A. LANGE & SÖHNE, GLASHÜTTE | A VERY FINE PINK GOLD SELF-WINDING HUNTING CASED LEVER WATCH WITH UP-AND-DOWN INDICATIONCIRCA 1895 NO. 31505

• Movement: 1a quality, 19''' cal. 43 damascened German silver ¾ plate, gold lever and escape wheel, some jewels carried in screwed gold chatons, bi-metallic compensation balance, diamond endstone, swan-neck regulation, the pivoted automatic weight with spring mounted to the backplate, signed and numbered A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, no.31505• Dial: white enamel, Arabic numerals, outer minute ring with Arabic five-minute markers, two sunken subsidiary dials for power reserve and seconds, gold filigree hour and minute hands, signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte b/ Dresden• Case: "Lucia" 18ct pink gold, plain polished covers, polished gold cuvette, slide to edge of bezel at 2 o'clock to select manual winding via the crown, all covers signed  A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte b/ Dresden, case back and cuvette numbered 31505, case front numbered 5

Martin Huber, Die Uhren von A. Lange & Söhne, 1988, p. 169, table 19
Martin Huber, Die Lange Liste, 2000, pp. 127-128, table 36
Reinhard Meis, A. Lange & Söhne, The Watchmakers of Dresden Vol II, 2012, p. 214 figs. 690-691

Movement:running at time of cataloguing although it has not been possibly to accurately establish if the automatic work is currently winding the watch. The lever for placing the watch in manual wind mode is operational and the state of wind indication appears to be working. Dial: with small hair crack from the centre to the up-and-down dial. Case: Covers with light marks and scuffs, small indentation to the band close to the hinge.
"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 from the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum, Glashütte confirming the date of sale on 17th September 1895 to Comp. Gottfried Dohmen, Dusseldorf for 625.-M. The present watch is an excellent early example from Lange's series of self-winding watches. In total, Lange & Söhne produced approximately 38 self-winding watches between 1891-1920. This production number includes pieces that were made with or without date, see M. Huber, Die Uhren von A. Lange & Söhne, p.169, table 19.

While "self-winding" watches were made as early as 1800, most notably by Breguet, Lange decided to base their design upon the movement patented by the Dresden company, Dürrstein & Co.  To the best of our knowledge, less than ten have been offered at auction.