Here we have an October 1940 A Lange & Söhne Silver Observation deck watch, which was issued during WW2 to the Kriegsmarine. The dial is silvered with the lightly brushed finish. It has the clear black signing with the railroad track to the exterior and bold Arabic numerals. It has the two inset sub-dials with the 35-hour power reserve to the left and the sub-seconds to the right. It has the 59mm 0.900 German silver case with the open face and double hinged case back. The case back is marked with the serial number ‘200,071’. The inner case back is marked with the work details by Andreas Huber, who were tasked to complete the watch. This also carries the serial number ‘200,071’. The inside of the case backs have the German silver hallmark and matching serial number. The movement is an A Lange & Sohne calibre 48 which is a quality German made movement, carrying the serial number ‘200,071’. It has been recently serviced and is keeping time to within chronometer standards.
The watch comes with an Extract from the archives provided by The German Watch Museum of Glashutte. The watch wasinvoiced to die Kriegsmarinewerft. The extract also includes copies of the original order and sales invoicing from A Lange & Sohne.
The watch was part of an order for 30 pieces to be received by The Naval shipyard, Wilhelmshaven. The order was issuedon February 25th 1940 and delivered between 25th October – 21st December 1940. Each piece had a cost of 199.50 RM.
The watches were sold as the ebauche (movement and dial) only, with the casing taking place afterwards. This example was completed by Andreas Huber in Berlin.
The watch comes with fascinating provenance, direct from the son of the original liberator of the watch. His father served as Chief Petty Officer on H.M.S. Dido. The deck watch was stated to have been from the German U-boat U-775, which surrendered on the 9th May 1945 in Trondheim, Norway. It comes with a copy of the propaganda book ‘Kriegsmarine am feind’ from 1940, which has a personal dedication to the inner cover “Finnland 1941 Kriegsmeihnacht gemidmet in treuer kameradschaft von deinemsteten begleiter, Arno’
‘Finland 1941, War Christmas, Commemorated in faithful comradeship, by your constant companion, Arno”.
This makes this example a particularly unusual survivor used from 1940, right up until the surrender of the Kriegsmarine on the 9th May 1945. It was ordered in one of the very earliest batches in February 1940 (200,051-200,080), with the later examples numbering 205,000 and above.
The dial is a beautifully clean and legible design with the lightly brushed silver tone. It has the clear black railroad track with the bold dashes for the 5 minute graduations. The hour markers are also bold, designed for legibility. There are the two inset sub-dials, with the power reserve indicator and 9 and the sub-seconds at 3 o’clock. They are set into the dial which provides a pleasing depth. They also have the grained concentric circles watch radiate in the light and provide further contrast from the rest of the dial. The hour and minute hands are of spade and whip style and are original. They have the bright thermally blued tone which stands out against the silver. Both the up/down power reserve hand and the sub-seconds hand are also original and have the matching thermally blued finish.
The case is of the open face configuration with the hinged bezel and double hinged case back. It is a well sized pocket watch, measuring just under 60mm x 60mm. With crown it has a length of 72mm and including the loop the total length is 80mm.
It is formed of 0.900 fineness silver and has the polished finishing to the case. The bezel is curved and smooth with the hinge to the base. There is a lip at 1 o’clock used to pop the front open. The stem and loop are original and well formed, with major wear. The crown is a later replacement, with the onion shape. The original was a flat-top design. To the right of the bow, at 1 o’clock is the pin set for hand adjustment. This is original and functions well. The case back has the polished finish with the serial number to the centre. It lacks the eagle and Swastika emblem that features on later produced deck watches. The inside of the case back has the A. Lange & Sohne stamp with the 0.900 fineness mark and German silver hallmark. It has the serial number 200,071. The inner case back has the manufacture details, with the Andreas Huber name, who completed the watch. The serial number on these section matches the rest of the case. The inside of this inner back has the repeated German hallmarking with the Crescent and crown, as well as the serial number.
Inside is a beautiful, frosted gilt A lange & Sohne calibre 48 movement. It is manually wound and is jewelled to the centre wheel, with the swans neck micrometer regulator and large cut compensated bi-metallic balance with overcoil blued steel spring. The crown wheel and ratchet wheel have the Glashütte sunburst finishing. It used fine lines that radiate from the centre, with the rays curving to create a circular effect when it catches the light. It has been recently serviced and is keeping very accurate time, to within chronometer standards.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
Dial:
The dial is original and is in good vintage condition. It has a couple of darkened marks and scratches associated with age and wear.
Hands:
The hands are original. They are of Spade and Whip style with a thermally blued finish. The power reserve hand and second hand are also original. The thermally blued finishes are free of corrosion.
Glass:
The glass appears original as it fits the profile perfectly.
Loop:
The stem and loop are good and original in silver. The crown is a later replacement.
Case:
The case is formed of silver and is in good vintage condition. The front and rear have the strong hinges and seal tightly. It is free of denting and major scratching. It has light scratching and tarnishing associated with age.
Caseback:
The double hinged backs are in good condition, sealing well with good hinges. The hallmarking and serial number are clear to both. The inside of the inner cover has a circular mark from the barrel Arbor touching it in the past (it is not contacting it now after servicing).
Movement:
The movement is the A. Lange & Sohne calibre 48. It is a high-grade movement which is in very good original condition, with all original parts.
The movement has been recently serviced and is keeping time to within chronometer grade. It has a daily variation of +/- 4 seconds a day.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 59.5mm
Case length: 59.5mm
Case length with crown: 72mm
Case length with crown loop: 80mm
Case Depth: 16.25mm