Swiss quarter-repeating pocket watch with enamel decoration
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1840
This 18K gold pocket watch is attributed to Swiss production, specifically created for the Eastern market around 1840. The piece features a complex, four-body 'forme collier' case extensively decorated with painted enamel.
The back cover depicts a musical and floral trophy set against a pale blue ground, surrounded by a translucent red enamel border and a wider green enamel reserve populated with gold foliage and circular floral medallions. The bezel is similarly decorated and features an eccentric glazed aperture. Inside, a hinged gold cuvette displays technical information in champlevé enamel. The silver dial presents radial Roman numerals on a moiré chapter ring with a center engraved with a harbor scene.
The movement is a 43 mm matte-gilt calibre with eight jewels, a plain three-arm balance, and an 'English-type' ruby cylinder escapement. It provides a quarter-repeating function, actuated by a pull-and-twist piston in the pendant.
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
- Repeating watch
- Diameter
- 49 mm
- Material
- 18K Gold
- Case type
- Four-body, forme collier
- Escapement
- English-type ruby cylinder
- Serial Number
- 4220
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Dial decoration
- Engraved harbor view
- Repeating function
- Quarter-repeating
- Maker / attribution
- Dx & F
Design
- Visible features
- • Musical instrument motif on back cover • Engraved harbor scene in dial center • Green, red, and blue enamel color palette • Piston-actuated repeater mechanism
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is a 43 mm matte-gilt calibre featuring eight jewels. It utilizes an 'English-type' ruby cylinder escapement, characterized by a half-section ruby fitted into a steel frame rather than the more common overhanging ruby cylinder. The balance is a plain three-armed design, governed by a blued steel flat balance spring and an index regulator. The watch functions as a quarter-repeater, using two polished steel hammers striking on gongs to indicate the time. The repeating mechanism is activated by a pull-and-twist piston integrated into the pendant.
- Condition and Attribution
- The auction description assigns the watch to Switzerland and indicates it was produced for the 'Eastern market' around 1840. While the maker is not identified, the dial is punched 'Dx & F' on the reverse. The condition report notes that the case and dial are in very good condition, while the movement is rated as 'Good'.
- Case and Exterior Decoration
- The exterior is highly decorative, employing multiple enamel techniques to create a detailed display. The back cover centers on a painted enamel composition featuring musical instruments and flowers set on a pale blue background. This central scene is framed by a border of translucent red enamel, which is in turn surrounded by a wider band of green enamel decorated with gold foliage and six individual circular flower medallions. The bezel and pendant are finished to match the case, incorporating a shell and flower band. The dial itself is viewed through an eccentric glazed aperture in the bezel. A hinged gold cuvette protects the movement and carries technical details in champlevé enamel, as well as specific apertures for the winding and hand-setting functions of the watch.
Identification
- Serial number
- 4220
- 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: Attribution to maker is absent, only 'Swiss' manufacture is stated
- Research required: Originality of 'English-type' ruby cylinder fitting is contextualized but not verified