Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 14, 1990

LOT 183

A. Lange & Sbhne, Glashütte B/Dresden, No 41000, completed for the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900. Extremely fine and highly importent platinum overlaid 18 ct. pink gold and enamel hunting cased keyless pocket chronometer with up/down scale and a one minute tourbillon regulator.

Four body massive "bassine" case, the center portion encompassing the bezels and band, deeply chased in an elaborated scroll foliage, the enamel cover finely painted with a scene depicting Germania maintaining a wreath of laurel on the top of a globe and holding a peace twig, further symbols of medicine, science, industry etc... laying at her feet. The town of Dresden in the background with the river Elbe and the Elbbrücke. The inscription "Tourbillon - 1900" engraved on the back against a sun set at sea, the shining reflections simulated by the gold revealed by the platinum partly removed from the surface. Gold cuvette. Four piece white enamel dial with Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds and up/down 30 hour sector. Gold Louis XV hands. Fine glazed nickel plated three quarter plate movement, 17 jewels in gold screwed settings, fusee and chain with maintaining power, spring detent escapement with steel escape wheel, cut bimetallic balance, free sprung Breguet balance spring,very delicate three arm polished steel carriage driven by the third wheel, the cock finely engraved with scrolled feathers. Signed on the dial, the case and the back plate. In excellent condition. Diam.59 mm. This is certainly the most prestigious watch ever made in Glashütte. Emil Lange, the owner of A. Lange & Sôhne brought it to Paris in 1900 when he came to the Exposition Universelle as a member of the jury. Although he was not competing, thanks to this outstanding watch, he was made Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur. This watch is described in many publications: Kurt Herkner: Glashütte und seine Uhren, pages 108-109, in Martin Huber:De Uhren von A. Lange & Sôhne, Glashütte/Sachsen pages 44-45 and in "Freunde alter Uhren", No 16, page 99.