Diamond Set Gold and Enamel Ball Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late 19th century
This is a Swiss-made spherical pendant watch, known as a ball watch, dating from the late nineteenth century. The watch is suspended from a simple gold bar pin by a short gold chain, intended for attachment to clothing.
The three-piece spherical gold case is decorated with translucent light blue enamel applied over a machine-turned (guilloche) surface. The case features applied golden floral motifs and is inset with small diamonds. The watch face is small white enamel with black Arabic numerals, excluding the number 12, which is printed in red. The hands and minute markers are brass or gilt. The mechanical movement is a small gold-finished three-quarter plate design, featuring a steel cylinder escapement.
It is wound and set by rotating the upper hemisphere against the lower one. The watch includes an original blue storage box with velvet and satin lining.
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 with Arabic numerals
- Type
- Ball watch
- Maker
- NOVO
- Decoration
- Enamel and diamonds
- Escapement
- Cylinder
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Movement Serial
- 32774
- Winding Mechanism
- Hemisphere rotation
- Maker / attribution
- NOVO
Design
- Visible features
- • Case features translucent blue enamel over guilloche engraving • Includes original blue velvet and satin-lined storage box • Winding and time-setting are achieved by rotating the case hemispheres • Movement is a three-quarter plate design with a cylinder escapement
- Dial and Presentation
- The dial is made of white enamel and displays black Arabic numerals for the hours. A distinct feature is the inclusion of the numeral 12, which is painted in red. The hands and the minute graduation markers are crafted from brass or a gilt material. The object is provided with a storage case described as blue in color, featuring an interior lining made of velvet and satin to protect the watch when not in use. The auction description reports that specific details regarding the current mechanical health or previous service history are not known.
- Movement and Function
- The internal mechanism is a small-dimension movement constructed on a three-quarter plate, finished in gold. The gear train is positioned above the mainspring barrel. Key components of the watch include a plain balance cock equipped with a polished steel regulator, and a three-arm gold balance wheel paired with a blued steel hairspring. The escapement is a traditional cylinder type with a polished steel escape wheel. The watch functions as a keyless timepiece, utilizing an internal mechanism that allows for winding and hand setting by rotating the upper hemisphere of the case relative to the lower hemisphere. The movement bears the signature 'NOVO' and the serial number 32774 on the bridge.
- Case and Aesthetic Features
- The watch is housed in a three-piece spherical gold case designed for use as a pendant. The exterior surfaces are finished with translucent light blue enamel applied over an engine-turned, or guilloche, base. Decorative flourishes include golden floral motifs applied to the case surface, which are further accented by small, inset diamonds distributed across the spheres. The suspension system consists of a short gold chain attached to a simple gold bar pin, which is equipped with a safety clasp for securing the watch to a garment. The overall assembly of the watch, chain, and pin serves as a decorative accessory piece consistent with late-nineteenth-century personal timepieces.
Identification
- Serial number
- 32774
- 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: Mechanical working order is unverified
- Research required: Authenticity of diamonds and enamel condition are unverified