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14k Yellow Gold Illinois Hand Engraved Pocket Watch with White Dial, 1900 — view 1 of 5
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

14k Yellow Gold Illinois Hand Engraved Pocket Watch with White Dial, 1900

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1900
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 2763
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2763)
Catalogue title (original)
14k Yellow Gold Illinois Hand Engraved Pocket Watch with White Dial (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 2763), this is a pocket watch, made in United States, dated 1900. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 5 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop

Step back in time with the exquisite 14k Yellow Gold Illinois Hand Engraved Pocket Watch, a masterpiece from the dawn of the 20th century that embodies the elegance and craftsmanship of a bygone era. This remarkable timepiece, originating from the esteemed Illinois Watch Company, is a testament to the meticulous artistry and precision of its creators. Its case, crafted from luxurious 14k yellow gold, is adorned with intricate hand engravings that enhance its timeless Art Deco style, making it a radiant piece of history. The watch’s white enamel dial, accented with black enamel numerals, offers a classic, easy-to-read display, while the 17-jewel manual wind movement ensures its functionality matches its beauty. Measuring 38mm in diameter, this pocket watch is both substantial and comfortable, exuding a sense of luxury when held. Weighing 72.3 grams, including the case, movement, and crystal, it is a solid and enduring piece that has been preserved in excellent condition over the years. This Illinois pocket watch is not merely a timekeeping device; it is a treasure, a collector’s dream, and a piece of fine jewelry that captures the essence of early 20th-century American craftsmanship. This Illinois pocket watch from the 1900s is simply stunning. Crafted from high-quality, heavy 14K yellow gold, it has been kept in impeccable condition over the years. The back showcases intricate hand engraving, adding to its elegant and timeless appeal. Featuring 17 jewels and a manual wind movement, the watch is as functional as it is beautiful. The white enamel dial with black enamel numerals provides a classic and easy-to-read look. At 38mm in diameter, this round and substantial timepiece feels luxurious in the hand. The entire watch, including the case, movement, and crystal, weighs 72.3 grams. Overall, this gorgeous Illinois pocket watch is a true treasure for any watch collector or lover of fine jewelry. Creator: Illinois Watch Company Case Material: Yellow Gold,14k Gold Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Height: 38 mm (1.5 in)Width: 38 mm (1.5 in)Diameter: 12 mm (0.48 in) Style: Art Deco Place of Origin: United States Period: 20th Century Date of Manufacture: 1900 Condition: Excellent

Historical context

Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)

The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.

The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution

Atlas type guide

Pocket watches

The pocket watch was the dominant personal timekeeper from the late seventeenth century until the First World War. Its development tracks the history of the escapement: verge watches with fusees until the late eighteenth century; Thomas Mudge's lever escapement (c. 1755) and the cylinder escapement popularised by George Graham and later by Swiss makers; and the Swiss and English lever watches of the nineteenth century. Lépine's bar-bridge calibre and keyless winding made watches thinner and easier to use.

Industrialisation transformed the trade: American factories such as Waltham (from 1850) and Elgin produced interchangeable parts by machine, and Swiss makers responded with their own mechanisation after the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. By 1900 a reliable watch was affordable to millions; the finest makers continued to produce complications and precision watches.

What to look for

  • The escapement: verge (crown wheel), cylinder, duplex, English or Swiss lever.
  • Key winding (a square arbor in dial or back) or keyless crown winding.
  • Signatures and serial numbers on the movement, dial and inside case back.
  • Hallmarks, case maker's marks and gold or silver standards stamped in the case.
  • Dial material: enamel, silver, gold, later printed metal.

Dating clues

  • Verge watches dominate before c. 1800; cylinder watches c. 1770–1900; lever watches after c. 1820.
  • Keyless winding: increasingly common after c. 1860.
  • Manufacturer serial number lists exist for Waltham, Elgin, Longines, Omega, Patek Philippe and others.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Verge escapementDetached lever escapementFuseeIdentification Centre

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