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Verge Fusee Key wind 18kt gold and Silver pocket watch — view 1 of 6
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Verge Fusee Key wind 18kt gold and Silver pocket watch

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
18th century
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold, silver
Stock no.
Product 3868
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 3868)
Catalogue title (original)
Verge Fusee Key wind 18kt gold and Silver 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 3868), this is a pocket watch, dated 18th century. The Atlas places it in the Early Modern Horology period (1600 – 1750) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold, 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

The Verge Fusee Key wind 18kt gold and Silver pocket watch is a captivating relic from 18th-century France, crafted in the 1790s, exuding the elegance and craftsmanship of a bygone era. This exquisite timepiece features an open face swing-out style case, measuring 40mm in diameter, and is meticulously constructed from 18K gold and silver, adorned with intricate repoussé metalwork that highlights its artisanal beauty. The watch’s charm is further enhanced by a stunning enamelled dial, complete with Roman numerals and delicate filigree hands, offering a glimpse into the sophisticated design aesthetics of the period. As a key wind and key set design, this pocket watch boasts a verge fusee escapement, a hallmark of precision and reliability in its time. Signed and featuring a porcelain dial, the watch radiates an antique allure, despite minor signs of use and a character-adding crack on the dial between the 15 and 20 numerals. For collectors and enthusiasts of antique watches, or those seeking a remarkable piece of French history, this Verge Fusee pocket watch is a treasure worth cherishing. With dimensions of 6.5cm x 4cm x 1.7cm and a weight of 53g, this manual wind timepiece is a testament to the artistry and innovation of the late 18th century, originating from France and remaining in good condition, making it a truly worthwhile investment for any connoisseur. This is a stunning antique pocket watch from 18th-century France, made in the 1790s. The watch boasts a beautiful open face swing-out style case, with a diameter of 40mm. The case is made of 18K gold and silver and decorated with intricate repoussé metalwork. The watch is also adorned with a lovely enamelled dial with Roman numerals and filigree hands. The watch is a key wind and key set design, with a verge fusee escapement. It is signed and comes with a porcelain dial, adding to the watch’s charming antique appeal. Despite showing minor signs of use, this pocket watch is in good condition overall. However, it’s worth noting that there is a crack on the dial between the 15 and 20 numerals, which adds a touch of character to the piece. If you’re a collector of antique watches, or you’re simply looking for a stunning piece of French history, this antique 18th-century Verge Fusee Key wind pocket watch is certainly a worthwhile investment. The dimensions of the watch are 6.5cm x 4cm x 1.7cm, with a weight of 53g. Case Material: Gold,Silver Weight: 53 g Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Diameter: 38 mm (1.5 in) Place of Origin: France Period: Late 18th Century Date of Manufacture: 18th century Condition: Good

Historical context

Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)

Huygens' pendulum and balance spring transform accuracy; English makers develop the anchor and deadbeat escapements.

The balance spring (c. 1675) improved watches dramatically and introduced the minute hand. English pair-cased verge watches with pierced balance cocks and French oignons were typical; enamel painting at Blois and Geneva, and the repeating watch (1680s), made watches objects of great refinement.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Renaissance Horology

Atlas type guide

Verge and pair-cased watches

After Christiaan Huygens and Robert Hooke applied the balance spring around 1675, the verge watch became a reasonably reliable timekeeper and the minute hand became standard. Through the eighteenth century the typical English watch was a pair-cased verge: a fusee movement with a pierced, engraved balance cock, housed in an inner case and a separate protective outer case, often of repoussé gold, shagreen, tortoiseshell or enamel.

French watches of the same period were thicker 'oignons', later replaced by elegant thinner watches following Jean-Antoine Lépine's bar-bridge calibre of c. 1770. Dutch, Swiss and German makers supplied international markets, and verge watches were made until the mid-nineteenth century as cheaper alternatives to the cylinder and lever.

What to look for

  • The pierced balance cock on the backplate: winged (continental) or with a foot (English); its style dates the watch.
  • Fusee and chain visible through the movement; key winding through the dial (early) or case back.
  • Hallmarks inside English silver or gold cases, which give a date letter.
  • Maker's name and serial number engraved on the backplate; watch papers inside outer cases.
  • Enamel dials (after c. 1720) versus earlier champlevé metal dials.

Dating clues

  • Champlevé dials: c. 1680–1730; white enamel dials thereafter.
  • English case hallmarks give the year of assay to within a year.
  • Verge watches persisted in cheap production until c. 1850.

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:Balance spring (hairspring)Verge escapement

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