Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Hong-kong, Jun 08, 2002

LOT 302

A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, b/Dresden, No. 15119, sold to Dürrstein & Co. on August 30, 1882, for 530 Marks.Extremely rare and very fine 18K gold hunting-cased keyless lever chronometer with special Meissen porcelain dial.

HKD 195,000 - 235,000

EUR 28,000 - 34,000 / USD 25,000 - 30,000

Sold: HKD 379,500

C. Four-body, "Louis XV", front with engraved monogram, back with engraved coat-of-arms, extended hinge, gold hinged cuvette over glazed gold bezel for viewing the movement. D. Off-white porcelain, blue radial Roman numerals separated by a gold paillon floral design, outer blue minute ring, border decorated with gold paillons, subsidiary sunk seconds with blue track separated by paillons, secured by two feet, one with a pin, the other with a screw. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 45.6 mm. (20'''1/4),rosted gilt, three-quarter plate, 20 jewels, the top ones in gold screwed settings, straight line Glashütte lever escapement with gold fork and escape wheel, cut bimetallic large compensation balance with gold temperature and quarter screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, diamond endstone, micrometric "swan-neck" regulator.Signed on dial and movement.Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

The extreme rarity and importance of the watch lies in the fact that the dial is made of Meissen porcelain, not enamel. It is thicker, 1.4 mm., has a different texture at the edges, and a thick layer of overglaze. The fact that it is in blue and decorated with paillons suffices to set it apart from other Lange dials, for the factory very rarely used anything other than plain white enamel dials, the use of porcelain as a material adds to the rarity. Only two other Lange & Söhne watches with porceain dial are known, one open face with blue numerals (with hairline) and another with red numerals (also with hairline), as far as we know, this is the only example with a perfect dial.