Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Deck watch

A. Lange & Söhne Glashütte Kriegsmarine deck watch

Partially verified

This open-face Lépine pocket watch was produced around 1944 by A. Lange & Söhne as a deck watch for the German Kriegsmarine, according to auction records. Housed in a 60 mm plain silver-coloured metal case, it features a fluted ball crown at 12 o'clock and a hand-setting lever on the case band near 1 o'clock. The silver-coloured dial displays black Arabic numerals, an outer railway minute track, blued steel hands, a power reserve subdial marked 'AUF' and 'AB' at 9 o'clock, and subsidiary seconds at 3 o'clock. The source reports that the piece is powered by the 48 mm gold-coloured calibre 48 movement.

Dial view of the A. Lange & Söhne Kriegsmarine deck watch showing dual subsidiary dials and blued steel hands
Dial view of the A. Lange & Söhne Kriegsmarine deck watch showing dual subsidiary dials and blued steel hands — Kunst- und Auktionshaus Quedlinburg. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.invaluable.com
Category
Pocket watch · Deck watch
Maker / attribution
A. Lange & Söhne
Reference
Calibre 48
Catalogue / lot identifier
737
Source-reported date
circa 1944
Country
Germany
Source-reported serial
204232

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Object Identity and Military Provenance

This timepiece is described as an A. Lange & Söhne Calibre 48 deck watch, identified as an open-face Lépine-style pocket watch associated with the Kriegsmarine. It is noted as being part of the B-Uhr observation watch series.

The dust cover is reported to be engraved with "Werk: A.Lange & Söhne", "Nr. 204232" and "Fertiggestellt: A.Lange & Söhne Glashütte". The case back bears the engraved movement number "204 232" and the navy number "M 11453".

Evidence for this section
  • “deck watch of the Kriegsmarine”
  • “Open-face Lépine gentleman's pocket watch”
  • “The dust cover engraved "Werk: A.Lange & Söhne", "Nr. 204232" and "Fertiggestellt: A.Lange & Söhne Glashütte"”
  • “the case back engraved with the movement number "204 232" and the navy number "M 11453"”

Construction and Dial Features

The watch is housed in a 60 mm silver-coloured metal case featuring a fluted ball crown at 12 o'clock and a round bow. A lateral hand-setting lever is positioned on the case band near 1 o'clock.

The silver-coloured dial displays black Arabic numerals with a railway minute track. It features two sunken subsidiary dials: a power reserve indicator with 'AUF' and 'AB' markings and a scale of 7 to 28 at 9 o'clock, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 3 o'clock. The hands are blued, with a pear-shaped hour hand.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver-coloured metal case, plain, with detachable case back and hinged dust cover.”
  • “fluted ball crown, lateral hand-setting lever on the case band at 1 o'clock for setting the hands.”
  • “two sunken subsidiary dials: power reserve indicator "AUF" and "AB" with scale 7 to 28 at 9 o'clock, subsidiary seconds at 3 o'clock.”
  • “Blued hands, pear-shaped hour hand.”

Movement and Technical Specifications

The piece is powered by a gold-coloured plate movement, Calibre 48. The movement is signed on the plate "A.Lange & Söhne Glashütte i. Sa." and is numbered "204232".

Technical details reported include a compensation balance with weight screws, a swan-neck regulator, and jewels set in gold-coloured chatons. The Calibre 48 was developed under military contract for the Kriegsmarine with a requirement for a rate deviation of no more than one second per 24 hours.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gold-coloured plate movement, calibre 48, crown winding, signed on the plate "A.Lange & Söhne Glashütte i. Sa." and numbered "204232"”
  • “compensation balance with weight screws, swan-neck regulator, jewels in gold-coloured chatons.”
  • “Calibre 48 was developed by A. Lange & Söhne in Glashütte between 1937 and 1940 under military contract; the requirement was a rate deviation of no more than one second in 24 hours”

Open research questions

  • Does the internal stamped number 1067564 correspond to A. Lange & Söhne internal manufacturing records or a third-party case manufacturer?
  • Are there visible physical marks on the movement and dust cover consistent with the reported serial and naval identification numbers?
  • Is the watch currently functional as per the auction description?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for A. Lange & Söhne Glashütte Kriegsmarine deck watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement number204232“numbered "204232"”
Navy designation numberM 11453“navy number "M 11453"”
Movement calibreCalibre 48“Gold-coloured plate movement, calibre 48”
Diameter60 mm“D. 60 mm”
Case inner stamp number1067564“stamped number "1067564"”
Case inner stamp1067564“stamped number "1067564"”
Weight166 g“weight 166 g.”
Dimensions60 mm diameter, 17 mm height“D. 60 mm, H. 17 mm”

Visible details

  • Unsigned silvered dial with dual sunken subsidiary dials positioned at 3 and 9 o'clock
  • Blued steel pear-shaped hour hand and straight minute hand
  • Fluted ball crown with rounded bow at 12 o'clock and a lateral setting lever visible at 1 o'clock
  • Power reserve indicator graduated from 7 to 28 with 'AUF' and 'AB' markings at 9 o'clock

Research qualifications

  • Movement details and case engravings are documented in auction text but not visible in the front dial photograph

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

At Auction: A. Lange & Söhne Glashütte, Kriegsmarine deck watch, Lépine gentleman's pocket watch, circa 1944

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Record b3136dbdc2

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

Other deck watch records