24
A. Lange & Söhne
Grande Complication
A historically important and superbly crafted pink gold minute repeating, hunter cased split seconds chronograph, perpetual calendar, grande and petite sonnerie clock watch, one of 9 made
- Estimate
- CHF500,000 - 1,000,000€540,000 - 1,080,000$613,000 - 1,230,000
CHF1,168,400
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- A. Lange & Söhne
- Year
- 1908
- Movement No
- 49'985
- Case No
- 49'985
- Model Name
- Grande Complication
- Material
- 18k pink gold
- Calibre
- Manual, 19'''Piguet based, 1st quality Fine Adjustment
- Dimensions
- 62mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial and movement signed
- Accessories
- An A. Lange & Söhne Certificate has been requested but not yet arrived at time of print, please check online catalogue for updates.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
It is always a momentous event when an A. Lange & Söhne Grande Complication graces the auction market, thanks to its ultimate rarity, impressive technical prowess and overall superb craftsmanship.
The absolute ultimate expression of watchmaking at its very finest, the present lot features the three elements that collectors and scholars define as a "Grande Complication": a chiming function, a perpetual calendar and a split-seconds complication. However, the present example does not feature "just" any chiming function as along with a minute repeater it features what is considered a horological grail for both watchmakers and collectors alike: the Grande & Petite Sonnerie.
Born in Dresden on 18 February 1815, Ferdinand Adolph Lange began his education at the Technische Bildungsanstalt in Dresden in 1829, where he split his time between theoretical studies and practical work under his master, Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes (the maker of the famous 5-minute clock at the Dresden Semperoper). After completing his apprenticeship in 1835, Lange worked with Gutkaes for two years before travelling across Europe to gain further experience in watchmaking. He spent time in France, managing the workshop of Joseph Thaddäus Winnerl, and later travelled to Switzerland and England to refine his skills.
Lange returned to Dresden in 1841 with the goal of establishing a watchmaking industry in Saxony. He sought government support to start a factory in Glashütte, an economically struggling region and founded A. Lange & Cie in 1845. He aimed to industrialize the area and train apprentices, encouraging them to start their own businesses, thus creating a watchmaking hub in the region.
Lange's innovations included the adoption of the metric system in watchmaking and the development of precision tools, including a micrometer capable of measuring millimeters to the thousandth. His company grew over the years, and in 1868, his son Richard joined the business, leading to the name change to A. Lange & Söhne. Ferdinand Lange was also active in local politics, serving as the mayor of Glashütte for 18 years before passing away on December 3, 1875.
Under Richard and Emil Lange, the company continued to thrive. Emil earned prestigious honors, including the French Legion of Honor and the title of commercial councillor from King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. A. Lange & Söhne became known for its high-quality hand-made watches, even as machine-made watches from other companies like Glashütte Präzisons-Uhrenfabrik began to dominate the market. In 1898, the company was commissioned to make a pocket watch for the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, a notable milestone in its history.
At the turn of the 20th century, with the growing demand for flat men's watches, A. Lange & Söhne introduced a new design, registering the "Glashütte caliber" pocket watch in 1898.
From the turn of the century A. Lange & Söhne started making a series of 9 highly complicated pocket watches, the first in 1901 bearing number 41277, the last in 1928 bearing number 99901. The present example, made in 1908, is the third piece made and bears the number 49985.
The front cuvette of the heavy pink hunter-case features a lavishly engraved monogram beneath a coronet with 6 pearls around the rim, letting us believe that it was sold to a Baron. This theory is further reinforced by the fact that the watch was sold by J. Maier in Obermais (in the Austrian Tyrol), at the turn of the 20th Century Obermeis was most probably Europe's most fashionable spa resort welcoming the continent's Royalty and aristocrats, and J.Maier was the jeweler catering to this elite's requests.
Once opened, the watch displays its full glory, the sonnerie activation pushers, the calendar indications, a moonphase display, the split-seconds chronograph hands and a minutes counter. The main hour and minutes hands in Louis XV style complement the ensemble beautifully.
Opening the caseback reveals a superb architectural movement (based on a Piguet ébauche), with each component meticulously hand-finished for a spectacular result.
The present A. Lange & Söhne Grande Complication last appeared at auction exactly 28 years ago to this day on May 11, 1987, when it was sold at Ineichen, Zürich
The ultimate rarity of the present watch, merged with its technical mastery and perfect proportions and beauty make it one of the most important pocket watches ever made in Saxony.
