Skip to content
18CT Gold Independent Second Pocket Watch, 1884 — view 1 of 6
View 1 of 6 · Image: WatchMuseum.org shop · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

18CT Gold Independent Second Pocket Watch, 1884

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1884
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 2922
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2922)
Catalogue title (original)
18CT Gold Independent Second Pocket Watch (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 2922), this is a pocket watch, dated 1884. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 6 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 18ct Gold Independent Second Pocket Watch, a timeless piece of horological craftsmanship created by the esteemed W. Ehrhardt in 1884. This keyless lever full hunter pocket watch is a marvel of its era, featuring a pristine white enamel Roman dial complemented by a subsidiary seconds dial at six o’clock, gold-coloured hands, and a striking blued steel seconds hand. Encased in a heavy, English hallmarked 18ct yellow gold case, the watch boasts finely engine-turned front and back covers, with a vacant cartouche on the front for personalization. Opening the plain inner cover reveals the intricate three-quarter plate keyless lever movement, fully jewelled to the centre arbour and proudly bearing the signature and number of W. Ehrhardt London. What sets this watch apart is its double barrel movement, allowing for an independent stop seconds function—a rare and invaluable feature for doctors timing pulses in the late 19th century. Unlike most independent second watches of the time, which were typically of Swiss design, this piece stands out as a unique example of German ingenuity. With a diameter of 50 mm (1.97 in) and crafted from the finest materials, this pocket watch is not only a functional timepiece but also a significant piece of history in excellent condition. Don’t miss the opportunity to own this rare and fascinating artifact from a bygone era. For sale is a remarkable 18ct gold keyless lever independent seconds full hunter pocket watch, crafted by W. Ehrhardt in 1884. The watch features a white enamel Roman dial with a subsidiary seconds dial at six o’clock, complete with gold-coloured hands and a blued steel seconds hand. The heavy English hallmarked 18ct yellow gold case is finely engine turned on the front and back covers and exhibits a vacant cartouche on the front. The plain inner cover opens to reveal the three quarter plate keyless lever movement, which is fully jewelled to the centre arbour and bears the signature and number of W. Ehrhardt London. What makes this watch truly remarkable is the double barrel in the movement, which allows for an independent stop seconds function that can be stopped at random without stopping the watch. This feature was particularly useful for doctors who needed to time a pulse. This pocket watch is also unique in that most independent second watches of the era were of Swiss design and manufacture. Don’t miss out on this rare and interesting piece of horological history. Creator: Ehrhardt Case Material: Gold,18k Gold Case Shape: Round Case Dimensions: Diameter: 50 mm (1.97 in) Place of Origin: Germany Period: Late 19th Century Date of Manufacture: 1884 Condition: Excellent

Historical context

Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)

American interchangeable-parts manufacture; railroad time standards; Swiss and German factory systems.

Machine production with interchangeable parts, pioneered by Waltham (1850s) and adopted by Elgin, Longines, Omega and others, made reliable lever watches widely affordable. Keyless winding became standard, railroad watch standards were introduced (1890s), and Swiss and American industries competed globally.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Precision & Scientific Horology

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

Related records