This Is What A $500,000 A. Lange & Sohne Watch Looks Like

Tourbograph Pour le Merite

A luxury watch can tell you a lot about someone, namely how much you are willing to spend on a timepiece. Sure Rolex’s are cool, but there are watch manufacturers out there that make Rolex’s look like Casio’s. One of those companies would be A. Lange & Sohne, and their Tourbograph Pour le Merite Model 712.050 is pretty incredible.

A. Lange & Sohne is a German watch company that was formed in 1845. The company makes a wide-range of watches, and many are “ultra-luxury” watches. We are talking about watches that can cost millions, and the Tourbograph Pour le Merite Model 712.050 costs $500,000 dollars. Take a moment and think about the type of person that can afford to spend a half million dollars on a wrist watch.

Tourbograph Pour le Merite Model 712.050 2

The watch is extremely intricate and features many complex movements. The case is made from 18-karat gold, the dials are made from solid silver, and the band is crocodile leather. There are many interesting things inside the watch as well. It’s powered by a “fusse-and-chain-transmission”, a chain that has 636 parts to it. The springs are rolled to an accuracy of 100 nanometers. Outside of that there are 465 parts in the watch as well. The watch beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour. But the amazing features do not stop there: there are 41 rubies within the watch and two diamond endstones that provide the watch with 43 jewels. When you add it all up, the watch contains over 1,000 components. The watch also has a few chronographs and a complex tourbillon as well.

Another fact that contributes to this watches amazing price is that only 50 have been made in the entire world. You also have to remember that watches like these are made entirely by hand, and I can’t even begin to imagine the patience and technical prowess that one would need to posses to construct such a watch. So basically when it comes down to it, this watch is on another level from 99.9% of all the luxury watches out there. I mean, for half a million dollars it better be right?

Photos from A. Lange & Sohne

Written by Sebastian Hensiek

From Philadelphia, Sebastian is a fan of music, writing, art, and entertainment.