Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Vacheron Constantin Yellow Gold Pocket Watch, c. 1900
- Maker / attribution
- Vacheron Constantin (maker)
- Date
- c. 1900
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 3730
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 3730)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Vacheron Constantin Yellow Gold 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 3730), this is a pocket watch by Vacheron Constantin, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1900. 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
Step back in time with the Vacheron Constantin Yellow Gold Pocket Watch, a masterpiece from the early 20th century that embodies the pinnacle of Swiss watchmaking excellence. Crafted circa 1900, this exquisite timepiece is a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and enduring legacy of Vacheron et Constantin Geneve. Made from 18k yellow gold and weighing 98.1 grams, this pocket watch is not only a symbol of luxury but also a piece of history, hallmarked to ensure its authenticity and value. With a case diameter of 51 mm, it boasts an impressive presence, further accentuated by its original case that has preserved its pristine condition over the decades. This collector’s item offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of horological heritage from one of the world’s most prestigious watchmakers, making it a coveted addition to any discerning collection. Introducing a premium collector’s pocket watch from Vacheron et Constantin Geneve, crafted with the utmost attention to detail and quality. This exquisite timepiece is made from 18k gold and is hallmarked, ensuring its authenticity and value. To protect and preserve this piece, it comes with its original case. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of luxury from one of the finest watchmakers in the world. Creator: Vacheron Constantin Case Material: 18k Gold,Yellow Gold Weight: 98.1 g Case Dimensions: Diameter: 51 mm (2.01 in) Place of Origin: Switzerland Period: Early 20th Century Date of Manufacture: circa 1900 Condition: Excellent
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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