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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Rockford Yellow Gold Box Hinge Pocket Watch

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
20th century
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 3276
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 3276)
Catalogue title (original)
Rockford Yellow Gold Box Hinge 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 3276), this is a pocket watch, dated 20th century. 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 Rockford Yellow Gold Box Hinge Pocket Watch from the 20th century is a remarkable testament to the elegance and craftsmanship of a bygone era. This exquisite timepiece, a pre-owned hunter case pocket watch from the late 1800s, boasts a manual winding mechanism that speaks to its vintage charm and mechanical precision. Encased in intricately engraved 14k yellow gold, the watch measures approximately 45mm in diameter, making it a sophisticated accessory that stands out with its timeless appeal. The white dial, adorned with Roman numerals, enhances its classic aesthetic, while the subseconds function at 6 o’clock adds a layer of practicality. Weighing a total of 83 grams, this pocket watch not only offers style but also a substantial feel. It comes complete with a custom box, ensuring it is well-preserved and presented. Created by Rockford, this piece is a beautiful example of early 20th-century watchmaking, in good condition, and is a must-consider for anyone seeking a vintage pocket watch that exudes both style and sophistication. This superb timepiece is a pre-owned hunter case pocket watch from the late 1800s with a manual winding mechanism. The watch features an intricately engraved 14k yellow gold case that measures approximately 45mm in diameter, making it an elegant and timeless accessory. The white dial with Roman numerals adds to the classic aesthetic of the watch, and the subseconds function at 6 o’clock provides added functionality. The watch comes with a custom box, and it has a total weight of 83 grams. If you’re looking for a vintage pocket watch that exudes style and sophistication, this one is definitely worth considering. Creator: Rockford Case Material: 14k Gold Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Diameter: 45 mm (1.78 in) Period: 20th Century Date of Manufacture: 20th Century 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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