$13,225
“1815 Sidestep” A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte i. SA, “1815 Sidestep”, No. 18/50, Ref. 222.049. Made in a limited edition of 50 examples in 2003 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Wempe. Very fine and very rare, water-resistant, platinum gentleman’s wristwatch with a special decorated movement and a platinum A. Lange & Söhne buckle. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, transparent case back with 6 screws, sapphire crystals. Black with painted white Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds dial at 4. White gold “alpha” hands. Cal. L 944.1, maillechort, hand-engraved, 21 jewels, 5 in screw-mounted gold châtons, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, “swan-neck” micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed, case back also signed “Wempe – 125 Jahre – 1878-2003”. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Notes Cal. L 944.1 Was especially made and hand-decorated for the special Wempe anniversary watches. Like all A. Lange & Söhne movements, the bridges and the plates are made from cross-laminated German silver (maillechort), a material not often used in movement production today. It is a very rigid alloy consisting of copper, zinc and nickel, which over time develops a light patina and it is easily distinguished from the brighter white rhodium-plated finish seen in other watch movements.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-12-07
