A. Lange & Söhne Frühe Adolph Lange Taschenuhr Anno 1771 Qualität 1A 18k Gold mit Zertifikat Die Uhr ist in mehrfacher Hinsicht interessant...

Seltenes Halbsavonnette-Gehäuse mit Münzrand, Gehäuse-Form „Jürgens“. Noch ohne die Lange Gehäusemacher-Marke und die deutsche Gold-Feinheits-Punze (erst ab 1892). Gehäuse-Nr. 7743“ und „18K“ Punze. Der vordere Deckel hat ein kleines rundes Glasfenster, das von kobaltblau eingelegten römischen Zahlen umrundet ist. 18k Gelbgold, auf der Cuvette signiert „A Lange & Söhne Dresden, Nr 7743“. Die Rückseite trägt das sehr fein gestochene Monogramm im Renaissance- Stil „HU“ Das Gehäuse ist schön erhalten mit kleinen Tragespuren.

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Adolph Lange, Dresden, Early Glashütte Half-Savonnette, Quality 1A, 18k gold, with certificate, 1871

Rare half-savonnette case with a coin edge, “Jürgens” case shape. Still without the Lange case maker’s mark and the German gold hallmark (introduced in 1892). Case No. 7743 and 18K hallmark. The front cover features a small round glass window surrounded by cobalt-blue inlaid Roman numerals. 18k yellow gold, signed on the case back “A Lange & Söhne Dresden, No. 7743.” The back bears the very finely engraved Renaissance-style monogram “HU.” The case is beautifully preserved with minor signs of wear.

White enamel dial, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, signed “A. Lange Dresden,” original half- savonette steel pear-shaped hands, both in very good condition.

The watch is interesting in several respects—firstly, the hand setting is based on a patent by Adolph Lange No. 89 667 and is very rare. Secondly, the watch was manufactured during the period when his sons Richard (1868) and Emil Lange (1871) joined the company. Subsequently, the signatures on the watches changed, first on the movements and later also on the dials (source: R. Meis, A. Lange & Söhne: A Watchmaking Dynasty from Dresden, Vol. II, pp. 58–59). Third, the story of the watch’s first owner, the Dresden watchmaker Robert Gerson, is also very interesting; more on that below.

Movement: Cal. 43/19''' lines, 3/4-plate movement, compensation balance with gold screws. Quality 1A (at that time called FU). Hand-engraved balance cock. Index fine-adjustment, gold anchor and gold anchor wheel. Chatoned diamond end stone on the balance. Flat blued balance spring with end curve, blued screws. Circular brushed winding wheels. Crown winding. Signed “A. Lange & Söhne Dresden No. 7743.” The movement, in mint condition, runs perfectly.

Diameter 50 mm, weight 113 g, case and movement No. 7743, sold on September 29, 1871 (presumably) to the Dresden watchmaker Robert Gerson.

Enclosed is the certificate from the Watch Museum in Glashütte, as well as the later leather Box shown in the photo.

At that time, no archival records were kept regarding the cases. However, I already had an identical half-savonette with No. 6901; it weighed only 1g less and was absolutely identical in construction to the one at hand. Since the blue enamel numerals on the case are also identical, one can therefore assume that “our” case is also original.