18ct Yellow Gold and Enamel Open Face Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1840's
This 18ct yellow gold open face pocket watch dates to the 1840s and is attributed to Swiss manufacture. The piece features an intricate enamel finish, with a central scene on the case back depicting a boat on the river Bosphorus at sunset, surrounded by floral and enamel detailing that extends to the bow and the circumference of the case.
The white enamel dial is marked with Eastern Arabic numerals and equipped with steel skeletonised hands. The manual movement is housed within a 18ct yellow gold case measuring 46 mm in diameter and 10 mm in thickness. The watch includes a gilded dust cover that provides apertures specifically for the winding and setting of the mechanism. Although unsigned, the watch is identified as a product manufactured for the Ottoman Empire market, reflecting historical trade relations between Swiss watchmakers and the region during this period.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Open-face pocket watch
- Dating
- 1840s
- Diameter
- 46 mm
- Material
- 18ct yellow gold
- Movement
- Manual
- Thickness
- 10 mm
- Dust cover
- Gilded with winding and setting apertures
- Dial numerals
- Eastern Arabic
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
Design
- Visible features
- • Case back features a painted enamel scene of a boat on the Bosphorus • Dial utilizes Eastern Arabic numerals • Steel skeletonised hands • Gilded dust cover with winding and setting apertures
- Dial and Movement
- The watch is fitted with a white enamel dial that indicates the time using Eastern Arabic numerals. The dial is completed with a set of steel skeletonised hands. The timekeeping is provided by a manual movement, which is visible when the case is opened. The watch remains unsigned, though it is contextualized as a Swiss-made item produced during the 1840s. The movement is mounted within the gold casing, with the gilded dust cover serving as a partition between the dial assembly and the mechanical movement.
- Case and Enamel Decoration
- The pocket watch features an 18ct yellow gold open face case characterized by elaborate enamel ornamentation. The circumference of the case, as well as the areas surrounding the dial and the bow, are decorated with floral motifs and enamel work. The primary decorative element is situated on the center of the case back, which contains a painted enamel scene depicting a boat navigating the river Bosphorus at sunset. The physical dimensions of the case are 46 mm in diameter with a thickness of 10 mm. The interior of the watch is protected by a gilded dust cover, which features functional apertures designed to facilitate the winding and setting of the movement without exposing the internal components to the external environment.
- Historical Context and Attribution
- The watch is identified as having been made for the Ottoman Empire market, a destination for many Swiss watchmakers throughout the 19th century. The object is attributed to the 1840s based on the vendor's records. While the watch is unsigned, its design attributes and specific market orientation are consistent with the items produced by Swiss workshops for international export to Constantinople and beyond during this era.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The maker is identified as 'unsigned'
- Research required: Country of manufacture is not explicitly stated as Swiss beyond the 'Vendor: Swiss' and general trade context provided in the text