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Napoleon Bonaparte 18K Gold Enamel Pearl Pocket Watch — view 1 of 6
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Napoleon Bonaparte 18K Gold Enamel Pearl Pocket Watch

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
19th century
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold, enamel, pearl
Stock no.
Product 2220
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2220)
Catalogue title (original)
Napoleon Bonaparte 18K Gold Enamel Pearl 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 2220), this is a pocket watch, dated 19th century. 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, enamel, pearl. 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 Napoleon Bonaparte 18K Gold, Enamel, Pearl Pocket Watch by Valère, Paris, is a magnificent artifact that encapsulates the grandeur and sophistication of the early 19th century. This remarkable timepiece, dating back to the early 1800s, is a pristine example of the exceptional craftsmanship synonymous with the era of Napoléon Bonaparte. Its construction from 18K gold, adorned with enamel and natural pearls, speaks volumes about its luxurious origins and the meticulous attention to detail that went into its creation. The watch, with its manual wind movement and round cut stones, remains in excellent condition and is preserved in its original box, making it a rare and invaluable collector’s item. The 53 mm diameter round case is a testament to the style of Napoleon III, further enhancing its historical and cultural significance. This exquisite pocket watch is not merely a timekeeping device but a piece of history, a treasure that transcends time, and a testament to the enduring allure of antique craftsmanship. The Napoleon Bonaparte 18K Gold, Enamel, Pearl Pocket Watch by Valère, Paris is a truly exceptional piece that is both historically and culturally significant. It dates back to the early 1800s and is in remarkably well-preserved condition, as if it was made just yesterday. In fact, the watch is so extraordinary that it deserves to be showcased in a museum. Crafted during the reign of Napoléon Bonaparte, this pocket watch is a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship of Valère, Paris. Its value is unrivaled due to its unique historical and cultural significance. This exquisite timepiece is sure to captivate the imagination and stir the senses of anyone who has the good fortune to view it. It is truly a treasure that will leave an indelible mark on those who appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of antique timepieces. Case Material: 18k Gold,Enamel Stone: Natural Pearl Stone Cut: Round Cut Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Diameter: 53 mm (2.09 in) Style: Napoleon III Place of Origin: France Period: Early 19th Century Date of Manufacture: 1800’s Condition: Excellent. In original box.

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 escapementDetached lever escapementFuseeIdentification Centre

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