When the hammer fell at the Phillips spring auction, held in Geneva on May 13, 2018, another record was broken. This time by the “Homage to Walter Lange” Timepiece – available as a piece unique in stainless steel
Unique A. Lange & Söhne “Homage to Walter Lange” in Steel Breaks new Record At Phillips Auction
The unique piece fetched a total US$ 852,414, the highest result at an auction for a Lange wristwatch with all the proceeds donated to the Children Action Foundation. Made as a tribute to the company founder Walter Lange when he passed away in 2017, the timepiece represents his legacy. While it may not appear to be the most complex of timepieces, the timepiece displays a special complication dedicated to Walter Lange’s own horological journey. In this case: a jumping sweep-seconds mechanism, black enamel dial segment and stainless-steel case.
A. Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid was surprised as the outcome of the auction: “The result went well beyond our expectations. I’m particularly pleased that we can make a major contribution to Children Action’s important work, just as Walter Lange intended. The fact that the watch auctioned for such a high amount is not only a reflection of the increased value of A. Lange & Söhne watches but also the worldwide community of collectors’ huge admiration for Walter Lange.”
With the impressive performance, “The 1815 ‘Homage to Walter Lange” transcends its status as merely a fine watch but instead has become an invaluable tool to help improve the physical and emotional well-being of disadvantaged children in 8 countries around the world thanks to its mega-financial haul. According to auctioneer Aurel Bacs, “it is a collector’s dream and was intended from the outset to raise money for a charity helping children in need. This unique story will forever be associated with the origins of the watch and it was a privilege for all of us at Phillips to have participated in this beautiful project.”
Besides the one-off steel version, other limited editions of the 1815 Walter Lange will be available for sale in Autumn. Each edition signifies an important time in the Lange history: The white gold edition will limit to 145 pieces, representing 145 passed years from December 7, 1845, when the company was first established by Ferdinand Adolph Lange. Rose gold selling 90 pieces, representing the date December 7, 1990, when his great-grandson Walter Lange succeeded the business. And the yellow gold selling 27 pieces signifying the next 27 years before the special edition was presented in honour of Walter Lange on December 7, 2017.
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