German gold exquisite Glashütte pocket watch Circa 1909

Pink gold open faced chronograph
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An exquisite German 14 carat pink gold open faced gentleman’s pocket watch with chronograph made by A. Lange & Söhne in Glashütte, circa 1909. Sold in 1909 for 473 marks. Accompanied by the original presentation box and certificate. A smooth case. White enamel dial with black Breguet hours, an outer minute track, outermost fifth of a second divisions and red Arabic five minute numerals, subsidiary seconds at 3, a 30 minute counter at 9, sunk center and fine hands. The ¾ plate movement with a lever escapement and screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 106 g
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Signed: Deutsche Uhrenfabrikation Glashütte – SA A. Lange & Söhne
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In the early 1870s, Richard Lange (1845-1932) designed a new chronograph with the mechanism above the train, to attach it to a regular watch movement. The upper seconds bearing received a new bridge and acted as the bearing for the clutch lever. A central chrono wheel with an upper steel bridge was fed through the minute wheel, and all levers and springs were highly ground and bevelled. The mechanism was operated by a pusher in the crown, with the sequence being start, stop and reset. The most basic version only had one chronograph hand. Chronographs with minute counters were much more complicated.
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Deutsche Uhrenfabrikation, often abbreviated as DUF, is a historical brand and quality designation for pocket watches, introduced in 1878 by the renowned manufacturer
A. Lange & Söhne in Glashütte. The brand was founded to offer sturdier, more affordable pocket watches that nevertheless met the high quality standards of Glashütte.