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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

J. Assmann Glashutte Lever Pocket Watch, c. 1900

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
c. 1900
Country of origin
Germany
Object type
Pocket watch
Stock no.
Product 2655
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2655)
Catalogue title (original)
J. Assmann Glashutte 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 2655), this is a pocket watch, made in Germany, dated c. 1900. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. 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 J. Assmann Glashutte Lever Pocket Watch, crafted around 1900, stands as a remarkable testament to the exceptional craftsmanship of Julius Assmann, a revered watchmaker who founded the J. Assmann Deutsche Anker Uhren Fabrik in Glashütte in 1852. Renowned for producing precision pocket watches that rivaled those of Lange, Assmann’s creations were highly esteemed during his era. This exquisite timepiece features a pristine white enamel dial adorned with Arabic numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial, and elegant blued steel hands. Encased in a substantial 18ct gold case, the watch boasts a monogram on the front cover and a plain back cover, with the inner cover engraved with the retailer’s name, Spangenberg y Freccero Montevideo. The case is fully hallmarked and signed, reflecting its authenticity and heritage. The keyless lever A quality movement is meticulously crafted, fully jewelled with screwed-in chatons to the centre arbour, and a diamond endstone to the balance. It also includes fine micrometre regulation, a compensation balance, an overcoil hairspring, and a wide arc lever, showcasing the intricate engineering synonymous with Assmann’s legacy. This pocket watch not only exemplifies the pinnacle of early 20th-century horology but also serves as a lasting tribute to Assmann’s mastery in the art of watchmaking. This beautiful pocket watch is a fine example of Julius Assmann’s craftsmanship. Assmann founded his own factory, the J. Assmann Deutsche Anker Uhren Fabrik, in Glashütte in 1852 for the production of precision pocket watches. Assmann was an excellent watchmaker, and during his time, his watches were highly regarded and considered just as good as those made by Lange. This watch was made around 1900 and features a white enamel dial with Arabic numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial, and blued steel hands. The 18ct gold case is heavy and features a monogram on the front cover and a plain back cover. The inner cover is engraved with the retailer’s name, Spangenberg y Freccero Montevideo. The case is fully hallmarked and signed. The keyless lever A quality movement is fully jewelled with screwed-in chatons to the centre arbour and a diamond endstone to the balance. The movement also features fine micrometre regulation, compensation balance, an overcoil hairspring, and a wide arc lever. Overall, this watch is a stunning example of Assmann’s work and a testament to his legacy as a master watchmaker. Creator: J. Assmann Glashutte Case Material: 18k Gold,Yellow Gold Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Diameter: 54 mm (2.13 in) Place of Origin: Germany Period: Early 20th Century Date of Manufacture: 1900 Condition: Good

Historical context

Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)

The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.

The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution

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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