
Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Sterling silver pocket watch, Mid Victorian, 1864
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- 1864
- Historical period
- Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- silver
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 5423
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 5423)
- Catalogue title (original)
- sterling silver pocket watch, Mid Victorian (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 5423), this is a pocket watch, dated 1864. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: silver. 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
Step back in time with this sterling silver pocket watch, a captivating relic from the mid-Victorian era, dating back to 1864. This exquisite timepiece is a testament to the craftsmanship of the 19th century, featuring a classic white enamel dial embellished with black Roman numerals and elegant blued steel hands. A subsidiary second dial adds a touch of functional charm, making it as practical as it is beautiful. The reverse side is adorned with a meticulously engraved order of the garter belt design, encircled by an intricate engine-turned pattern, offering an option for personalization with a monogram. Although the original key is missing, a replacement antique key is provided to wind this enduring piece, which, despite its age, continues to run and tick, showcasing its remarkable quality. While it bears signs of its storied past, including some dents and chips, it remains in fair condition, preserving its timeless appeal. With dimensions of approximately 1.81 inches in width and 2.64 inches in height, including the bow, and weighing 92.86 grams, this antique pocket watch is a remarkable synthesis of elegance and functionality. Crafted from sterling silver, it embodies the Victorian style, originating from the United Kingdom, and stands as a distinguished piece from the 19th century. This exquisite pocket watch is a true treasure from the mid-Victorian era. Crafted from sterling silver, it features a classic white enamel dial adorned with black Roman numerals and elegant blued steel hands. A smaller subsidiary second dial adds to its functional charm. The reverse of the watch showcases a beautifully engraved order of the garter belt design, surrounded by an intricate engine turned pattern. There is even the option to have it personalized with a monogram if desired. Though the original key is missing, we provide a replacement antique key to wind this timepiece. Despite its age, the watch is still running and ticking, a testament to its enduring quality. While it does show signs of use and wear, including some dents on the back and nibbles and chips on the enamel around the second dial, overall it is in fair condition and retains its timeless appeal. With dimensions of approximately 1.81″ in width and 2.64″ in height (including the bow), it weighs a total of 92.86 grams. This antique pocket watch is a remarkable piece, combining elegance and functionality in a truly stylish design. Case Material: Sterling Silver Weight: 92.86 g Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Height: 67.06 mm (2.64 in)Width: 45.98 mm (1.81 in) Style: Victorian Place of Origin: United Kingdom Period: 19th Century Date of Manufacture: 1864 Condition: Fair
Historical context
Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
American interchangeable-parts manufacture; railroad time standards; Swiss and German factory systems.
Machine production with interchangeable parts, pioneered by Waltham (1850s) and adopted by Elgin, Longines, Omega and others, made reliable lever watches widely affordable. Keyless winding became standard, railroad watch standards were introduced (1890s), and Swiss and American industries competed globally.
Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Precision & Scientific 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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