====== Three-quarter plate ======
{{wst>image_cl|Lange|L901.0|Typical [[three-quarter plate]] in [[Glashütte]] style at the caliber [[Lange L901.0]]}}

A **three-quarter plate** (also **¾ plate**) is a large [[top plate]] that covers roughly three quarters of the movement and is a historic signature of watchmakers in the [[Glashütte]] region of [[Germany]].

===== Overview =====
Around [[1864]] [[Ferdinand Adolph Lange]] developed the legendary classical three-quarter plate [[caliber]] in [[Glashütte]] for [[pocket watch]]es. The [[top plate]] covers about three-quarters of the [[movement]], as seen from the reverse side of the [[dial]]. The [[barrel]], [[crown wheel]] and the whole [[gear train]] are located under this large plate, complicating construction but increasing durability and stability. The bearing of the [[balance wheel]] and the [[anchor]] are exposed outside the plate and secured with a [[cock]] or [[bridge]]. To facilitate construction, the wheels and [[jewels]] are anchored using gold [[chaton]]s that are attached after the plates are brought together.

Today the three-quarter [[plate]] is considered as special mark for quality Glashütte watches, but it is also commonly found in British and American [[pocket watch]]es. [[Plate]]s in Glashütte are traditionally made of untreated [[German silver]] and decorated with [[Glashütte ribbing]]. Compared to designs with several [[bridge]]s, the [[three-quarter plate]] gives the [[movement]] significantly more stability. However, in watches with [[display caseback]]s, the large plate obscures much of the movement from view.

When [[A. Lange & Söhne]] relaunched in [[1994]], they were sure to showcase the three-quarter plate construction of their new movements, along with other signature Glashütte elements. [[Glashütte Original]] later returned to three-quarter plate designs, even with their [[automatic]] movements, and celebrates it with the [[GO 66|Cal. GO 66]], the three-quarter plate of which makes up the [[face]] of the [[Glashütte Original PanoInverse|PanoInverse]]. Although the [[Nomos 1]] calibre did not use three-quarter plate construction, [[Nomos]] in-house movements have adopted a modification of the design, starting with the [[Nomos Alpha]], with exposed [[barrel]] and winding components. [[Mühle-Glashütte]] introduced another Glashütte movement with a ¾ [[plate]] at [[Baselworld]] [[2008]].


{{tag>Terms Glashütte}}