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Pearl and Ruby Encrusted Gold Watch — view 1 of 4
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Pearl and Ruby Encrusted Gold 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, pearl
Stock no.
Product 1601
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 1601)
Catalogue title (original)
Pearl and Ruby Encrusted Gold 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 1601), 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, pearl. The record is illustrated with 4 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 elegance of the early 19th Century with this Pearl and Ruby Encrusted Gold Watch, a masterpiece that epitomizes timeless beauty and superior craftsmanship. This exquisite open-face timepiece is a true collector’s gem, adorned with rare pearls and vibrant rubies that enhance its luxurious appeal. At its heart lies a Swiss cylinder Keywind gilt bar movement, featuring a plain cock and polished steel regulator, ensuring precision and reliability. The gilt dial, graced with Arabic numerals and elegant blue steel hands, exudes a refined and classic charm. The gold case is meticulously detailed with a row of pink rubies, each encircled by delicate split pearls on its bezels, while the back showcases a breathtaking geometric pattern of graduated split pearls centered around a striking ruby. The pendant and bow are equally enchanting, set with a harmonious blend of pearls and rubies. This exceptional timepiece is presented in a green morocco-covered case, making it a perfect addition to any discerning collection. With its 18K gold composition and a diameter of 41mm, this watch is not only a testament to rarity and beauty but also to the unparalleled craftsmanship of its era. This exquisite timepiece is an early 19th Century open face watch, adorned with rare pearls and rubies. It boasts a Swiss cylinder Keywind gilt bar movement, complete with a plain cock and polished steel regulator. The gilt dial features Arabic numerals and elegant blue steel hands, making for a refined and classic appearance. The stunning gold case is detailed with a row of pink rubies, each encircled by delicate split pearls on its bezels. The back of the case is encrusted with graduated split pearls arranged in a geometric pattern shaped around a central ruby. Countless tiny split pearls entirely cover the back, making for a stunning and intricate design. The pendant of the watch is set with beautiful pearls, while the bow is set with exquisite rubies and pearls. This timepiece comes with a green morocco covered presentation case, making it a perfect addition to any collection. Its rarity, beauty, and craftsmanship make it an exceptional and remarkably attractive watch. A rare and attractive watch. Materials Gold Main Gemstone Ruby Pearl Carat for Gold 18 K Diameter 41mm

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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