The remarkable heritage of A. Lange & Söhne's pocket watch craftsmanship came to light in 2001, when a visitor to the brand's manufactory presented Jan Sliva, the head of the in-house studio for historic Lange pocket watches, with an exceptionally rare and historically significant timepiece. The pocket watch, numbered 42'500, was a grand complication featuring a grand and petite sonnerie, flying seconds, split seconds chronograph, minute repeating, and perpetual calendar. It had originally been sold in 1902 for 5,600 German marks, a sum equivalent to the price of a villa at the time. The restoration of this horological masterpiece was completed in 2009, and it was then publicly displayed for the first time at the SIHH 2010 in Geneva.
Prior to World War II, A. Lange & Söhne's history was deeply rooted in the production of high-quality pocket watches since the company's founding in 1845. The present A. Lange & Söhne pocket watch is another outstanding and rare example showcasing the brand's legacy in fine German watchmaking. Dating back to 1911, this watch also sold for a substantial 2,258 German marks.
This mechanical marvel features a rare and complex grand complication movement, boasting a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and moon phases on the clean enamel dial adorned with graceful Louis XV-style hands. Most importantly, as stated in the letter from Reinhard Reichel, the director of the German Watch Museum Glashütte, this configuration is one of only 7 examples ever produced by A. Lange & Söhne, with the earliest known number being 13'404 in 1884 and the last 99'902 in 1911, placing this example 62'507 squarely within that range.
What makes this pocket watch truly remarkable is its exceptional condition, as it was described in the letter as the best-preserved example amongst the 7 known ones. The dial is extremely clean with hardly any signs of discoloration. With the crisp Helvétia hallmarks found on the case, it is evident that A. Lange & Söhne was seeking the best quality cases in the period where Swiss-made cases were the crown in the industry. Hence, the case was imported from Switzerland, and the movement was assembled in Germany as confirmed by the German imperial hallmark, combining craftsmanship from the two best watchmaking empires.
Housed within the elegant 122.5g pink gold case is the A1-classified movement, featuring the iconic German three-quarter plate design. The tradition of the delicately engraved balance cock with a swan neck regulator has been well-preserved, even in today's highest-quality German timepieces. The diamond endstone further serves to exemplify the exceptional rarity and exclusivity of this movement.
Adding to the provenance and historical significance of this pocket watch is the fact that it was completed and adjusted by Hugo Müller, a German watchmaker who later served as the technical director of Deutsche Präzisions-Uhrenfabrik Glashütte eGmbH from 1918 to 1925. Müller's efforts to improve the Glashütte lever escapement during this period further enhance the importance of this exceptional A. Lange & Söhne creation.
Consigned by a distinguished Japanese collector, the opportunity to acquire this grand complication pocket watch is a true rarity. Its impeccable condition, technical complexity, and deep connection to the celebrated history of A. Lange & Söhne make it a highly coveted and valuable addition to any collection of fine German horology.