A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte
A fine and rare gold hunting cased minute repeating watch with presentation box, No. 89971 | Circa 1932
Auction Closed
May 10, 02:36 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 40,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: White three-stepped enamel dial, Black Breguet numerals, outer railway with five-minute divisions above, sunken centre with subsidiary seconds, black outer minute ring, gold hands, signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I/SA
Calibre: 1a quality, 19''' cal. 43 gilded ½ plate, screwed gold chatons, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, gold screw compensation balance, florally hand-engraved balance cock, blued steel balance spring with gold lever and escape wheel, diamond chaton on balance, swan neck regulator
Movement number: 89'971
Case: 18k yellow gold A. Lange & Söhne, stamped with maker's name and royal seal
Case number: 89'971
Size: 55.78 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: no
Accessories: A. Lange & Söhne presentation box
Preserved in excellent condition, the present minute repeater represents the highest level of craftsmanship achieved by A. Lange & Söhne. Between 1845 and 1945, the firm produced approximately 369 minute repeating watches, with ébauches often supplied by movement makers such as LeCoultre & Co. in Le Sentier.
The present example is fitted with a movement of the highest 1A quality, the pinnacle of Lange’s production. In addition to exceptional finishing, it features diamond chatons, and a gold escapement; all executed to the highest standards.
Notably, unlike the more commonly encountered Louis XV-style cases, this watch is housed in a refined and slim polished gold case, lending it a more understated and elegant appearance.
Following the economic difficulties of the 1920s, the manufacture was compelled to introduce lower-grade “DUF” minute repeaters, making high-grade 1A examples from this period exceptionally rare. The present watch therefore stands as a particularly scarce and important survivor of Lange’s finest pre-war production.