Swiss Helvetia gunmetal pocket watch in English sterling silver mounted leather travel case
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1903
This 50mm gunmetal open-face pocket watch, manufactured by the General Watch Co. (Helvetia) in La Chaux-de-Fonds, dates to the early 20th century. The watch features a white enamel dial with black Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position.
It is equipped with gilt spade-style hands and a blued steel seconds hand. The movement is a substantial gilt three-quarter plate lever mechanism, identified by serial number 5873, featuring a going-barrel, a club-tooth lever escapement, and a bimetallic balance. The watch is presented in an original burgundy leather fitted travel case, which includes a green velvet interior and a sterling silver front panel featuring a glazed aperture for viewing the watch dial.
The silver mount, hallmarked for Birmingham in 1903, is decorated with an engraved foliate monogram. The overall ensemble, combining the Swiss-made timepiece with the English travel mount, reflects a typical Edwardian arrangement for a desk or bedside clock.
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.
Physical characteristics
- Case material
- Gunmetal
- Watch diameter
- 50mm
- Case dimensions
- 8.5 x 6.2 x 3.2 cm
- Travel case material
- Burgundy leather, green velvet, sterling silver
Technical characteristics
- Balance
- Bimetallic
- Escapement
- Club-tooth lever
- Movement type
- Three-quarter plate lever
- Serial number
- 5873
Design
- Dial
- White enamel, Roman numerals
- Hands
- Gilt spade hands, blued steel seconds hand
- Monogram
- Foliate
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- General Watch Co. (Helvetia)
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.