Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 58

Signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glasshütte, circa 1900. Extremely rare and very fine 18K gold hunting-cased double-train Grande Complication astronomical clockwatch with grande et petite sonnerie, minute-repeating, perpetual calendar, phases of the moon and split-seconds chronograph with 30-minute register.

CHF 1 - 1

EUR 1 - 1

C. Four-body, massive "Louis XV", polished, gold hinged cuvette over glazed gold bezel for viewing the movement, double lift spring, pushbutton at 12 o?clock for activating chronograph, at 11 o?clock for split-seconds, lever protruding from under the bezel at 6 o?clock for changing from grande to petite sonnerie, another at 11:30 for striking/silent. D. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute/seconds track with five-minute/seconds red Arabic markers, four subsidiary sunk dials for days of the week, date, months of the four-year leap cycle concentric with minute register, and subsidiary seconds with phases of the moon aperture. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 44 mm. (20???), nickel, 3/4-plate, 43 jewels, some in chatons, straight line Glashütte lever escapement with gold escape wheel and pallet fork banking in a pin hole, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and mean time screws, roller jewel inserted in the arm, blued steel Breguet balance spring, diamond endstone, chronograph and split-seconds mechanism on the back plate, repeating on gongs by tripping a small bolt in the band. Signed on dial and movement. Diam. 63 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 30
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 21 - 01

Notes

Lange?s records reveal only nine "Grande Complication" watches, the first one made in 1901, the last one in 1928. The lack of a serial number might indicate that this watch was a never-cased prototype, or destined for an exhibition, such as Berlin 1900, for instance. There are some examples of watches, even by such prestigious companies as Patek Philippe, which were destined for exhibitions and carried no serial number. Whatever the case may be, there is no doubt that the watch is one of the most complicated German watches ever built.