Anonymous Padlock-Shaped Pendant Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1880
This unsigned Swiss pendant watch, manufactured circa 1880, features a unique padlock-shaped case constructed from sterling silver, gold, and brown painted enamel.
The timepiece is designed as a key-wound model and measures 33 x 49 mm. It is equipped with a 140 cm silver snake chain, complete with a snake head end, a gold swivel, and the original winding key. The dial is white enamel with radial Roman numerals and an outer minute track featuring red Arabic markers at five-minute intervals. The watch is powered by a 36 mm bridged matte gilt movement, which utilizes a cylinder escapement, a three-arm brass balance, a flat balance spring, and an index regulator.
The piece is accompanied by its original fitted wooden box. The case design is characterized by its integrated padlock form, with the bow secured by large gold screws and a transparent back providing view of the internal components.
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
- Date
- circa 1880
- Type
- Pendant watch
- Maker
- Anonymous
- Material
- Sterling silver, gold, and enamel
- Dimensions
- 33 x 49 mm
- Escapement
- Cylinder
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Movement Caliber
- 36 mm
- Included accessories
- 140 cm chain and original box
Design
- Visible features
- • The watch case is shaped like a padlock with a prominent bow • The dial features both Roman numeral hour markers and red Arabic minute numerals • The winding and setting apertures are positioned on the inner case back • The watch comes with a long snake-link chain and a detached winding key
- Dial and Timekeeping Display
- The dial is composed of white enamel and displays time via black radial Roman numerals for the hours. Encircling the inner chapter are outer minute divisions, marked at five-minute increments with red Arabic numerals. The time is indicated by yellow gold spade-style hands. The watch functions via a key-wound mechanism, with the winding square accessible through the case back. According to the provided condition report, the dial displays hairlines, and the original hands have been partially replaced over time, as noted in the auction documentation.
- Case and Exterior Construction
- The watch is housed in a distinctive padlock-shaped case fashioned from sterling silver, gold, and painted enamel. The assembly incorporates a bow held in place by two large gold screws, while a wide, brown enamel bezel is fixed to the frame using four smaller gold screws. The construction includes a silver inner bezel and a transparent back that allows visibility of the inner movement cover, which features two dedicated apertures for winding and time-setting functions. The exterior is complemented by a 140 cm long silver snake-pattern chain that terminates in a snake-head fixture and a gold swivel. The watch is presented in its original fitted wooden box, which matches the dimensions of the object.
- Movement and Technical Specifications
- The watch is powered by a 36 mm bridged movement with a matte gilt finish. It features a cylinder escapement, a classic configuration for 19th-century portable timepieces. The regulation of the balance is achieved via a three-arm brass balance, a flat balance spring, and a standard index regulator. The technical grading for the movement is listed as 3, reflecting the current necessity for mechanical attention to restore full functionality.
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 auction description notes the movement requires repair
- Research required: The auction description indicates that the hands are partially replaced
- Research required: The auction description reports hairlines in the enamel dial