A. Lange & Söhne Raises 1m EUR for The Prince’s Trust
At the highly anticipated charity auction on 6 November 2022 in Geneva, the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH “Hampton Court Edition” was auctioned off for 1,058,500 CHF (1,064,851 EUR; incl. buyer’s premium) by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo. This is the highest result at auction that a Lange wristwatch has ever achieved. The proceeds will go to the British charity The Prince’s Trust, which supports young people in realising their potential and building a future for themselves.
The unique timepiece that was presented for the first time at the Concours of Elegance near London in early September was not only created to meet the highest watchmaking standards, but also to make a difference in society.
Proceeds of the one-of-a-kind 18-carat white-gold piece with a solid-silver dial and hand engraved hinged cuvette will go to The Prince’s Trust. Founded by King Charles III in 1976, the charity’s mission is to help young people aged 11 to 30 to develop essential life skills, prepare for work and access employment opportunities.
Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid was very pleased with the auction’s outcome: “When the watch was presented for the first time at the Concours of Elegance in early September, it was clear right away that there would be a great response. Even so, the auction result far exceeded our expectations. I’m glad that we can support the important work of the Prince’s Trust with this impressive sum. The huge proceeds from the auction not only show a steadily growing appreciation for A. Lange & Söhne watches, but also that our global collectors’ community is keen to do its bit for society.”
“A. Lange & Söhne boasts an ever-growing community of collectors who appreciate the incredible quality, and timeless design, coupled with the right amount of innovation and imagination,” says auctioneer Aurel Bacs, explaining the success of the auction. “A. Lange & Söhne has often surprised the community with a function or design that nobody expected. The unique quality of this one-of-a-kind auctioned piece places it in the top flight of watches produced by A. Lange & Söhne since its comeback in 1994. It is of no surprise that it has achieved such an exceptional price, and we are thrilled to see it sell for such a worthy cause.”