
Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Gold English Lever with Decorative Gold Dial, 1825
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- 1825
- Historical period
- Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
- Country of origin
- England
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 4769
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 4769)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Gold English Lever with Decorative Gold 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 4769), this is a pocket watch, made in England, dated 1825. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) 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
Introducing the ”Gold English Lever with Decorative Gold Dial – 1825,” a magnificent testament to early 19th-century horological artistry and precision. This exquisite timepiece is a quintessential example of English craftsmanship, featuring a stunning four-color gold dial that is both a visual and technical masterpiece. Encased in an 18-carat gold open face case, the watch exudes elegance and sophistication, with intricate chasing and engraving that highlight the meticulous attention to detail of the era. The timepiece is powered by a full plate gilt keywind fusee movement, safeguarded by a gilt dust cover, and enhanced with Harrison’s maintaining power, ensuring remarkable accuracy and precision. The watch’s mechanical prowess is further exemplified by its plain cock, inscribed with “Detachd” and “Lever,” a diamond endstone, and a blue steel Bosley regulator. The plain three-arm gold balance and blue steel spiral hairspring work in harmony to provide smooth and consistent operation, while the English table roller lever escapement elevates its performance. The decorative gold dial is a true work of art, featuring a matted ground with striking three-color applied gold decoration and polished gold Roman numerals, complemented by elegant blue steel hands. The case’s faded engine-turned back with a vacant circular cartouche and the maker’s mark “SB” in a rectangle add to its historical allure. With a diameter of 50 mm and a depth of 11 mm, this timepiece is not only a marvel of design but also a functional piece of history, signed by J Penlington of Liverpool and hallmarked in London in 1825. This watch is a coveted addition for collectors and enthusiasts alike, embodying the skill and artistry of its time. This stunning timepiece is an early 19th Century English lever watch, featuring a beautifully decorated four-color gold dial. Housed in an elegant gold open face case, it showcases the craftsmanship and artistry of the period. The watch is powered by a full plate gilt keywind fusee movement, which is protected by a gilt dust cover. Notably, it includes Harrison’s maintaining power, a feature that ensures its accuracy and precision. The watch boasts a plain cock inscribed with “Detachd” on the table and “Lever” on the foot. It also features a diamond endstone and a blue steel Bosley regulator. Its plain three-arm gold balance, combined with a blue steel spiral hairspring, guarantees the smooth and consistent functioning of the timepiece. The English table roller lever escapement further enhances its performance. The decorative gold dial is a true work of art, with a matted ground and eye-catching three-color applied gold decoration at the center and edge. The applied polished gold Roman numerals and blue steel hands add a touch of elegance. The 18 carat gold open face case is adorned with intricate chasing and engraving. It features beautifully crafted middle, bezels, pendant, and bow. The faded engine turned back bears a vacant circular cartouche, while the maker’s mark “SB” is proudly displayed in a rectangle. Overall, this early 19th Century English lever watch is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of its time. Its exquisite design, coupled with its precise movement, makes it desirable for any collector or enthusiast. Signed J Penlington – Liverpool Hallmarked London 1825 Diameter 50 mm Depth 11 mm
Historical context
Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
Harrison solves longitude; Mudge invents the lever; Breguet's Paris workshop defines the modern watch.
From 1750 to 1850 the watch became a precision instrument. Mudge's lever escapement, the cylinder escapement, Lépine's thin bar calibre, Breguet's innovations (overcoil, tourbillon, perpétuelle) and the pocket chronometer of Arnold and Earnshaw all date from this period, while verge watches remained common in cheaper production.
Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Early Modern 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 escapementIdentification Centre
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