New England Watch Co. skeleton duplex pocket watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c1890
This antique open-face skeleton pocket watch is attributed by the seller to the American firm New England Watch Co (NEW Co), dating to circa 1890. The watch is housed in a smooth gunmetal case measuring 52 mm in diameter and 18 mm in depth, accented by a gilt metal bow and fluted crown.
Glazed on both sides, the front reveals an openwork gilt skeleton dial featuring stylized Arabic numerals, an integrated subsidiary seconds track, and blued steel filigree hands. The seller reports a gilt three-quarter plate skeletonized movement fitted with a duplex escapement and signed 'NEW Co'.
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
- Open-face watch
- Hands
- Blue steel filigree hands
- Maker
- New England Watch Co (NEW Co)
- Dimensions
- 52mm wide x 18mm deep
- Case material
- Gunmetal with gilt metal bow
- Movement type
- Gilt 3/4 plate with duplex escapement
- Place recorded
- United States
- Winding mechanism
- Stem wound / stem set
- Maker / attribution
- New England Watch Co
Design
- Visible features
- • Openwork gilt chapter ring with stylized black Arabic hour numerals and a 6 o'clock subsidiary seconds scale. • Dark gunmetal round case fitted with an oval gilt bow and matching fluted winding crown at 12 o'clock. • Gilt gear train and balance spring visible beneath the open dial and central filigree hands.
- Dial and Case Construction
- The timepiece is housed in an open-face, round gunmetal case designed for two-sided display. According to the seller listing, the case incorporates a snap-on glass front and back with a smooth plain finish, paired with a gilt metal bow and fluted winding crown positioned at 12 o'clock. The seller records overall external dimensions of 52 mm in width and 18 mm in depth. The visible front displays a gilt skeleton dial with openwork piercing. The dial is laid out with stylized black Arabic hour numerals and an integrated subsidiary seconds scale at 6 o'clock. Indication of time is provided by a set of blued steel filigree hands, under which portions of the gilt gear train and balance spring are observable through the cutaway apertures.
- Attribution and Source Context
- The source describes the watch as an American timepiece produced by the New England Watch Co (or NEW Co) and places it circa 1890 within the Victorian period (1837 to 1901). No movement serial number is recorded in the source to corroborate this dating independently. The listing notes cosmetic condition details, specifically mentioning light fading to the gunmetal along the case sides alongside dealer-assigned percentage ratings. Direct visual inspection of the movement plate engravings and rear glass remains unverified due to the absence of reverse photography.
- Reported Movement and Mechanism
- The watch is stem wound and stem set. Mechanically, the seller reports that it houses a gilt three-quarter plate skeletonized movement featuring a duplex escapement and signed "NEW Co". Because the provided photograph only displays the front dial side, the reported duplex escapement, three-quarter plate layout, and signature are not directly observable in the available visual documentation. These internal and reverse specifications rely entirely on the seller's catalog description.
Identification
- Reference
- 4.206 (AB-110791)
- 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: Movement plates, escapement type, and maker signature are on the reverse, which is not depicted in the provided photograph; these details rely entirely on source reporting.
- Research required: Condition percentages represent dealer assessments.