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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

17th-century rock crystal and enamel watch

Partially verified

This 17th-century watch, held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession number 17.190.1539), is constructed from a combination of rock crystal, gold, and enamel. The decorative elements include a dial surface adorned with a scene depicting a church, which serves as a subject tag for the piece. The watch is engineered with a hinged, faceted rock crystal cover that opens to reveal the dial. Measuring approximately 2 1/4 by 1 1/4 inches (5.7 by 3.2 cm), the watch remains part of the museum's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department holdings. The object is documented through the museum's open-access records, though specific details regarding its maker, internal movement, or original place of origin remain unidentified in the available source material.

A 17th-century oval watch with a hinged rock crystal cover and an enamel dial depicting a church scene.
A 17th-century oval watch with a hinged rock crystal cover and an enamel dial depicting a church scene. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1539
Source-reported date
17th century
Source-reported place
Not established

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Material Construction

The watch is manufactured with a case utilizing rock crystal, gold, and enamel. The physical design follows an oval silhouette, which is consistent with early watchmaking forms. The primary protective cover of the piece is composed of faceted rock crystal, which is hinged to allow access to the internal dial and time-indicating components.

These materials are consistent with decorative horological pieces curated by the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the watch is preserved.

Evidence for this section
  • “The museum records the medium as Rock crystal, gold, enamel”
  • “The museum dates it 17th century.”

Dial and Visual Decoration

The dial of the watch is decorated with an enamel scene centered on the theme of a church, a detail identified by the museum's subject categorization. The dial layout displays a circular chapter ring with Roman numerals marking the hours. A single hand is positioned centrally to indicate time, set against the detailed pictorial background.

The church imagery serves as the primary visual focus for the observer when the rock crystal cover is placed in the open position.

Evidence for this section
  • “Subject tags assigned by the museum: Churches.”

Provenance and Documentation

The object is recorded in The Metropolitan Museum of Art collection under the accession number 17.190.1539. It is catalogued within the institution's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department. The museum provides the measurements and dating as 2 1/4 by 1 1/4 inches and 17th century, respectively.

While the museum has documented the physical attributes of the object, there is no further information regarding its specific maker, original provenance, or internal technical history. Current documentation serves as an administrative record of the piece within the museum's open-access database.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watch in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (accession 17.190.1539), catalogued by the museum's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department.”
  • “These details are transcribed from the museum's open-access record”

Open research questions

  • Who is the maker of this 17th-century timepiece?
  • What is the specific provenance of this watch before its acquisition by the museum?
  • Does the internal movement contain any signatures or hallmarks that could further attribute its manufacture?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for 17th-century rock crystal and enamel watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MuseumThe Metropolitan Museum of Art“The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (accession 17.190.1539)”
MaterialsRock crystal, gold, enamel“Rock crystal, gold, enamel”
Date17th century“17th century”
Dimensions2 1/4 × 1 1/4 in. (5.7 × 3.2 cm)“2 1/4 × 1 1/4 in. (5.7 × 3.2 cm)”
Subject tagsChurches“Subject tags assigned by the museum: Churches.”

Visible details

  • Oval-shaped case design
  • Faceted rock crystal cover
  • Dial surface features a pictorial enamel scene of a church
  • Single hand visible on the central arbor

Research qualifications

  • Maker and specific region of manufacture remain unverified
  • Internal movement specifications are not documented

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Watch, 17th century

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record f2038475ef

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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