Karl W. Höhnel Glashütte pocket watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1930
This Carl W. Höhnel pocket watch, dated to approximately 1930, features a 50mm diameter gold-plated case. The watch is constructed as a triple-cover (savonnette style) piece with an inner protective dust cover.
The exterior of the case is decorated with a guilloché Art Deco diamond pattern. The dial is gold-toned, displaying a central 12-hour scale with Arabic numerals, an outer peripheral 24-hour track, and blued steel hands. The maker, Karl Wilhelm Höhnel (1885–1936), was a former apprentice of A. Lange & Söhne who later established his own workshop in Glashütte. This specific item is reported to be in functional condition, with the auction description noting that the watch starts and runs when wound.
The case is suggested to be a sourced component, possibly manufactured by Gustav Rau, Pforzheim.
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 1930
- Type
- Open-face pocket watch
- Maker
- Carl W. Höhnel
- Case origin
- Possibly Gustav Rau, Pforzheim
- Case material
- 20 micron gold-plated
- Dial features
- 12-hour and 24-hour scales
- Movement type
- Three-quarter plate
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Maker / attribution
- Carl W. Höhnel
Design
- Visible features
- • Gold-plated case with Art Deco guilloché diamond patterning • Dial features both 12-hour and 24-hour scales • Movement features a three-quarter plate design • Case includes an interior metal dust cover
- Reported Condition
- According to the auction description, the watch is in a functional state and will run when wound. The dial is described as unrestored with minimal signs of aging. The case exhibits normal wear and tear but maintains integrity, with all covers reported to close firmly and flush. The accuracy of the movement has not been verified by the seller.
- Movement and Origin
- The movement is unsigned and gold-plated. The auction description notes that while the watch is attributed to Carl W. The maker, Karl Wilhelm Höhnel, established his workshop in Glashütte in 1916 after completing an apprenticeship at A. Lange & Söhne in 1904. The firm transitioned from precision pendulum clocks to producing wrist and pocket watches around 1920.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The watch is housed in a 50mm gold-plated case finished with a 20-micron layer. It is designed as a triple-cover timepiece, featuring an additional interior dust cover protecting the movement. The dial is finished in gold and features a dual-time display: an inner Arabic numeral scale for 12 hours and an outer peripheral scale for 24 hours. The hands are manufactured from blued steel.
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 source states the case was likely purchased from an external supplier and is not necessarily of Höhnel manufacture.
- Research required: The auction description states that the movement is unsigned, making attribution to Höhnel based on movement characteristics.
- Research required: The auction description notes that timekeeping accuracy has not been tested.