July 19, 2021: Precision watchmaking becomes an art form with A. Lange and Söhne’s limited edition, Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst. A milestone in the history of the brand, the 2008 Cabaret Tourbillon could instantaneously stop the balance inside the rotating cage and instantly restart it by pushing the crown home. Lange’s only rectangular model, the Cabaret has been synonymous with extravagance and has been known for a distinctive movement philosophy.
Limited to just 30 pieces, the new Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst emphasises its artistic aura. An extravagant timepiece, this watch combines superb watchmaking artistry with traditional yet elaborate and rare techniques. These include the semi-transparent enamelling of the dial and several manual engravings in lozenge design style.
The three-part dial of this watch is crafted in the manufactory and is made of solid white gold. With the typical Lange outside date manually engraved with a lozenge pattern in the inner area, the regular motif sets a challenge for the engraver as every small deviation is almost instantly visible.
Inspired by the six lozenge-shaped hour markers in the centre, the Roman numerals III, IX and XII stand in the outer zone of the dial with a delicate surface that serves as a stage. A thin line decorated with tremblage visually separates the dial parts from one another, and an engraving technique also graces the frame of the date aperture and of the hand eye.
The dial is coated with a semi-transparent enamel layer which adds an extra depth to the engraving and showcases various metallic shapes of grey, making an outstanding dial with a three-dimensional effect.
The separately integrated subsidiary dials for the small seconds and power-reserve indicator, which are traditionally executed with the UP/DOWN display, consist of rhodium-coloured gold, and the hands are also made of rhodium gold. An aperture in the dial reveals the on-minute tourbillon which is suspended between two diamond ends tones. On its top side, the matte-finished tourbillon bridge has a black polishing that is applied using a technique that ranks among the most difficult types of finissage.
The precious frame for this new exclusive version of the first tourbillon with a stop-seconds mechanism is formed by a rectangular case in platinum measuring 29.5 by 39.2 millimetres. Graced with a delpoyant buckle in platinum and a black leather strap with grey stitching, this extravagant masterpiece comes with a limitation engraving on the caseback indicating the rarity of the horological masterpiece.
