Platinum Wrist Chronometer no. 4748

Case: Platinum rectangular case, A. Lange & Sohne, Glashutte & Geneva, case no. 100014, Dim. 38 mm Dial: Movement: 10''' tonneau, signed "4748, A. Lange & Sohne, Geneva, Swiss, Eighteen 18 Jewels, All Adjustments", stamped with the Geneva seal. Provenance: 1927 - Niton, Geneve 1927 - 28.12.27 assignment 24 1998 - Sotheby’s, 17 Nov 1998, "A rare platinum rectangular wristwatch with bracelet, A. Lange & Sohne, Glashutte & Geneva, no. 100014, 1927. tonneau nickel lever movement, bi-metallic compensation balance, 18 jewels, all adjustments, movement stamped twice with the seal of Geneva, silvered matte dial, arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, rectangular hinged case, the band chased with floral motifs, case signed A. Lange & Sohne, Glashutte & Geneva, 100014, dial signed A. Lange & Sohne, Geneve and numbered 100014, movement signed A. Lange & Sohne, Geneva and numbered 4748, with original platinum mesh bracelet, accompanied by A. Lange & Sohne certificate. length 38mm. This watch is accompanied by a certificate from the Uhrenmuseum Glashutte, reflecting its sale December 28, 1927. It is further stated that the platinum bracelet is original and that only 3 platinum wristwatches were ever made by A. Lange & Sohne. It seems that the present watch is the only of 3 examples to have appeared at auction. A. Lange & Sohne introduced relatively late, around 1925, their first wristwatches. The first wristwatch number 100001, it seems that the present watch is the 14th wristwatch produced by A. Lange & Sohne. During the first few years of wristwatch production at A.Lange & Sohne movements were bought abroad and subsequently cased in Glashutte. The present watch is fitted with an Ebauche by Niton, a manufacturer of the highest quality movements around that time. The fact that the movement of the present watch is stamped twice with the seal of Geneva underlines its exclusivity, since only manufacturers of the very best quality were awarded with this prestigious honour. It is further interesting to note that the same calibre was used for complicated wristwatches by Patek Philippe, for an example see Huber & Banbery, Patek Philippe, p. 210, pl. 358c. " 2006 - "Wristwatches"/"Armbanduhren" by Brunner, Pfeiffer-Belli ISBN 9783833125591, page 244 2011 - Sales books A. Lange & Sohne Genf/ Article Wolfgang Stegemann, Klassik Uhren, No. 2/2011 page 40-43 and No.2/2013 page 12-13