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Paul Ditisheim 18 Karat Yellow Gold Solvil Original Box, c. 1900s — view 1 of 6
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Paul Ditisheim 18 Karat Yellow Gold Solvil Original Box, c. 1900s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
c. 1900s
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 3065
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 3065)
Catalogue title (original)
Paul Ditisheim 18 Karat Yellow Gold Solvil Original Box (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 3065), this is a pocket watch, dated c. 1900s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) 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 Paul Ditisheim 18 Karat Yellow Gold Solvil pocket watch, dating back to the early 1900s, is a remarkable testament to the craftsmanship and elegance of its era. This luxurious timepiece, meticulously crafted from solid 18 karat yellow gold, exudes sophistication and historical significance. Featuring a 46mm case, the watch boasts a pristine white face adorned with black Roman numeral hour markers and Arabic numeral second markers, complemented by blue steel hands and a 60-second sub-dial at the 6 o’clock position. The double hunter design, characterized by its mechanical movement, offers a compact yet weighty feel, with both sides opening to reveal intricate engravings and timepiece details. Accompanied by its original green leather box, this vintage watch is not only a rare find but also a cherished collectible. Marked with the inscriptions “18K 0.750 GRAND PRIX DITIS PARIS 1900 #64041,” it weighs 122.72 grams and measures 53 mm in diameter and 72 mm in length, including the top pendant. Despite some visible surface scratches and normal wear, the watch remains in very good condition, making it an exceptional heirloom that will be treasured for generations. This exquisite vintage 18 karat yellow gold pocket watch by Paul Ditisheim is a true piece of history. The luxurious solid gold timepiece is crafted with exceptional fine details, making it a true work of art. With a 46mm case, it features a striking white face with black Roman Numeral hour markers and Arabic numeral second markers, blue steel hands, and a 60-second sub dial at the 6 o’clock position. The double hunter style with mechanical movement is small in size but substantial in weight, with a compact design that opens on both sides to reveal the watch and the engraved timepiece details. This vintage piece comes with the original green leather box, adding to its rarity. Marked on the interior with 18K 0.750 GRAND PRIX DITIS PARIS 1900 #64041, it weighs 122.72 grammes and has a diameter of 53 mm and length of 72 mm (including top pendant). While there are some visible surface scratches on the front and back and normal wear, this vintage piece remains in very good condition. An exceptional and rare timepiece that will be treasured for generations to come. Creator: Paul Ditisheim Case Material: Gold,18k Gold,Yellow Gold Weight: 122.72 g Case Shape: Round Case Dimensions: Diameter: 53 mm (2.09 in)Length: 72 mm (2.84 in) Style: Contemporary Place of Origin: Switzerland Period: Early 20th Century Date of Manufacture: Circa 1900s Condition: Good. In original box.

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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