
Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Charles Frodsham Gold Keyless Lever Pocket Watch, c. 1890s
- Maker / attribution
- Frodsham (maker)
- Date
- c. 1890s
- Historical period
- Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 2346
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2346)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Charles Frodsham Gold Keyless Lever 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 2346), this is a pocket watch by Frodsham, dated c. 1890s. 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
The Charles Frodsham Gold Keyless Lever Pocket Watch from the 1890s is a remarkable example of English horological artistry, embodying both elegance and precision. This timepiece features a pristine white enamel dial adorned with Arabic numerals and original blued steel spade hands, all encased in an 18ct yellow gold case that is plain at the back and fully hallmarked. Notably, its compact size suggests it may have been crafted for a lady or nurse, and it includes a rare hanging barrel for its power—a unique attribute for a watch of its dimensions. The keyless lever mechanism, bi-metallic compensation balance, and fast-slow regulator ensure reliable and accurate timekeeping. Signed “By Appointment, Cha Frodsham 84, The Strand London,” this watch is a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship of Charles Frodsham, a revered name in English watchmaking. With a round, 31 mm diameter case and manual wind movement, this late 19th-century timepiece remains in excellent condition, offering both historical significance and timeless elegance. Introducing the Charles Frodsham Gold Keyless Lever Fob Pocket Watch, an exquisite piece of English watchmaking history. This timepiece boasts an excellent white enamel dial with Arabic numerals and original blued steel spade hands. The elegant 18ct yellow gold case is plain at the back and fully English hallmarked with a number. What sets this watch apart is its unusual size, possibly made for a lady or nurse, and the hanging barrel for its power, which is a rare feature for a watch this size. The keyless lever mechanism, bi-metalic compensation balance, and fast slow regulator make for a reliable and accurate time-telling experience. Fully signed By Appointment, Cha Frodsham 84, The Strand London, this watch is a true testament to English watchmaking craftsmanship. Creator: Charles Frodsham Case Material: Gold,18k Gold Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Diameter: 31 mm (1.23 in) Place of Origin: England Period: Late 19th Century Date of Manufacture: C1890s 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
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