German Glashütte watch with 24 hour indication Circa 1865

Silver open faced lever pocket watch
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An important German silver open faced key wind gentleman’s pocket watch made by A. Lange and Friedrich Gutkaes in Dresden, circa 1865. The plain polished case with gold hinges and a reeded band, a silver cuvette with the dedication engraving Fernando Ganter and the initials J.K. White enamel dial with Arabic 24 hour numerals, an outer minute track, sunk auxiliary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued spade hands. The frosted gilt 2/3 plate movement with a lever escapement, gold screw compensation balance, and gold lever and escape wheel.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 91 g
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Signed: Gutkaes & Lange Dresden
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This timepiece is the first of only nine watches by Ferdinand Adolph Lange with a 24 hour dial. It shows that he began looking for overseas sales opportunities at an early stage.
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Fernando Ganter was a German emigrant from Lenzkirch. He ran a successful jewellery store in Madrid, Spain, with at least one branch in London. Another watch by Julius Assmann is known that also bears Ganter’s sales mark.