Anonymous Swiss Keyless Fob Watch with Chatelaine
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1890
This Swiss keyless fob watch, manufactured circa 1890, is suspended from a matching 18 ct. gold short chatelaine. The chatelaine is chased with scrollwork and topped by a Ducal crown, incorporating two champleve enamelled coats of arms.
The watch case is a four-body "pomme et filets" construction. Its back cover features a painted enamel scene depicting a seated bagpiper, a dog, and two young ladies, framed by black enamel with engraved floral decoration. The cuvette is made of engine-turned gold. The dial is white enamel, displaying Roman numerals and an outer Arabic minute ring, accompanied by gold "Louis XV" hands. The movement is a 12 ligne, nickel-plated caliber, featuring "fausses côtes" decoration and eight jewels.
It utilizes a cylinder escapement, a plain gold three-arm balance, and a flat balance spring. The total diameter of the watch is 32 mm.
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
- White enamel
- Type
- Keyless fob watch with chatelaine
- Decor
- Fausses côtes
- Maker
- Anonymous
- Diameter
- 32 mm
- Material
- 18 ct. gold and enamel
- Case type
- Four body "pomme et filets"
- Escapement
- Cylinder escapement
- Movement size
- 12 ligne
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
Design
- Movement
- The movement is a 12 ligne, nickel-plated caliber constructed with 8 jewels. Technical regulation is achieved through a cylinder escapement. The oscillator consists of a plain gold three-arm balance paired with a flat balance spring.
- Dial and Hands
- The watch features a white enamel dial, providing a contrast to the gold case. It is marked with standard Roman numeral hour indices. For precise time reading, the dial includes an outer Arabic numeral track for minutes. The time is indicated by a pair of gold "Louis XV" style hands, completing the ornamental design of the watch face.
- Visible features
- • The watch is attached to a decorative chatelaine via a gold ring. • The back of the watch case shows a painted scene of a bagpiper. • The chatelaine features two shield-shaped enamel heraldic emblems. • The case includes a Ducal crown motif at the top of the chatelaine.
- Case and Chatelaine
- The watch is housed in a four-body "pomme et filets" case crafted from 18 ct. gold. The reverse side of the case displays a painted enamel composition of a bagpiper, a dog, and two young women, surrounded by an outer frame of black enamel with floral engraving. A gold engine-turned cuvette protects the internal movement. The watch is suspended from a matching gold chatelaine, designed with chased scroll decoration. The top section terminates in a Ducal crown and is set with two distinct shields featuring champleve enamelled coats of arms. This ensemble forms an integrated unit for attachment to clothing.
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 provenance of the coats of arms is not provided in the source.
- Research required: The attribution to the maker is only identified as anonymous.