Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 249

Laco - Durowe, No. H. 6448, Ref. 127-560B-1. Assembled by Wempe in the 1940s. Extremely rare, large, indirect hacking center-seconds, burnished metal test pilot's wristwatch with a graduated screwed-down aluminum compression cap, numbered PE 6448-03, to prevent the crystal from shattering at high altitudes.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

EUR 3,800 - 5,000 / USD 4,700 - 6,000

Sold: CHF 6,900

C. matte gray, concave lugs, ball-shaped winding-crown.D. black, laminated brass, with radium-coated Arabic numerals for the 60 minutes, and concentric for the 12 hours, outer indexes for the 60 seconds. Radium-coated "Lozenge" hands.M. Cal. 1522, gilt brass, 22 jewels, gold wheel train, straight line lever escapement, anibal-brass Guillaume balance, Breguet balance-spring.Case and movement signed.Diam. 58 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 4 - 7 - 8
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 5 - 01

Notes

The number engraved on the band, FL 23883, identifies the watch as having been made for aviation. The present watch, with the engraving PE 6448-03, was most likely used by test pilots at the classified Peenemund research station during World War II, where bombs and weapons were developed. The compression cap was fitted to the watch due to the fact that at the time, high speeds and high altitudes resulted in a phenomenon of decompression which caused watch crystals to become detached and shatter.