Tavannes Watch Co open face pocket watch with Masonic dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1900 – 1910
According to the seller, this open-face pocket watch was manufactured in Switzerland by the Tavannes Watch Co circa 1900 to 1910. The white metal case measures 49 mm in width by 14 mm in depth and houses a stem-wound, stem-set nickel three-quarter plate movement with a lever escapement and damascened finish.
The white enamel dial is decorated with polychrome Masonic emblems in place of standard hour numerals, paired with blued steel hands and a subsidiary seconds track at 6 o'clock overlaid with a skull-and-crossbones emblem.
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
- Maker
- Tavannes Watch Co
- Dimensions
- 49 mm wide by 14 mm deep
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Dial description
- White enamel decorated with original Masonic symbols
- Winding mechanism
- Stem wound / stem set
- Maker / attribution
- Tavannes Watch Co
- Movement description
- Nickel 3/4 plate, lever escapement, damascened
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The timepiece features a white enamel dial where standard hour numerals are replaced by twelve distinct polychrome Masonic symbols. Spade-style blued steel hands are mounted for the hours and minutes. A sunken subsidiary seconds dial is located at the 6 o'clock position, incorporating a hand-painted skull and crossbones motif across the lower section of the seconds register. The seller states that the dial is decorated with original Masonic symbols and is not a modern reproduction.
- Visible features
- • Twelve distinct polychrome Masonic symbols replace standard hour numerals on the white enamel dial. • Sunken subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock features a hand-painted skull and crossbones motif over the lower seconds numerals. • Open-face white metal case with an oval bow, rounded pendant, and fluted winding crown. • Blued steel spade-style hour and minute hands.
- Case Construction
- The watch is housed in an open-face white metal case measuring 49 mm in diameter and 14 mm in depth. Visible exterior components include an oval bow, a rounded pendant, and a fluted winding crown. According to the dealer's technical description, the case is constructed with a hinged bezel, hinged case back, and hinged inner cuvette. The seller also notes that the metal presents a duller, more metallic finish than usual, and reports that the watch is fitted with a plastic glass crystal.
- Reported Movement and Mechanism
- The watch is configured for stem winding and stem setting. The internal mechanism is not visible in the provided photographic record, leaving its specifications reliant entirely on the seller's documentation. The movement is described by the dealer as a nickel three-quarter plate calibre with a lever escapement and damascened decoration. The seller states the movement is signed "Tavannes Watch Co" and dates its Swiss manufacture to circa 1900–1910.
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 internal movement, inner cuvette, and case stamps are not visible in the supplied photograph; movement details are source-reported.
- Research required: Dealer listing explicitly notes that the crystal is plastic glass, indicating a likely later replacement.