Adolph Lange (1815-1875). Founder of the German precision watchmaking industry in Glashütte.

Planetary gearing A type of transmission that allows very large step-down ratios in compact configurations.

Three-quarter plate The three-quarter plate was introduced in Glashütte by Adolph Lange in 1864. Since then, it has been a typical feature of Lange watches. It accommodates the counter-bearings of the going train and enhances the stability of the movement.

Diamond endstone A balance wheel shaft held in place by means of a diamond counter-bearing, or endstone, was one of the hallmarks of "1A" quality pocket watches made by Lange. In Lange tourbillon watches of the new era, diamond endstones limit the axial "play" of the carriage on both sides.

Sapphire crystal Glass made of artificially produced sapphire. It is very hard (9 on the Mohs scale) and scratch-resistant. It ranks just below the diamond in these two respects.

Lange dedicated this unique testimony of watchmaking wizardry to | Adolph Lange, the founder of the dynasty, by naming it after the most prestigious German medal of honour. The LANGE TOURBILLON "Pour le Mérite" parades a number of fascinating technical details never before seen in a wristwatch as presented here. One of them is the going train drive via | fusee and chain. This complicated mechanism optimises the rate accuracy of the watch and is visible through an aperture in the | three-quarter plate. A highly sophisticated | planetary gearing system keeps the power to the going train steady even while the watch is being wound. The delicate tourbillon mechanism also serves the purpose of improving rate accuracy by offsetting the disruptive effect of gravity. The rotating cage is suspended by two pivots between two | diamond endstones. It turns about its own axis once a minute and can be precisely balanced with tiny counterweights. The fascinating movement of the tourbillon cage can be observed not only through an aperture in the dial but also through the | sapphire-crystal caseback. All parts of the watch are painstakingly finished by hand, and every surface is decorated. Accordingly, the completion of each of these masterpieces requires several months. The edition of the LANGE TOURBILLON "Pour le Mérite" was limited to 150 watches in gold and 50 in platinum. It was built between 1994 and 1998