Titanic victim Robert Douglas Norman's open-face gold pocket watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1874
This open-face pocket watch is cased in 18-carat yellow gold and hallmarked for London in 1874/1875 with the incuse makers' mark of Richard James Oliver and John Evan Edwards.
The white enamel dial features Roman numerals, an outer minute circle, and a recessed subsidiary seconds dial beneath a convex bullseye glass. The museum records that the watch belonged to second-class passenger Robert Douglas Norman, who perished in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912. It was recovered from the sea with his body by the vessel Mackay-Bennett, with the rusted hands stopped at approximately seven minutes past three.
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
- Case Hallmark
- London 1874/1875
- Case Material
- 18 carat yellow gold
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Recovery Vessel
- Mackay-Bennett
- Museum Identifier
- ZBA0004
- Maker / attribution
- Richard James Oliver & John Evan Edwards
- Associated Passenger
- Robert Douglas Norman
Design
- Visible features
- • Severe brown water staining and rust discoloration across the dial under the crystal • Gold spade and poker hands pointing to roughly seven minutes past three • Prominent spherical pendant and push-piece at the 12 o'clock position • Visible subsidiary seconds track at 6 o'clock
- Dial and Mechanism
- The watch displays a flat, three-piece white enamel dial with Roman numerals and an outer minute circle. A recessed subsidiary seconds dial is located at the 6 o'clock position, featuring a seconds circle and Arabic numerals at ten-second intervals. The watch retains gold spade and poker hands. The internal movement is inaccessible due to extensive corrosion. Museum documentation describes the mechanism as a probable 30-hour duration, single train, gilt brass, three-quarter plate movement equipped with a ratchet-tooth lever escapement.
- Provenance and Recovery
- The watch belonged to second-class passenger Robert Douglas Norman, who died during the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. The item was recovered from his clothing by the vessel 'Mackay-Bennett'. The hands of the watch are fixed at seven minutes past three due to rust. The museum notes that the time displayed suggests the watch had not been set to the ship's local time at the time of the sinking.
- Construction and Exterior
- The watch is housed in an 18-carat yellow gold, open-face case featuring a milled band and engine-turned decoration on the back, which includes a central belt and buckle motif surrounding an uncut cartouche. It is fitted with a convex bullseye glass and a plain bulbous pendant with a push-piece. A cameo stamp mark, 'T.', is present on the pendant. The case bears London hallmarks for 1874/1875, the serial number '2730', and an incuse maker's stamp reading 'RO' over 'JE'. Internal markings include '24.10.11 S.E.C.' and 'X.10.11.B'.
Identification
- Reference
- ZBA0004
- Serial number
- 2730
- 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: Internal movement is inaccessible due to extensive corrosion; movement specifications stated in the museum record are probable conjectures
- Research required: Back of the case, engine-turned decoration, and interior hallmarks are not visible in the front-facing photograph