A.lange & Sohne Pour le merite is one of today's most expensive watches. It is only produced in a limited quantity, exclusively.
Pour le merite in french translate as the order of merit ( for the advantages). Pour le merite is the highest ranking for civil and military services, started in 1740 by the Prussian king. As of today, the following orders are still active in use.
Pour le merit rank. Image from Warmilitaria
Frederick II the Great was born in 1712 and ruled Prussia in 1740 with an iron fist. He successfully took his country through some tough battles against Austria and its allies. Image from History
From an Idea to Innovation
In Lange's opinion, he saw an advantage (merit) in the tourbillon movement. Fusee, in horology, is a mechanism in the form of a cone that helps provide power by moving the gears in the opposite direction. It enables the mechanical watch and clock to keep running. Thus, the name pours le merite states the benefits of the chain and fusee movement mechanism.
Tourbillon pocket watches are far more common in Switzerland as they are produced more than in Germany. Over the years, A. Lange & Sohne had only made manual winding watches. Back in the day, when a manufacturing company wanted to produce a tourbillon, they had to seek a tourbillon specialist (such as pellaton or Urban Bahier).
By the year 1845, Lange finally produced his first tourbillon pocket watch. Even though it took him 47 years later, something is better than nothing. Over the past 100 years of the company's existence, A lange and söhne has only produced 11 tourbillon pocket watches. The last one was in 1939.
Image from Langepedia & Langeaficionado
From the following picture, you can see how finely the watch was constructed. The details, engravements, and the 3-arm carriage, it is a work of true craftsmanship.
A.lange & Sohne pour le merite wristwatch is inspired by the early tourbillon pocket watch. It is a tribute to their early traditional craftsmanship and the beauty of its early timepiece.
Pour Le Merite Watch Series
As of today, there are 3 types of Pour le merit.
The "Pour le Merite" tourbograph edition is a five-complication watch, combining the fusee-and-chain transmission, tourbillon, rattrapante chronograph, perpetual calendar, and more. This model features an argente clock face and comes in a platinum casing. Only 50 pieces are produced and only available exclusively in A.Lange & sohne large boutiques.
The Richard Lange Pour le Merite, still on the fusee-and-chain mechanism, is one of the most exclusive watches in the world and available exclusively at authorized retailers. Crafted in 18ct white gold and featuring a sterling silver dial, this watch is limited to only 218 pieces.
The Richard Lange "Pour le Merite" tourbillon is produced in 18-carat pink gold. The model version in pink gold features an argente-colored dial crafted from solid silver. Featuring the fusée and chain transmission, alongside the one-minute tourbillon, this timepiece will prove to be of remarkable rate accuracy for hours on end.
Image from A.Lange & Sohne
Based on an article by A blog to watch, Richard Lange released an impressive pour le merite of 41,3mm diameter with a fusee and chain movement, consisting of 636 components (including the chain). Imagine all 636 parts fitting inside 1 timepiece. The sizes for each element must be microscopic, including the chain of the size 0,3-0,5 mm. Making the a lange & söhne watch be an extraordinary timepiece.
Richard Lange “Pour Le Merite”. Image from A.Lange & Sohne
Richard Lange “Pour Le Merite” Mechanism. Image from A.Lange & Sohne