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New England Watch Co. Skeleton Pocket Watch

ProbableCredible evidence exists but classification is not fully established.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

ca. 1905

This antique American skeleton pocket watch is catalogued as a production by the New England Watch Co. dating to circa 1905. Built in a size 16 format, the watch features a snap-off silver case fitted with display crystals on both the front and back.

Its openwork gilt dial displays cut-out Arabic numeral hour markers and black hands, accompanied by a subsidiary seconds track positioned at 6 o'clock. The visible manual movement is catalogued as bearing the 'N.E.W. Co.' mark and utilizes a four-jewel duplex escapement.

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
Escapement
Duplex escapement
Dial Design
Gilt cut out dial with subsidiary seconds
Case Material
Silver
Maker Marking
N.E.W. Co.
Movement Size
Size 16
Place recorded
United States
Maker / attribution
New England Watch Co.

Design

Visible features
• Openworked gilt dial ring featuring Arabic numerals exposing the underlying wheel train • Onion-style winding crown flanked by a rounded suspension bow at 12 o'clock • Coin-edge or reeded pattern along the outer bezel and case rim • Subsidiary seconds ring at the 6 o'clock position with 10-second markings
Dial and Visual Display
The pocket watch incorporates an openwork gilt dial plate designed to showcase internal gearing. The skeletonized layout features cutout Arabic numerals serving as black hour markers, paired with dark hands. At the 6 o'clock position, a subsidiary seconds track displays 10-second numbered intervals alongside fine index markings. Through the open areas of the front dial ring, the wheel train is exposed to direct view. The dial is set under a front protective glass display within a coin-edge or reeded outer bezel.
Case Construction and Exterior Hardware
The watch is encased in silver hardware described in auction documentation as having a case that snaps off. The cataloguer reports that the watch is fitted with glass displays on both the front and back, allowing the movement to be observed from the reverse side. Visible at the 12 o'clock position is an onion-style winding crown flanked by a rounded suspension bow. Decorative coin-edge or reeded patterning runs along the outer bezel and case rim.
Movement Specifications and Cataloguer Documentation
The auction catalogue records the mechanism as a size 16 movement marked 'N.E.W. Co.', attributed to the New England Watch Co. It is documented as featuring a duplex escapement and a four-jewel configuration, and was noted as being in running condition at the time of cataloguing. The auction entry assigns an origin of 'American, ca. 1905'. Because the provided photographic documentation only depicts the front of the watch, the rear glass display, specific movement markings, and any unrecorded hallmarks rely entirely on the auction house text rather than direct visual confirmation.

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 movement markings and rear glass display are not visible in the provided front photograph.
  • Research required: Specific silver purity is not specified beyond the description of a silver snap-off case.
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