
Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Turquoise Set Gold English Cylinder, 1821
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- 1821
- Historical period
- Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
- Country of origin
- England
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 4729
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 4729)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Turquoise Set Gold English Cylinder (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 4729), this is a pocket watch, made in England, dated 1821. 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. 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 “Turquoise Set Gold English Cylinder - 1821″ is a remarkable testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of the 19th century, encapsulating the elegance and sophistication of that era in a stunning pocket watch. This luxurious timepiece features a breathtaking turquoise set gold open face case, which immediately captures the eye with its intricate beauty. At its heart lies a meticulously crafted full plate gilt keywind fusee movement, showcasing a plain cock, a large diamond endstone, and a polished steel Bosley regulator, all harmoniously working together to ensure precise timekeeping. The balance mechanism is a masterpiece in itself, comprising a plain flat three-arm gilt balance paired with a blue steel spiral hairspring, while the polished steel cylinder is complemented by a large brass escape wheel with endstones on its pivots. The dial is a work of art, adorned with a gold mat and embellished with applied gold Roman numerals and gold hands, exuding a timeless charm. Encased in a drum-shaped gold case with an engine-turned finish, the watch’s bezels are set with turquoise stones and feature applied gold decoration, adding to its opulent allure. The middle and back of the case continue the engine-turned motif, and the gold bow is further enhanced with applied gold detailing. Crafted by the esteemed casemaker Louis Comtesse, this pocket watch is not only a visual delight but also a testament to superior craftsmanship, maintaining its excellent condition through the years. With the maker’s mark “LC” proudly displayed below a scroll and a corresponding number on the movement, this timepiece is a valuable piece of history. Signed by Bracebidges of London and hallmarked in London in 1821, the watch measures 45 mm in diameter and 11 mm in depth, making it a perfect blend of elegance and functionality for the discerning collector. This 19th Century English cylinder pocket watch features a stunning turquoise set gold open face case. The movement is a full plate gilt keywind fusee with a plain cock, large diamond endstone, and a polished steel Bosley regulator. Its balance consists of a plain flat three arm gilt balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring. The cylinder itself is made of polished steel and is accompanied by a large brass escape wheel, with pivots that have endstones. The dial is embellished with a gold mat and adorned with applied gold Roman numerals, complemented by gold hands. The case is made of drum shaped gold with an engine turned finish. Its bezels are set with turquoise stones and feature applied gold decoration. The middle and back of the case also exhibit an engine turned design, while the gold bow showcases additional applied gold decoration. The maker’s mark “LC” is visible below a scroll, alongside a number corresponding to the one on the movement. Overall, this gold English cylinder pocket watch is not only visually appealing but is also in excellent condition. The casemaker, Louis Comtesse, has crafted a timepiece that exudes elegance and style. Signed Bracebidges – London Hallmarked London 1821 Diameter 45 mm Depth 11 mm
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 escapementIdentification Centre
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