An auction that makes a difference
After the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH “Hampton Court Edition” was unveiled at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace in early September, the auction of this unique timepiece on 6 November by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, at the occasion of the Geneva Watch Auction XVI is drawing closer. The proceeds will go to the British charity The Prince’s Trust. With an unprecedented variation combining a white-gold case and a black dial with sandstone-coloured numerals, the auction of this one-off piece under the direction of renowned watch expert Aurel Bacs is eagerly awaited.
On 6 November 2022, the auction house Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo will auction the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH “Hampton Court Edition” at the Hotel La Réserve in Geneva as part of its “Geneva Watch Auction XVI.” This unique flyback chronograph in a white-gold case with a black dial is dedicated to this year’s Concours of Elegance, which took place in the park of the Hampton Court Palace from 2 to 4 September. A. Lange & Söhne has been a partner of the prestigious classic car event since 2018 and now presented the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH “Hampton Court Edition” as a special highlight.
Like the historical rarities on four wheels, this custom-made model is an expression of perfection, elegance, and technical sophistication. The case of this one of a kind is made of 18-carat white gold and features a black dial with sandstone-coloured numerals and a corresponding tachymeter scale. The classic design is in harmony with the watch family named after Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birthyear and is also reflected in the artfully engraved hinged cuvette, which shows the logo of the Concours of Elegance. Concealed behind it, but visible through the sapphire-glass back, the twice-assembled L951.5 Lange calibre ticks with 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz). The large eccentric poising weights, which are driven by a freely oscillating balance spring manufactured in-house, ensure ultimate precision results. Thanks to its complex chronograph mechanism with flyback function and column-wheel control, stop times can be recorded to an accuracy of one-fifth of a second.
The 1815 CHRONOGRAPH “Hampton Court Edition” thus bridges the gap between classic automobiles and timekeeping. “Classic cars and Lange watches inspire enthusiasts and connoisseurs by preserving traditional craftsmanship and also representing technological progress at the highest level,” explains Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid. This ideal also reflects the personal life motto of Walter Lange (1924–2017) – “never stand still” – and shapes the self-image of the manufactory to this very day.
Giving young people a perspective
The company founder paved the way for the renaissance of the Glashütte precision watchmaking industry and was particularly committed to promoting young talents and the future of watchmaking in Glashütte. On his initiative, A. Lange & Söhne began training watchmakers in-house 25 years ago.
“Young people are the future,” emphasises Wilhelm Schmid. “That’s why we also want to support them socially by contributing to the important work of The Prince’s Trust through the charity auction. Anyone who wants to support us is invited to place a bid.”
The Prince’s Trust was founded in 1976 by HM King Charles III with the aim of helping young people between the ages of 11 and 30 to develop basic life skills, prepare for work and gain access to employment opportunities.
Jonathan Townsend, UK Chief Executive of The Prince’s Trust said: “We are very grateful for the commitment of A. Lange & Söhne. With the proceeds of the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH ‘Hampton Court Edition’, we will be able to reach even more young people and help them on the pathway to a brighter future.”
A maxim that is also supported by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo. The auction house expects a particularly high level of interest from collectors and hopes to generate considerable proceeds. “Crafted by masters of their trade, the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH ‘Hampton Court Edition’ is a collector’s dream in that it is an expression of supreme craftsmanship and technical perfection. The fact that this masterpiece of contemporary precision watchmaking is destined for a good cause makes it even more desirable. At Phillips, we are proud to be part of this project that makes the world just a little bit better,” says auctioneer Aurel Bacs.
Under his leadership, an A. Lange & Söhne timepiece was auctioned off for a good cause back in 2018. The unique 1815 “Homage to Walter Lange” with a steel case was sold at the time for 852,500 Swiss francs (713,627 euros).
For more information on the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH “Hampton Court Edition,” please visit www.alange-soehne.com/auction.
Information on participating in the auction can be found on the Phillips website:
Auction calendar: www.phillips.com/calendar
Opportunities to bid along: www.phillips.com/buysell/buy
Guidelines: www.phillips.com/buysell/geneva/guide
