Watch with the Adoration of the Shepherds

The watch case consists of a separate inner case and an outer case. The bowl of the round, convex, hinged outer case is chased in high relief with a representation of the Adoration of the Shepherds. Before the manger with the Christ Child, placed centrally in the image, kneel four shepherds, one of whom holds a sheep. Behind the manger is a standing group around Mary, who lifts a cloth from the manger to reveal Jesus. Angels and cherubs hover in the air. The scene is enclosed by an asymmetrical border of C-volutes, incorporating a column on the left, against a punched ground. Above the column is the spherical push-piece used to open the case. The bowl has a moulded, projecting upper rim with a semi-circular cutout for the pendant. To this, with an identical rim, connects the hinged bezel ring bearing the circumferential inscription: GLOIRE SOIT A DIEU / AUX LIEUX / TRÈS HAUTS & EN TERRE PAIX / ENVER LES HOMMES / BONNE VOLONTE, decorated with floral scrolls and two cherub heads, on a punched ground. The round, convex, smooth inner case has a hinged bezel with slightly curved watch glass. The pendant with bow is attached at the top. The circular winding hole is located at the back. The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-1958-32; its record gives material recorded as gold (metal), glass; measurements height 2.6 cm x diameter 4.5 cm x weight 94 g. Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text; details are those of this museum object, and how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.