Agassiz 8-Day Dress Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1920
This 14 ct. gold dress pocket watch was produced by the Agassiz Watch Company in Switzerland, circa 1920, specifically for the retailer W.M. Wise & Son. Designed as an eight-day going keyless watch, it features a power reserve indicator on the dial.
The case is a three-body, "demi-bassine" design in 14 ct. gold with polished surfaces and inset hinges, and it contains an inner gold cuvette. The movement, measuring 16 lignes, is rhodium-plated and features "fausses côtes" decoration. It operates with a five-wheel train, 21 jewels, and a straight-line lever escapement. Additional technical specifications include a cut bimetallic balance, eight adjustments, and a blued steel Breguet balance spring fitted with a swan-neck micrometric regulator.
The watch is signed on the dial, case, and movement. It measures 44 mm in diameter and is reported by the auction description to be in very good condition.
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
- 8-day power reserve dress pocket watch
- Maker
- Agassiz W. Co.
- Diameter
- 44 mm
- Material
- 14 ct. gold
- Retailer
- W.M. Wise & Son
- Adjustments
- eight adjustments
- Balance spring
- blued steel Breguet balance spring
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Escapement type
- straight line lever escapement
- Maker / attribution
- Agassiz W. Co.
Design
- Visible features
- • Applied gold Arabic numerals on a matte silver dial • Power reserve up-and-down scale positioned at the 12 o'clock area • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned at the 6 o'clock area • Gold 'scoties' style hands
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is a 16-ligne caliber finished with rhodium plating and "fausses côtes" decoration. It is built as a five-wheel train containing 21 jewels. The timekeeping mechanism is regulated by a straight-line lever escapement. The balance assembly comprises a cut bimetallic balance and a blued steel Breguet balance spring. Fine timing regulation is controlled via a swan-neck micrometric index. The movement is officially rated for eight adjustments.
- Signatures and Condition
- The piece bears the signatures of both the maker and the retailer. The manufacturer, Agassiz W. Co., is clearly indicated, as is the name of the retailer, W.M. Wise & Son, for whom the watch was produced. The signatures are applied to the dial, the case, and the movement. Regarding the overall state of the object, the auction description reports that the watch is currently in very good condition.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The watch features a 14 ct. gold case constructed in a three-body format. The exterior is described as a "demi-bassine" shape with polished surfaces and inset hinges. An internal gold cuvette provides protection for the movement within the case. The dial is finished in a matte silver tone and is set with applied gold Arabic numerals. For time-telling, it utilizes gold "scoties" hands. Two subsidiary registers are present: a power reserve indicator with an eight-day up-and-down scale located toward the top of the dial and a subsidiary seconds register positioned at the bottom.
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 exact alloy composition of the gold beyond 14 ct. is not specified
- Research required: The specific serial number is not provided in the source