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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Lever chronometer pocket watch

A. Lange & Söhne 18K Gold Lever-Chronometer No. 58256

Partially verified

This A. Lange & Söhne pocket watch, bearing movement and case number 58256, dates to circa 1906. It features a four-body 'demi-bassine' 18K gold case with an engine-turned finish and a hinged gold cuvette matching the movement number. The white enamel dial is marked with Roman numerals, an outer minute ring, and a subsidiary seconds dial, accompanied by gold 'spade' hands. The movement is a 1st quality 3/4 plate gilded-brass caliber. It incorporates a straight-line lever escapement with 17 jewels, a bimetallic compensation balance, and a Breguet balance spring. Technical refinements include a gold escape wheel, gold pallet fork, and jewels set in gold 'châtons', alongside a diamond endstone for the upper balance pivot. The watch utilizes the patented Lange lever-set mechanism and is signed on the dial and movement, with the house mark inside the back cover. The diameter measures 54 mm.

Front view of the A. Lange & Söhne 18K gold pocket watch, No. 58256, showing the white enamel dial and subsidiary seconds.
Front view of the A. Lange & Söhne 18K gold pocket watch, No. 58256, showing the white enamel dial and subsidiary seconds. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Lever chronometer pocket watch
Maker / attribution
A. Lange & Söhne
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
185
Source-reported date
circa 1906
Source-reported place
Germany
Source-reported serial
58256

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

Case and Dial Design

The pocket watch is housed in an 18K gold 'demi-bassine' case constructed with four bodies. The exterior surface of the case displays an engine-turned finish. The interior includes a hinged gold cuvette that is numbered to correspond with the movement.

The dial is finished in white enamel and is fitted with Roman numerals to mark the hours. It includes an outer minute ring and a sunken subsidiary dial for the seconds. Time is indicated by gold 'spade' hands. The dial is signed by the manufacturer.

Evidence for this section
  • “Four-body 'demi-bassine', engine-turned, gold hinged cuvette, numbered same as the movement.”
  • “White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary sunk seconds, gold 'spade' hands.”

Movement and Escapement

The watch is powered by a 1st quality, 3/4 plate gilded-brass movement. It features a straight-line lever escapement with 17 jewels. The configuration includes a bimetallic compensation balance and a Breguet-style balance spring.

The escapement assembly is upgraded with a gold escape wheel and a gold pallet fork. The jewels are mounted in gold 'châtons' on the back plate, and the upper balance pivot is provided with a diamond endstone. The movement also employs the Lange patented lever-set design.

Evidence for this section
  • “M. 1st quality, 19???, gilded-brass, 3/4 plate, straight-line lever escapement, 17 jewels”
  • “Lange?s bimetallic compensation balance, Breguet balance spring, gold escape wheel and pallet fork, jeweled to the center, back plate jewels in gold 'châtons', entire escapement with endstones with diamond over the uper balance pivot, Lange patented lever-set design”

Signatures and Grading

The watch is signed by the manufacturer on both the dial and the movement. The internal side of the back cover is stamped with the manufacturer's mark.

The auction description reports a grading system evaluation for the object. This assessment assigned specific numerical grades to the case, movement, and dial, indicating a general condition of 'Very good' with the grade AA.

Evidence for this section
  • “Signed on the dial and the movement, back cover stamped inside with Lange?s mark.”
  • “Grading System Grade: AA Very good Case: 3 Good Movement: 4 - 21* Dial: 4 - 8 - 01”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific significance of the numerical condition grades 3 and 4 in the auction house's system?
  • Does the serial number 58256 appear in contemporary factory records held in Glashütte?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for A. Lange & Söhne 18K Gold Lever-Chronometer No. 58256
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerA. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte“A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte”
Serial Number58256“No. 58256”
Case typeFour-body 'demi-bassine'“Four-body 'demi-bassine', engine-turned, gold hinged cuvette, numbered same as the movement.”
Movement type1st quality, 3/4 plate, gilded-brass“M. 1st quality, 19???, gilded-brass, 3/4 plate”
EscapementStraight-line lever escapement“straight-line lever escapement”
Balance assemblyBimetallic compensation balance, Breguet balance spring“Lange?s bimetallic compensation balance, Breguet balance spring”
DialWhite enamel, Roman numerals“White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary sunk seconds, gold 'spade' hands.”
Diameter54 mm“Diam. 54 mm.”

Visible details

  • Case back features engine-turned decoration
  • Dial displays Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds
  • Gold spade hands are present
  • Movement is a 3/4 plate gilded-brass construction

Research qualifications

  • The exact number of jewels is potentially obscured by a typo in source '19???'
  • The grade marks provided in the source are numerical codes not fully explained in the text

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

Consulted source

A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, No. 58256, circa 1906.Very fine 18K gold lever-chronometer.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 3b91a45bd5

Terms in this record

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

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