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18Kt Yellow Gold Wind Lever Pocket Watch with a Crown Motif — view 1 of 2
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

18Kt Yellow Gold Wind Lever Pocket Watch with a Crown Motif

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
18th century
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 3923
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 3923)
Catalogue title (original)
18Kt Yellow Gold Wind Lever Pocket Watch with a Crown Motif (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 3923), this is a pocket watch, dated 18th century. The Atlas places it in the Early Modern Horology period (1600 – 1750) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 2 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 into a bygone era with this magnificent 18Kt Yellow Gold Wind Lever Pocket Watch, a timeless piece that exudes the elegance and sophistication of the 18th century. This exquisite timepiece, dating back to the 1890s, is a true treasure, featuring a unique crown motif on the front cover, adorned with seven sparkling diamonds and five rich rubies, all set within a matt-finished gold case that bears the prestigious Swiss hallmarks, confirming its authenticity and quality. The inner cuvette proudly displays inscriptions of two prestigious awards won in 1895 and 1896, further enhancing its historical significance. The white enamel dial, with its Arabic numerals, outer minute track, and subsidiary seconds dial, is beautifully complemented by intricate gold hour and minute hands, showcasing the meticulous craftsmanship of the era. Powered by a jewelled Swiss keyless lever movement, this pocket watch not only tells time but also narrates a story of aristocratic heritage, suggested by the regal crown motif that hints at its possible ownership by a Count. With a case diameter of 50 mm (1.97 in), this piece is not just a functional accessory but a true work of art, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of history and a symbol of timeless luxury. This exquisite pocket watch is a true treasure, dating back to the 1890s. The 18kt yellow gold case features a unique crown motif on the front cover, adorned with seven sparkling diamonds and five rich rubies. The case has a matt finish and is adorned with Swiss hallmarks, confirming its authenticity and quality. The inner cuvette is inscribed with two prestigious awards won in 1895 and 1896. The white enamel dial with Arabic numerals, outer minute track, and subsidiary seconds dial, is beautifully complemented by the intricate gold hour and minute hands. The jewelled Swiss keyless lever movement adds to the watch’s luxurious appeal. This watch was undoubtedly made for a member of the aristocracy, and the crown motif suggests that it may have belonged to a Count. Owning this watch would allow you to own a piece of history and a true work of art. Case Material: Yellow Gold Case Dimensions: Diameter: 50 mm (1.97 in) Place of Origin: Switzerland Period: 18th Century Date of Manufacture: 18th Century Condition: Good

Historical context

Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)

Huygens' pendulum and balance spring transform accuracy; English makers develop the anchor and deadbeat escapements.

The balance spring (c. 1675) improved watches dramatically and introduced the minute hand. English pair-cased verge watches with pierced balance cocks and French oignons were typical; enamel painting at Blois and Geneva, and the repeating watch (1680s), made watches objects of great refinement.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Renaissance 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

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