École d'Horlogerie Neuchâtel graduate's pocket watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1900
This graduate's pocket watch, originating from the École d'Horlogerie Neuchâtel in Switzerland, dates to approximately 1900. The watch features a skeletonised dial and a skeletonised bridge movement, equipped with a lever escapement and a gold screw compensation balance.
The case measures 53 mm in diameter and is constructed from niello silver, decorated with a poppy and spike pattern. It includes a gold crown and bears the case maker's punch mark "Niel HF" associated with Huguenin Freres. According to the auction report, the movement is capable of running, although professional cleaning is recommended to ensure optimal function. The total weight of the object is 80 grams, and it is marked with serial number 1920 on both the movement and case.
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
- Graduate's skeletonised pocket watch
- Maker
- École d'Horlogerie Neuchâtel
- Balance
- Gold screw compensation balance
- Movement
- Caliber LeCoultre 19RV
- Decoration
- Poppy and spike motif
- Escapement
- Lever escapement
- Maker mark
- Niel HF (Huguenin Freres)
- Case material
- Niello silver
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- École d'Horlogerie Neuchâtel
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in a niello-silver case measuring 53 mm in diameter. The exterior surface displays a detailed decorative pattern consisting of poppy flowers and wheat spikes. The case is finished with a gold-coloured crown, providing a visual contrast to the dark niello finish of the silver. The punch mark "Niel HF" is present on the case, indicating manufacture by Huguenin Freres. The watch features a skeletonised dial design, which allows for an unobstructed view of the internal bridge movement.
- Visible features
- • Case decorated with floral poppy and wheat spike motifs • Skeletonised dial reveals the movement mechanism • Gold crown contrasts with the silver-coloured case • Blued steel hands visible against the skeletonised layout
- Historical Context
- The École d'Horlogerie Neuchâtel functioned as a specialized technical institution in Switzerland during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Students at the school frequently produced pocket watches or movements specifically for their final examinations.
- Movement and Construction
- The timepiece is powered by a skeletonised bridge movement based on the LeCoultre 19RV caliber. The movement incorporates a lever escapement and a gold screw compensation balance, components chosen for their function and precision. Serial numbers are consistent across the watch, with both the movement and the case bearing the number 1920. The auction description reports that the movement is capable of running, though it suggests that a professional cleaning is recommended to maintain the condition of the mechanism.
Identification
- Reference
- LeCoultre 19RV
- Serial number
- 1920
- 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: Originality of movement pairing is implied but not explicitly verified by period documentation
- Research required: Actual functionality is noted as 'capable of running' rather than fully serviced