Important Swiss gold repeating lever chronograph Circa 1929

Gold hunting cased minute repeating chronograph by Longines
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A very fine, important Swiss 18 carat gold hunting cased minute repeating chronograph keyless lever pocket watch with instantaneous 30 minute register, circa 1929. Repetition à minutes, chronographe compteur. Sold on August 4, 1929, presented by the Swiss to Albert I, King of Belgium as a souvenir of the Liege International Exhibition of 1930 and to commemorate the centenary of the independence of Belgium. Frosted gilt movement, 36 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band, silent centrifugal governor, visible steel chronograph work. Gold hinged cuvette engraved with the Longines 9 Grand Prix medals and the technical details. White enamel dial with black dauphine numerals, outer minute and fifths of a second divisions with Arabic five minute/seconds numerals, subsidiary dial at 9 for the seconds, at 3 for the instantaneous 30 minute register and original gold Breguet hands. Large and thin plain case, the interior of the front cover engraved with a presentation inscription: La Suisse a Sa Majeste Albert I Roi des Belges, En Souvenir de L’Exposition Internationale De Liege 1930 et du Centenaire de L’Independence Belge, button in the band between 1 and 2 for the start/stop and return-to-zero functions of the chronograph. Dial, movement, cuvette and case signed.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed: Longines
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Albert I, King of Belgium (April 8, 1875 – February 17, 1934) was the younger son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders. His grandfather, Leopold I, had been the first King of the Belgians, and his aunt, the first princess of Belgium, was Empress Carlota of Mexico. Albert succeeded his uncle, Leopold II of Belgium, to the throne on December 17, 1909. On October 2, 1900, he married Duchess Elisabeth Gabrielle Valérie Marie, the daughter of Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria. Their children were Léopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel, Duke of Brabant, Prince of Belgium, who became later the fourth king of the Belgians as Leopold III, Charles-Théodore Henri Antoine Meinrad, Count of Flanders, Prince of Belgium, Regent of Belgium and Marie-José Charlotte Sophie Amélie Henriette Gabrielle, Princess of Belgium. Albert I is known for his courageous actions during World War I. When Germany issued an ultimatum on August 2, 1914, demanding access to Belgian territory in order to reach France, Albert famously responded: ‘Belgium is a nation, not a road’. Belgium was invaded by Germany on August 4, 1914 and the country’s small army was soon overcome, forcing Albert I to move his government to Le Havre, from whence he continued to govern (he himself continuing to live in Belgium). Albert held off the Germans long enough for Britain and France to ready themselves for the Battle of the Marne (6 – 9 September 1914). On November 22, 1918, Albert made his triumphant re-entry into Brussels, having successfully commanded the Belgian army in the Courtrai offensive. In 1934 King Albert I died in a climbing accident at Marche-les-Dames near Namur and was succeeded by his son Leopold III. His death was universally mourned. According to Longines, this watch is one of a series of only 12 watches. It is the only piece of that limited series to have been made especially to be presented to the King of Belgium.