Montag, 18. August 2025

Lange & Söhne ----> 1999 Datograph

 Dear watch aficionado.

For me personally, the Lange Datograph is still one of the most beautiful watches of the modern era made. 

 When I started to read more about watchmaking in 2008, I immediately fell in love with the Datograph and the works of Lange overall, the pocket watches as well the wristwatches. Due to the eye for design and details of Dr. Walter Lange one can still see today the heritage of Ferdinand Adolph Lange in their watches.

 The case design, the dial design and then there is that breathtaking architecture of the movement. I think that the most interesting pieces are the very early examples from the release year 1999 with case N°123xxx and movement N°13xxx as the present example.

 

 

¦¦passion for watchmaking¦¦
¦¦www.watchcollector.lu - vintage and independent timepieces, since 2011 proud partner of Andersen, Benzinger and Haldimann watches¦¦

Kind regards.
ChB
www.watchcollector.lu

 


Dienstag, 5. August 2025

Lange & Söhne ----> 101.001, 1994, closed caseback

 Dear watch aficionado.

The Lange & Söhne 101.001 was first shown during the re-launch in 1994. The timeless design, quality of the movement, case and dial are still in existence of today. But the much sought after pieces are the very early examples with the closed.

The one that you can see here on the photo does have the closed caseback, a very early 111xxx serial, box, outer packaging, original guarantee, booklet, etc...

 

¦¦passion for watchmaking¦¦
¦¦www.watchcollector.lu - vintage and independent timepieces, since 2011 proud partner of Andersen, Benzinger and Haldimann watches¦¦

Kind regards.
ChB
www.watchcollector.lu

  


 

Freitag, 18. Juli 2025

Francois Paul Journe ----> Prototype Tourbillon N°15/93

 Dear watch aficionado.

One of the most special timepieces made by an independent watchmaker which I saw in the past years is the prototype Tourbillon by François Paul Journe N°15/93. It was sold last November for 7.3 million CHF. Now it will be interesting to see when the N°16/93 will hit the market, maybe next year, and for how much that one will be sold for. The N°11/91 will certainly never hit the market, as it still belongs to FPJ himself and it probably will be displayed at his museum.

On the second photo you see the FPJ together with the unique Philippe Dufour Duality, which was sold for 1.5 million CHF, which is not a really high price for that watch I think; and with the unique Oval Tourbillon made by Derek Pratt, which was sold for 3.6 million CHF, which is as well not a very high price for that special and unique timepiece I think.

 

¦¦passion for watchmaking¦¦
¦¦www.watchcollector.lu - vintage and independent timepieces, since 2011 proud partner of Andersen, Benzinger and Haldimann watches¦¦

Kind regards.
ChB
www.watchcollector.lu

 

 


 

Freitag, 11. Juli 2025

Patek Philippe 3970J, second series, unpolished, oxidized case, full set

 Dear watch aficionado.

These Patek Philippe 3970 reference timepieces are getting more and more sought after. They are the link between the true vintage timepieces such as the legendary 1526, 1518, 2499, 3448 and the modern era of Patek Philippe production.

For me personally, these 3970's together with the 3979, 3974 and 5016 form the end of a golden era of beautiful design, vintage aura and craftsmenship. To find these 3970's in such extraordinary condition is something really rare, combined with the second series, very early serial number, unpolished nicely oxidized case and the full set does set this example into a different spot light.

 

¦¦passion for watchmaking¦¦
¦¦www.watchcollector.lu - vintage and independent timepieces, since 2011 proud partner of Andersen, Benzinger and Haldimann watches¦¦

Kind regards.
ChB
www.watchcollector.lu

 

 



 

Mittwoch, 4. Juni 2025

Urban Jürgensen reference 3 yellow gold N°015-----> "Reference 3 Model" in the official UJS catalogue

 

 Dear watch aficionado.

 The "reference 3 model" used by Peter Baumberger and Derek Pratt for the official Urban Jürgensen catalogue is this N°015 in yellow gold, which adds that little extra to this example and sets it apart from other reference 3 examples. The more, this example was never worn, comes with its box, outer packaging, original certificate, booklet, original catalogue and original price list from 2003.

 

 

 

In the 1990s, when the reference 3 was presented, Urban Jürgensen was guided by Peter Baumberger and together with Derek Pratt they developed their collections. Derek Pratt was as well the one who developed the up/down mechanism on the reference 3, which took almost 2 years of research, different technical drawings and three dozens of additional parts to finally fit into the ultra thin (2.4mm) Frédérique Piguet base movement. The more, the whole modification for the perpetual calendar indication was as well developed and produced in-house at the atelier of Urban Jürgensen!

To finish the guilloché dial, it takes more than 700 operations and 2 days of work. The moon display requires over 20 operations to produce the blued steel background with inserted gold moon discs and stars that are punched in one by one. The effort required to produce the elegantly curved springs and levers of the perpetual calendar mechanism is partially unlimited. Each steel surface is carefully grained and the edges angled and polished to perfection. The tear drop lugs are individually forged and then soldered by hand to the case. 

The level of finissage on the Urban Jürgensen reference 3 timepieces is at the very highest standards of watchmaking.

 

Caliber:

Base Automatic caliber FP71, 18 000 vph

​In-house modified by Derek Pratt

Perpetual calendar mechanism

Power reserve indication mechanism developed by Derek Pratt

Guilloché-main 21kt gold rotor

40 jewels, 2.4mm high

Case:

18kt rose gold

38mm diameter

Each single lug forged and welded to the case

Solid caseback

Dial:

Guilloché-main by Derek Pratt N°015

 

Highlights:

 "Reference 3 Model" in the official Urban Jürgensen catalogue

NOS, never been worn, full set

 

 

 

Kind regards.
ChB

 

Samstag, 31. Mai 2025

Art déco era pocket watch, 1920's, sapphire set, platinum, guillotine ----> soon

 Dear watch aficionado.

Soon I will have this beautiful art-déco era pocket watch available from the 1920's, platinum case, sapphire set, guillotine and the original white gold chain. Unique piece? Stay tuned.

¦¦passion for watchmaking¦¦
¦¦www.watchcollector.lu - vintage and independent timepieces, since 2011 proud partner of Andersen, Benzinger and Haldimann watches¦¦

Kind regards.
ChB
www.watchcollector.lu