An early 19th century gold open face pocket watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
early 19th century
This gold open face pocket watch dates to the early 19th century and is housed in a three-piece case measuring 34 mm in diameter. The source reports that the case is decorated with seed pearl borders and has a chased and engraved foliate back cover set with turquoise and garnets.
The gilt engine-turned dial features enamel Arabic numerals on circular cartouches, blued steel hands, and a key-winding aperture positioned at 2 o'clock. According to the auctioneer, the case marks are obscured, and the watch houses a fusee movement with an undersprung three-armed flat balance and disc regulator.
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
- Dial
- Gilt engine turned dial, enamel Arabic numerals
- Type
- Open-face pocket watch
- Marks
- Marks obscured
- Diameter
- 34 mm
- Movement Type
- Fusee movement with undersprung three armed flat balance, disc regulator
- Winding Aperture
- At 2 o'clock
- Case Construction
- Three piece case, with seed pearl borders
- Case Back Decoration
- Chased and engraved foliate decoration set with turquoise and garnets
Design
- Visible features
- • A continuous row of small seed pearls is set into the bezel surrounding the crystal. • The dial features distinct round white enamel cartouches displaying black Arabic numerals, with visible wear or loss on several cartouches. • A winding aperture penetrates the dial between the 1 and 2 o'clock positions. • The hands are made of dark blued steel with a pierced hour hand.
- Reported Movement and Markings
- The auctioneer catalogued the timepiece as an early 19th-century gold open face pocket watch, noting that the case marks are obscured. No maker, reference, or serial numbers are recorded in the source. The movement is reported by the saleroom as a fusee movement featuring an undersprung three-armed flat balance and a disc regulator. As the movement is not shown in the available photograph, its specific escapement, mechanical condition, and completeness remain unverified.
- Dial Configuration and Appearance
- The watch features a gilt engine-turned dial surrounded by an outer bezel set with seed pearls. The hours are displayed as black Arabic numerals set on circular white enamel cartouches. Direct observation shows visible wear and losses across several of these enamel cartouches. The hands are made of dark blued steel, including a pierced decorative pattern on the hour hand. A winding aperture is positioned on the dial between the 1 and 2 o'clock positions, noted in the catalogue as located at 2 o'clock.
- Case Construction and Ornamentation
- The watch is housed in an open-face gold three-piece case with a reported diameter of 34 mm (catalogued as 'diameter 34m'). The front bezel incorporates a continuous row of small seed pearls framing the crystal. According to the auction catalogue, the rear of the case consists of a back cover chased and engraved with foliate decoration set with turquoise and garnets. Because the provided visual record only depicts the dial, the rear case decoration and gem settings cannot be verified directly from the photo.
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 catalogued diameter appears as 'diameter 34m' in the source, representing 34 mm.
- Research required: Internal hallmarks and maker's marks are noted by the source as obscured.
- Research required: Movement and case back decoration are not visible in the provided photograph and rely entirely on auctioneer reporting.