Letter from the Editor

Alternative investments, which run the gamut of rare whiskies, cult wines, storied timepieces and art, has always been a great source of interest, particularly for the frenzy they may generate, be it at auctions or otherwise.

On 12 and 13 May, Phillips Geneva together with auctioneer supreme Aurel Bacs, will put a very special timepiece on the block, created by Saxon watchmaker A Lange & Soehne this year. The piece, called the 1815 Homage to Walter Lange, is a stainless steel watch – an absolute rarity given that this watchmaker never makes stainless steel timepieces save for a handful in its past – which became absolute treasures as well. Proceeds from the sale of this timepiece will be channelled to the Children Action Foundation.

Perhaps what makes this auction most interesting is not just the timepiece itself, but of the heritage and history which it represents; a court clockmaker’s apprentice who eventually became one of Dresden’s most beloved heroes, creating gainful employment for its inhabitants in a time of economic paucity and going on to produce some of the best watches in the world. And of how this legend re-entered the stream of present-day history, three generations later, through his descendant Walter Lange who, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, decided to return to the place where it all began. Last year, at the age of 93, Walter passed on, after seeing his family legacy revived in grand style and be considered, once again, among the world’s leading lights of horology.

A CASE FOR INVESTMENT