Gold and Enamel Triple Cased Verge Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Late 18th century
This late 18th-century French triple-cased verge pocket watch is signed by the makers Les Frères Esquivillon & De Choudens. The movement is a full-plate design featuring fire gilding and five-sided baluster pillars.
It utilizes a fusee and chain transmission system and a verge escapement. The balance cock and its supporting plate are pierced and engraved, accompanied by a silver regulation disc. The watch is powered by a plain three-arm gilded balance and a blued steel hairspring. The construction consists of three distinct cases: a simple gold inner case with pendant and loop, a middle gold case decorated with champlevé enamel and a polychrome miniature portrait of a young lady, and a third outer protective case with a glass back.
The white enamel dial features Roman numerals for hours and Arabic numerals for minutes, complemented by openwork gilt hands.
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
- Verge pocket watch
- Maker
- Les Frères Esquivillon & De Choudens
- Origin
- France
- Decoration
- Champlevé enamel
- Escapement
- Verge
- Serial Number
- 10235
- Case Structure
- Triple cased
- Place recorded
- France
- Dial Description
- White enamel with Roman and Arabic numerals
- Power Transmission
- Fusee and chain
- Maker / attribution
- Les Frères Esquivillon & De Choudens
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The dial is composed of white enamel and displays a dual-numeral system, utilizing Roman numerals for the hour intervals and Arabic numerals for the minutes. The time is indicated by openwork, gilded hands. Collectors are advised to inspect the dial surface independently to ensure the absence of hairline cracks, as the functional status of the movement is not recorded in the source material.
- Visible features
- • Middle case features champlevé enamel and a miniature portrait • Dial includes both Roman and Arabic numerals • Movement components are pierced and engraved • Presence of an outer protective case with glass backing
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is a full-plate caliber finished with fire gilding. It is supported by five-sided baluster pillars. The power is delivered to the verge escapement via a fusee and chain system. Technical refinement is observed in the balance cock and plate, which are pierced and engraved. Regulation of the plain, three-arm gilded balance is managed via a silver disc. The escapement incorporates a spiral blued steel hairspring.
- Case Construction and Decoration
- The watch is housed in three distinct cases designed for protection and aesthetic display. The innermost case is a functional gold housing featuring a gold pendant and loop. A gold, fire-gilded circular blocker for the winding hole is integrated into the inner case back, complete with a slot for manual adjustment. The middle case is constructed of gold, with borders enhanced by champlevé enamel work. The case back features a detailed polychrome miniature painting depicting a young woman. An outer third case serves as a protective cover, fitted with a glass back. The source notes that the coating on the gilded borders of this outer case has diminished over time.
Identification
- Serial number
- 10235
- 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: Condition of the fusee chain is not documented
- Research required: Integrity of the enamel portrait and potential hair-line cracks on the dial remain unverified