The absolute ultimate expression of watchmaking at its very finest, the present lot features the three elements that collectors and scholars define as a "Grande Complication": a chiming function, a perpetual calendar and a split-seconds complication. However, the present example does not feature "just" any chiming function as along with a minute repeater it features what is considered a horological grail for both watchmakers and collectors alike: the Grande & Petite Sonnerie.
Born in Dresden on 18 February 1815, Ferdinand Adolph Lange began his education at the Technische Bildungsanstalt in Dresden in 1829, where he split his time between theoretical studies and practical work under his master, Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes (the maker of the famous 5-minute clock at the Dresden Semperoper). After completing his apprenticeship in 1835, Lange worked with Gutkaes for two years before travelling across Europe to gain further experience in watchmaking. He spent time in France, managing the workshop of Joseph Thaddäus Winnerl, and later travelled to Switzerland and England to refine his skills.
Lange returned to Dresden in 1841 with the goal of establishing a watchmaking industry in Saxony. He sought government support to start a factory in Glashütte, an economically struggling region and founded A. Lange & Cie in 1845. He aimed to industrialize the area and train apprentices, encouraging them to start their own businesses, thus creating a watchmaking hub in the region.
Lange's innovations included the adoption of the metric system in watchmaking and the development of precision tools, including a micrometer capable of measuring millimeters to the thousandth. His company grew over the years, and in 1868, his son Richard joined the business, leading to the name change to A. Lange & Söhne. Ferdinand Lange was also active in local politics, serving as the mayor of Glashütte for 18 years before passing away on December 3, 1875.
Under Richard and Emil Lange, the company continued to thrive. Emil earned prestigious honors, including the French Legion of Honor and the title of commercial councillor from King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. A. Lange & Söhne became known for its high-quality hand-made watches, even as machine-made watches from other companies like Glashütte Präzisons-Uhrenfabrik began to dominate the market. In 1898, the company was commissioned to make a pocket watch for the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, a notable milestone in its history.
At the turn of the 20th century, with the growing demand for flat men's watches, A. Lange & Söhne introduced a new design, registering the "Glashütte caliber" pocket watch in 1898.
From the turn of the century A. Lange & Söhne started making a series of 9 highly complicated pocket watches, the first in 1901 bearing number 41277, the last in 1928 bearing number 99901. The present example, made in 1908, is the third piece made and bears the number 49985.
The front cuvette of the heavy pink hunter-case features a lavishly engraved monogram beneath a coronet with 6 pearls around the rim, letting us believe that it was sold to a Baron. This theory is further reinforced by the fact that the watch was sold by J. Maier in Obermais (in the Austrian Tyrol), at the turn of the 20th Century Obermeis was most probably Europe's most fashionable spa resort welcoming the continent's Royalty and aristocrats, and J.Maier was the jeweler catering to this elite's requests.
Once opened, the watch displays its full glory, the sonnerie activation pushers, the calendar indications, a moonphase display, the split-seconds chronograph hands and a minutes counter. The main hour and minutes hands in Louis XV style complement the ensemble beautifully.
Opening the caseback reveals a superb architectural movement (based on a Piguet ébauche), with each component meticulously hand-finished for a spectacular result.
The present A. Lange & Söhne Grande Complication last appeared at auction exactly 28 years ago to this day on May 11, 1987, when it was sold at Ineichen, Zürich
The ultimate rarity of the present watch, merged with its technical mastery and perfect proportions and beauty make it one of the most important pocket watches ever made in Saxony.
A. Lange & Söhne
German | 1845Originally founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashütte, Dresden, Germany, the firm established an entire watchmaking culture and industry in Glashütte. The brand quickly became Germany's finest watchmaker, first creating dependable, easy-to-repair watches before going on to produce some of the world's finest complicated pocket watches, including Grande Sonnerie watches, tourbillon watches and Grande Complications.
On the final day of World War II, their factories were destroyed by Russian bombers, and in 1948 the brand was confiscated by the Soviet Union. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, Ferdinand's great grandson Walter Lange re-established the brand with the objective to once again produce top-quality luxury watches. Now part of the Richemont Group, its original vintage and modern creations are highly coveted by collectors. Key models from the modern era include the Lange 1, Pour Le Mérite Tourbillon and the Zeitwerk.
Browse MakerOn the final day of World War II, their factories were destroyed by Russian bombers, and in 1948 the brand was confiscated by the Soviet Union. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, Ferdinand's great grandson Walter Lange re-established the brand with the objective to once again produce top-quality luxury watches. Now part of the Richemont Group, its original vintage and modern creations are highly coveted by collectors. Key models from the modern era include the Lange 1, Pour Le Mérite Tourbillon and the Zeitwerk.