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Lot Essay
The Hourglass Japan 20th Anniversary Set
Never before seen at auction, Christie’s is very proud to present for the first time, this exceptional and important set of three baguette diamond-set platinum Lange & Söhne wristwatches produced exclusively as a special edition for the 20th Anniversary of the Japan boutiques of the highly prestigious retailer ‘Hourglass’ which was founded in 1996, and to the best of our knowledge it is believed that only two sets have been produced.
Only available to buy in the full set of three and offered to hand-picked VIP clients of Hourglass, each watch is a very special example of one of Lange & Söhne’s iconic and most revered models. Further underlining the importance of the edition, each model made for the set was given its own new reference number to distinguish it as a special series, standing apart from regular production watches.
As a set of three, these timepieces are breathtaking, individually they are arguably the most attractive specimens of each model, the black dials, platinum cases and baguette diamonds combining to visual perfection. The present set is accompanied by a Certificate for each watch for Hourglass Japan 20th Anniversary signed by Wilhelm Schmid, Chief Executive Officer of Lange & Söhne.
The three models are as follows:
Reference 405.836 Datograph Up/Down – platinum, set with 36 Top Wesselton, IF-VVS quality baguette cut diamonds on the bezel weighing a total of 4.5 carats. Movement Lange caliber 951.6.
Reference 310.836 Langematik Perpetual - platinum, set with 36 Top Wesselton, IF-VVS quality baguette cut diamonds on the bezel weighing a total of 3.1 carats. Movement Lange caliber 922.1.
Reference 320.836 Lange 1 Daymatic - platinum, set with 36 Top Wesselton, IF-VVS quality baguette cut diamonds on the bezel weighing a total of 2.5 carats. Movement Lange caliber 021.1.
The Datograph Up/Down
Launched at SIHH 2012, it replaced the legendary Datograph Flyback which had been in production since 1999. The Datograph Up/Down features a larger case of 41 millimetres diameter as opposed to the 39 millimetre of its predecessor. The name ‘Up/Down’ refers to the indicator for the 60-hour power reserve at 6 o'clock. The original Datograph had a power reserve of 36 hours, the Up/Down version has an impressive 60-hour reserve. The Datograph has always maintained a cult following as one of the must-have watches for a serious collector. A major landmark of contemporary watchmaking, the incredible standard of finishing of the Datograph has established it as one of the finest serially produced wristwatches ever made.
The Langematik Perpetual
The world's first automatic wristwatch featuring a perpetual calendar, an oversized date and the patented zero reset mechanism allowing the calendar displays as well as the moon phase indication to be advanced either individually or collectively by depressing the calendar change button in the band. Once correctly set, the date display remains accurate until the next secular year occurs. The moon phase mechanism is also stunningly accurate: after 122.6 years of uninterrupted operation, it deviates from synodic lunation by merely one day. Lange's patented ‘zero-reset’ mechanism simplifies the synchronization of the watch with a time signal. When the crown is pulled out, it automatically causes the seconds hand to jump to the 12 o'clock or ‘zero’ position.
The Lange 1 Daymatic
The first model in the Lange 1 family to have an automatic movement. Its design mirrors that of the original Lange 1, but instead of a retrograde power reserve, the Daymatic features the days of the week. Carefully placed to follow the rule of the golden ratio, the indications on this watch are both easy to read and pleasing to the eye.
Never before seen at auction, Christie’s is very proud to present for the first time, this exceptional and important set of three baguette diamond-set platinum Lange & Söhne wristwatches produced exclusively as a special edition for the 20th Anniversary of the Japan boutiques of the highly prestigious retailer ‘Hourglass’ which was founded in 1996, and to the best of our knowledge it is believed that only two sets have been produced.
Only available to buy in the full set of three and offered to hand-picked VIP clients of Hourglass, each watch is a very special example of one of Lange & Söhne’s iconic and most revered models. Further underlining the importance of the edition, each model made for the set was given its own new reference number to distinguish it as a special series, standing apart from regular production watches.
As a set of three, these timepieces are breathtaking, individually they are arguably the most attractive specimens of each model, the black dials, platinum cases and baguette diamonds combining to visual perfection. The present set is accompanied by a Certificate for each watch for Hourglass Japan 20th Anniversary signed by Wilhelm Schmid, Chief Executive Officer of Lange & Söhne.
The three models are as follows:
Reference 405.836 Datograph Up/Down – platinum, set with 36 Top Wesselton, IF-VVS quality baguette cut diamonds on the bezel weighing a total of 4.5 carats. Movement Lange caliber 951.6.
Reference 310.836 Langematik Perpetual - platinum, set with 36 Top Wesselton, IF-VVS quality baguette cut diamonds on the bezel weighing a total of 3.1 carats. Movement Lange caliber 922.1.
Reference 320.836 Lange 1 Daymatic - platinum, set with 36 Top Wesselton, IF-VVS quality baguette cut diamonds on the bezel weighing a total of 2.5 carats. Movement Lange caliber 021.1.
The Datograph Up/Down
Launched at SIHH 2012, it replaced the legendary Datograph Flyback which had been in production since 1999. The Datograph Up/Down features a larger case of 41 millimetres diameter as opposed to the 39 millimetre of its predecessor. The name ‘Up/Down’ refers to the indicator for the 60-hour power reserve at 6 o'clock. The original Datograph had a power reserve of 36 hours, the Up/Down version has an impressive 60-hour reserve. The Datograph has always maintained a cult following as one of the must-have watches for a serious collector. A major landmark of contemporary watchmaking, the incredible standard of finishing of the Datograph has established it as one of the finest serially produced wristwatches ever made.
The Langematik Perpetual
The world's first automatic wristwatch featuring a perpetual calendar, an oversized date and the patented zero reset mechanism allowing the calendar displays as well as the moon phase indication to be advanced either individually or collectively by depressing the calendar change button in the band. Once correctly set, the date display remains accurate until the next secular year occurs. The moon phase mechanism is also stunningly accurate: after 122.6 years of uninterrupted operation, it deviates from synodic lunation by merely one day. Lange's patented ‘zero-reset’ mechanism simplifies the synchronization of the watch with a time signal. When the crown is pulled out, it automatically causes the seconds hand to jump to the 12 o'clock or ‘zero’ position.
The Lange 1 Daymatic
The first model in the Lange 1 family to have an automatic movement. Its design mirrors that of the original Lange 1, but instead of a retrograde power reserve, the Daymatic features the days of the week. Carefully placed to follow the rule of the golden ratio, the indications on this watch are both easy to read and pleasing to the eye.