Produced in a limited edition of 30 pieces, the new Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst is a special version of the world's first mechanical wristwatch with a tourbillon seconds stop, presented by A. Lange & Söhne in 2008. It is the seventh model in the Handwerkskunst series, which was launched ten years ago, and stands out for the artistic and artisanal finishing of the dial and movement, whose most striking design element is the rhombus. In particular, the three-part dial is made of solid white gold and manufactured in the Manufacture: it features Lange's famous large double-window date display and is hand-engraved with a central diamond pattern that is extremely challenging for the engraver, as any slightest deviation would immediately jump out at the eye. It is inspired by the six rhombus-shaped gold hour markers aligned with the centre and which, together with the Roman numerals III, IX and XII, are located around the perimeter of the dial. The dial is also coated with a layer of semi-transparent enamel that gives the engraving greater depth and brings out different shades of metallic grey. The separately inserted subdials for the small seconds and power reserve display, traditionally marked AUF and AB by A. Lange & Söhne, are in rhodium-plated gold like the hands. A recess in the dial reveals the one-minute tourbillon, housed between two diamond pin covers. The hand-wound mechanical movement used is the IWC-manufactured L042.1 calibre (370 components, 45 jewels, 9 of which are in screwed gold settings, two diamond pin covers, 21,600 vibrations per hour, 120-hour power reserve, double barrel, three-quarter plate winding in natural nickel silver, hand-engraved intermediate wheel and tourbillon bridges), assembled and decorated by hand to the highest quality standards and set with micrometric precision in five positions. The rectangular case measuring 29.5 by 39.2 mm is made of platinum. The timepiece is fitted with a folding clasp also made of platinum and a black leather strap with grey stitching.
Price: 322,900 euro.
