Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 25, 1993

LOT 33

A. Lange & Sôhne, Glashütte, bei Dresden, No. 18633, made for F. Krüssmann & Cie., Rio-de-Janeiro, circa 1885. Fine and rare, 18 ct. gold, keyless, independent dead seconds stop-wath.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 31,050

C. Four body, "Lucia à goutte", polished with an applied Pink gold monogram "A.H."on the back. Gold cuvette. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and sunk subsidiary seconds. Gold "spade" hands. M. 1 8 - , frosted and gilt, three quarter plate, 21 jewels in gold screwed setting, gold straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, balance spring with terminal curve and swan neck micrometric index. Patented independent seconds device, operated from the crown. Signed on the dial and movement. In very good condition. Diam. 53 mm.


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Notes

This ingenious device obviates the need for a second barrel to drive an independent dead jumping seconds. The small gold ratchet wheel turns continuously, and drives the center seconds through two delicate sprung pallets. When locked, the pallets ride over the ratchet wheel teeth. The patent mechanism and watches of this system are fully described by Herkner in his book Glashütte und seine Uhren pp. 13-16.