precision, and interest in the watch. Lange puts the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour Le Merite in a 41.9mm wide platinum case on a black alligator strap on a deployant buckle just leaves you in awe at the artistry behind this incredible timepiece.