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Three Colour Gold American Pocket Watch, c. 1880 — view 1 of 5
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Three Colour Gold American Pocket Watch, c. 1880

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
c. 1880
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 6276
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 6276)
Catalogue title (original)
Three Colour Gold American 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 6276), this is a pocket watch, made in United States, dated c. 1880. 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

The “Three Colour Gold American Pocket Watch - Circa 1880” is a stunning testament to the craftsmanship and elegance of late 19th-century timepieces, offering both historical significance and exquisite design. This remarkable pocket watch, crafted with a unique three-colour gold full hunter case, embodies the sophistication of its era, making it a coveted collector’s item. At its heart lies a meticulously engineered nickelled three-quarter plate keyless movement with a going barrel, complemented by a plain cock with a polished steel regulator, a compensation balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring, and a club foot lever escapement. The watch’s white enamel dial, adorned with Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial, is signed and perfectly complemented by the graceful blue steel hands that enhance its timeless aesthetic. The 18-carat full hunter case is a visual masterpiece, featuring a captivating shell design on both lids, embellished with applied three-colour gold decorations, and a small vacant oval cartouche at the base of the front cover, adding a touch of personalized charm. The watch’s inner workings are safeguarded by a plain gold cuvette, ensuring its longevity and functionality. Signed by the Royal American Watch Co. in Waltham, Massachusetts, and marked by Woerls Patents, this pocket watch, with a diameter of 44 mm, is in good condition and stands as a beautiful piece of artistry, reflecting the elegance and precision of its time. With its decorative case in excellent condition, this watch not only serves as a functional timepiece but also as a magnificent work of art, capturing the essence of a bygone era. This is a beautiful late 19th Century American lever pocket watch with a unique three colour gold full hunter case. The watch features a nickelled three quarter plate keyless movement with a going barrel. It has a plain cock with a polished steel regulator, a compensation balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring, and a club foot lever escapement. The white enamel dial is signed and has a subsidiary seconds dial and Roman numerals. The watch also boasts blue steel hands, which add to its elegant aesthetic. The 18 carat full hunter case is truly eye-catching, with both lids decorated in a shell design and adorned with applied three colour gold decoration. There is a small vacant oval cartouche at the base of the front cover, adding an additional touch of charm. The inner workings of the watch are protected by a plain gold cuvette. Overall, this watch is not only a functional timepiece but also a beautiful piece of artistry. The decorative case is in excellent condition, further enhancing its appeal. Signed Royal Am. Watch Co. Waltham, Mass. – Patent Pinion Woerls Patents Date of Manufacture: Circa 1880 Diameter: 44 mm Condition: Good

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 escapementFuseeIdentification Centre

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