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French 18k Gold 3.25ctw Rose Cut Diamond Covered Pocket Watch Pendant, 1870 — view 1 of 6
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

French 18k Gold 3.25ctw Rose Cut Diamond Covered Pocket Watch Pendant, 1870

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1870
Country of origin
France
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold, diamond
Stock no.
Product 4081
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 4081)
Catalogue title (original)
French 18k Gold 3.25ctw Rose Cut Diamond Covered Pocket Watch Pendant (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 4081), this is a pocket watch, made in France, dated 1870. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold, diamond. 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 into the enchanting world of 19th-century French elegance with this magnificent 18k Gold Rose Cut Diamond Covered Pocket Watch Pendant, an exquisite piece that epitomizes the artistry and sophistication of the 1870s. This antique marvel is a testament to the timeless allure of French craftsmanship, featuring a solid 18k rose gold case that is lavishly adorned with approximately 3.25 carats of old rose cut diamonds, meticulously pave-set across the case, frame, and bail. The diamonds’ brilliant shimmer casts a mesmerizing glow, enhancing the pendant’s luxurious appeal. The watch dial is a captivating white with a subtle golden undertone, elegantly complemented by rose gold Arabic numeral minute and hour hands. Beyond its stunning exterior, the pocket watch boasts a mechanical, hand-wound movement that runs smoothly and accurately, adding a layer of functional charm to its aesthetic beauty. Crafted in France during the 1870s, this piece carries historical significance, as evidenced by the two horse head hallmarks that grace its surface. Despite its age, the pendant is in very good physical condition, showing only slight wear that attests to its storied past. Weighing 10.19 grams and measuring 20.32 mm in diameter, this petite pendant watch is a magnificent and chic piece of jewelry, perfect for those seeking a unique and sophisticated addition to their collection. Whether worn as a statement piece or cherished as a collector’s item, this French-made pocket watch pendant is sure to captivate and inspire, encapsulating the elegance and charm of a bygone era. This is an exquisite antique French-made pocket watch pendant, boasting a solid 18k rose gold case that’s completely covered with old rose cut diamonds, pave-set throughout the case, frame, and bail. These diamonds weigh approximately 3.25 carats and add a brilliant shimmer to the piece that is truly mesmerizing. The dial is a unique white color with a golden undertone, and features rose gold Arabic numeral minute and hour hands. The mechanical, hand-wound movement runs, sets, and winds smoothly, keeping accurate time, and adding to the overall charm of the piece. Crafted in France in the 1870s, there are two horse head hallmarks on the watch, adding to its historical appeal. This petite pendant watch is in very good physical condition, showing only slight wear consistent with its age. A magnificent and chic piece of jewelry, this pendant watch is sure to make a statement and is perfect for anyone looking for a unique and sophisticated addition to their collection. Case Material: 18k Gold,Rose Gold Stone: Diamond Stone Cut: Rose Cut Weight: 10.19 g Case Dimensions: Diameter: 20.32 mm (0.8 in) Place of Origin: France Period: 1870-1879 Date of Manufacture: 1870 Condition: Good

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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