• Movement: 2nd quality, 19''' cal. 43 gilded ¾ plate, gold lever and escape wheel, bi-metallic compensation balance, ruby endstone, swan-neck regulation, signed and numbered Deutsche Uhrenfabrikation, Glashütte no.56035  • Dial: white enamel, Arabic numerals for 24-hours, outer minute track with Arabic 5-minute markers, signed Deutsche Uhrenfabrikation, Glashütte I/b, A. Lange & Söhne• Case: "Lucia" 14ct pink gold, engine-turned back centred with a blank circular cartouche, polished bezel, plain polished gold cuvette, cuvette and cover signed and numbered A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, 56035 • Accompaniments: spare 24-hour dial (with hairline crack), Arabic 24-hour numerals, outer minute track, signed Deutsche Uhrenfabrikation, Glashütte I/b, A. Lange & Söhne,  with A. Lange & Söhne presentation case and numbered certificate, spare glass

Reinhard Meis, A. Lange & Söhne, The Watchmakers of Dresden, 1997, p. 231 figs. 606-607
Reinhard Meis, A. Lange & Söhne, The Watchmakers of Dresden Vol II, 2012, p. 201 figs. 644-645
Martin Huber, Die Lange Liste, 2000, p. 113, table 25

Movement running and hands adjusting at time of cataloguing; scratches to the surface of the balance cock and further scratch to the main plate beside the cock. Dial with scratching around the 24-hour scale between 3 and 8 o'clock, further scratch below signature at right hand side, further scratch at edge by 45 minute marker. Case with some slight rubbing towards the edge of the engine-turned decoration but overall the decoration remains clear. Covers close securely. The spare dial has a prominent hairline crack running across the dial from 7 to 21.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

Accompanied by a certificate of origin from the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum, Glashütte confirming the date of sale on 20th December 1904 to Giovanni Eckert, Triest for 306.-M.  Lange began manufacturing watches with 24-hour dials in 1860.  The rapid spread of railway travel and the corresponding use of 24 hour timetables led to a rise in popularity in watches which could also distinguish between A.M. and P.M.  While some watches displayed the hours 1 through 12 and 13 through 24 in concentric dials, the present lot displays the 24 hours consecutively in one chapter ring.
 
A. Lange & Söhne developed DUF (Deutsche Uhrenfabrikation) watches with the Dresden company Dürrstein & Co. to create a more accessible, but still precise watch for consumers.  The present lot is typical of DUF watches, including the signature on the dial as well as the 14 ct. gold case.  DUF watches mainly differentiated from ALS-branded watches in that their jewels did not have the screwed bushings in gold, and were only adjusted to three positions rather than five.  Their movements were also slightly more plain and contained a ruby endstone instead of the typical diamond.

According to our research, the firm produced only nine of these watches, of which only three have ever been offered at auction.