The Art of American Horology Part ll,...

Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Avenue @ 45th Street, Dec 04, 2002

LOT 261

Adolph Lange, Dresden, No. 4432. Produced circa 1860.Very fine and rare, early, hunting-cased, keyless, 18K gold Lange "A1" quality pocket watch.

USD 1,800 - 2,500

Sold: USD 3,680

C. four-body, by Durand & Co., "bassine et filets", triple-hinged, en-gine turned, gold cuvette. D. white enamel with Roman numerals, outer minute ring, auxiliary sunk seconds dial. "Spade" blued steel hands. M. 45mm (20'''), frosted gilt, half-plate with bridge for the escape wheel, 20 jewels, straight line Lange's lever escapement, gold fork and escape wheel, banking by a pin hole, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and meantime screws, blued steel Breguet balance springpin-set with early type Lange's winding/setting system.Dial and movement signed. Case signed by the case maker.Diam. 53 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

This is an interesting watch, with a movement taken from the old stock of Gutkaes & Lange (pillar plate under the dial stamped "G&L"). It shows the early stages of Lange's development, with the winding/setting system that Lange waited almost six years to patent (May 15, 1866). The movement employs the old version of Lange's ebauche, where the escape wheel is on a separate bridge, unlike later examples - starting around number 6100 - in which the escape wheel is set under the 3/4-plate with a remvable disc for the jewel setting.