556,250 CHF
A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte b/Dresden, No. 34143/64143, made in 1895, refinished in 1906, sold to Fa. S. Stern & Co., Frankfurt a. M. on July 13, 1912 for 1,468.50 DM. Extremely rare and highly important, 18K gold, large, hunting-cased, keyless, A-1 quality, pocket chronometer with one-minute tourbillon regulator, Earnshaw type spring detent escapement, free-sprung balance and 30-hour power reserve indication. Accompanied by a fitted box, certificate of origin, Lange’s 1945 bill for servicing, and a Thomas Mercer chronometer rating certificate. Six-body, massive (123 grams), “Lucia”, polished, gold hinged cuvette over glazed gold bezel for viewingthe movement, gold dust protection ring. White enamel, double sunk, radial Roman numerals, outerminute divisions, up-and-down indicator below 12, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel “spade” hands. Notes History and Provenance The watch was made in 1895 as No. 34143 and was sold to R. Karpitzke of Altenburg on December 12, 1895. In 1906 Lange bought the watch back, refinished it and renumbered it as 64164. Subsequently the watch was sold to F. Hinselmann of Essen. It was bought back and sold in 1912 to S. Stern & Co. in Frankfurt, who probably sold it to J. Henrici of Bremen. In 1926 the watch became the property of Peter Schultz of Dresden, who had the watch cleaned by Lange in 1945. The original Lange receipt for this servicing has survived. On the reverse Schultz wrote the story of the watch. It reads:
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-11-14
