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Swiss Pocket Gold Watch Courvoisier, 1870 — view 1 of 5
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Swiss Pocket Gold Watch Courvoisier, 1870

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1870
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 4223
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 4223)
Catalogue title (original)
Swiss Pocket Gold Watch Courvoisier (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 4223), this is a pocket watch, made in Switzerland, dated 1870. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 5 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 the Swiss Pocket Gold Watch Courvoisier – 1870, an exquisite piece of horological artistry that encapsulates the elegance and craftsmanship of a bygone era. Produced by the renowned watchmaker COURVOISIER, this remarkable timepiece, model number #10673, boasts a stunning golden hunter-case adorned with intricate depictions of a peasant by a well and a flower arrangement vase, all set within three 43mm extrathin lids. The watch’s dustcovers reveal an anchor escapement and 13 rubies, underscoring its superior quality and precision. The Elizabethan-style silver sphere, embellished with golden motifs and Roman numerals, dates back to around 1870, reflecting the timeless beauty and sophistication of that period. COURVOISIER, established in 1942 by Henri and Philippe Courvoisier, quickly gained acclaim for producing high-quality watches, including a notable commission for King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia. This particular watch is not only a testament to COURVOISIER’s meticulous attention to detail but also a cherished artifact from the late 19th century. With its excellent condition and intricate mechanics, this Swiss pocket watch is a true collector’s item that any watch enthusiast would be proud to own. This exquisite Swiss pocket watch, with the model number #10673, was produced by the renowned watchmaker, COURVOISIER. The watch features a stunning golden hunter-case with three 43mm/1.69in extrathin lids that beautifully depict a peasant with a pitcher by a well and a flower arrangement vase. The dustcovers of the watch hold an anchor escapement and 13 rubies, adding to its high-quality craftsmanship. The watch’s Elizabethan-style sphere is made of silver and decorated with golden motifs. The sphere features Roman numerals and dates back to around 1870. COURVOISIER was established in 1942 by Henri and Philippe Courvoisier, and the company quickly made a name for itself by producing high-quality watches. Shortly after the company’s founding, the French city of La Chaux-de-Fonds ordered a watch for King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia. This watch was considered to be the most extrathin watch ever produced at that time. This stunning Swiss pocket watch is a testament to the level of attention to detail and quality that made COURVOISIER a household name in the world of luxury watches. The watch’s detailed design and intricate mechanics make it a true work of art that any watch enthusiast would be proud to own. Creator: Courvoisier Case Material: Gold Stone: Ruby Stone Cut: Bead Weight: 42.7 g Case Dimensions: Diameter: 43 mm (1.7 in) Period: Late 19th Century Date of Manufacture: Cica 1870 Condition: Excellent

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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