About the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon
The 1815 reference name honors the birth year of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, the master watchmaker who founded the Saxon manufacture in Glashütte in 1845 and shaped an entire regional tradition of precision horology. Within the broader 1815 family, the Tourbillon stands at the apex, adding a one-minute tourbillon to the collection's characteristic clean, roman-numeral dial and subsidiary seconds display. Lange relaunched the manufacture in 1994 after German reunification and has produced the 1815 Tourbillon in limited quantities ever since, making surviving examples genuinely scarce on the secondary market. The combination of a manually wound movement, outsize date in select references, and painstaking Glashütte finishing defines what serious collectors mean when they discuss German watchmaking at its highest level.
What to Look For
Buyers comparing 1815 Tourbillon references should pay close attention to case material, as platinum examples such as the 730.079F command a premium over pink rose gold references like the 730.032F due to the density and rarity of the metal. Dial configuration, case condition, and the presence of original papers and box are the primary value drivers for these watches on the pre-owned market. Because production numbers are small, provenance documentation and service history from an authorized Lange retailer or the manufacture itself add meaningful reassurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon different from other tourbillon watches?
The 1815 Tourbillon is distinguished by its Glashütte-style three-quarter plate, hand-engraved tourbillon cock, and the manufacture's strict two-fold quality inspection, meaning every component is finished and assessed both before and after assembly. Unlike many Swiss tourbillons, the movement architecture is deliberately visible through the case back, showcasing decoration that rivals the dial in refinement. This philosophy of equal attention to both sides of the movement is a defining characteristic of A. Lange & Söhne.
Is the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon available in different case materials?
Yes, the 1815 Tourbillon has been produced in platinum and in pink rose gold, with references such as the 730.079F in platinum and the 730.032F in pink rose gold representing the configurations most commonly encountered. Platinum versions are generally rarer and more sought after by collectors due to the material's weight and prestige. Both options retain the same core movement and finishing standards that define the model.
What should I expect when buying an A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon for sale at Bizak and Co.?
Every 1815 Tourbillon offered at Bizak and Co. is authenticated and inspected before sale, with staff reviewing the movement, case, and accompanying documentation. Given the scarcity of these references, buyers are encouraged to inquire directly about box, papers, and service history for any specific example. Bizak and Co. ships nationwide and can answer detailed questions about condition, provenance, and pricing for each watch in the collection.
Buy, trade, or sell. Contact Bizak & Co. for pricing and availability on any reference in this collection.
