You noticed this watch in only a sub-second glance and became enamored. It came in a distant glimmer, and a brief glance of intensity like a neutron star on the wrist of the distinguished man across the richly paneled room. The ladies would describe him as a “man’s man” youthful and handsome. Holding a flute of “Krug Clos du Mesnil ’79” in his left hand - he is animated and smiling as he entertains a group of gentlemen who hang on his every syllable. Although very modest, and humble - he was baited and persueded into telling the story again. It is a story they have already heard before, but somehow it always manages to forge the crescendo of a legendary party. No doubt this allegory follows our gentleman’s persuit of adventure, and attainment of power at the expense of his rival’s reputations.
Staring closer at it now - you see the distinctive, crisp lines of the watch case. The sapphire crystal is coated with an anti-glare treatment and reflects xenon-bluish light off of the stark-white dial with sub-seconds dial at 6 o’Clock. The blued-steel hands are thick and radiant. The rich, hand-stitched, chocolate-brown crocodile strap perfectly compliments his grey Brioni Palatino 2-button suit. Just as the men cheer the climatic end of his tale - you confirm he’s wearing the Platinum RICHARD LANGE “Pour le Mérite” by A.Lange & Söhne.
This is an instrument inspired by the heroics and adventures of notable German inventors and explorers - such as Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin of dirigible airship fame and Erich von Drygalski, who embarked on Germany’s first expedition to the South Pole. In these late days of the 19th century, precision pocket chronometers were the closest thing to a trusty GPS a man could depend on. In the days of Richard Lange, then Technical Director at Lange & Söhne - some say the greatest era of the Lange dynasty - these chronometers were fitted with fuesée-and-chain mechanisms.
Today, the Platinum RICHARD LANGE “Pour le Mérite” Reference 260.025 with manual wind Calibre L044.1 movement is limited to 50 editions and equipped with fuesée-and-chain transmission as a throw-back to the days of Richard Lange’s observation & timekeeping instruments of the late 19th Century. This amazing timepiece is comprised of no fewer than 915 parts and is one of the most complex achievements in precision watchmaking.
This model is also available in 18K Pink Gold (limited to 200) - and has a case diameter of 40.5mm and height of 10.7mm for a distinguished, and tasteful presentation. Each watch is hand-finished with Glashütte ribbing on the three-quarter plate or with traditional engravings whose patterns adorn the escape-wheel and fourth-wheel cock as well as the balance cock. Most of the parts have the sole purpose of enhancing the rate accuracy of the RICHARD LANGE “Pour le Mérite” – which of course is the key functional objective of a contemporary observation watch of superior quality.
