Pocket watch · 8-day lever escapement pocket watch

8-Day Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This 8-day pocket watch features a visible lever escapement design, where the mainspring occupies the entire diameter of the case. The watch is keyless, utilizing a push button for hand setting. The dial is white enamel with silver floral motifs. The exterior case is machine engraved and hallmarked H.M. Birmingham 1918 in sterling silver. The dial bears the inscription 'Hebdomas Patent 8-days. Swiss made.' The barrel cover is marked with 'spiral Breguet Levees Visibles, qualité superieure garantie' alongside a series of award dates spanning 1892 to 1910. The timepiece is accompanied by a velvet-lined aluminium case with a yellowed plastic cover, which features an engraving on the back reading 'Pioneer / BRITISH MAKE / 22 1/2'.

The barrel cover side of the 8-day pocket watch, showing the visible lever escapement and prize medals. — Auckland Museum Collections. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Category: Pocket watch · 8-day lever escapement pocket watch
Maker / attribution: Not established
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: H140
Source-reported date: 1918
Source-reported place: United Kingdom
Source-reported serial: 518996

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

Movement and Escapement

The watch functions as an 8-day timepiece with a visible lever escapement. A defining feature is the large mainspring barrel, which is designed to occupy the entire diameter of the watch case. This construction allows for the extended power reserve required for 8-day operation.

The movement architecture is presented with the escapement visible on the dial side. The barrel cover is intricately detailed with text reading 'spiral Breguet Levees Visibles, qualité superieure garantie' and lists various award dates including 1892, 1896, 1900, 1906 and 1910, reflecting the international recognition of the movement's design.

Evidence for this section

“8-Day watch with visible lever escapement. Mainspring occupies entire diameter of case.”
“'spiral Breguet Levees Visibles, qualité superieure garantie' and award dates 1892, 1896, 1900, 1906 and 1910 on barrel cover.”

Case and Dial

The timepiece features a white enamel face decorated with silver floral motifs. The external case is constructed of sterling silver and is decorated with machine engraving. The watch is keyless and employs a push button mechanism for adjusting the hands.

It is stored within a velvet-lined aluminium container fitted with a yellowed plastic cover. The rear of this storage case carries an engraving identifying it as 'Pioneer / BRITISH MAKE / 22 1/2',

Evidence for this section

“White enamel face with silver floral motifs. Machine engraved case.”
“Keyless with push button to set hands.”
“Contained in velvet lined aluminium case with yellowed plastic cover, engraved on back of aluminium case "Pioneer / BRITISH MAKE / 22 1/2”

Signatures, Marks and Numbers

The watch is identified by serial number 518996. The dial is signed 'Hebdomas Patent 8-days. Swiss made.' demonstrating the origin of the movement. The silver case carries hallmarks confirming its manufacture in Birmingham in 1918.

The Auckland Museum records the object under the accession number H140 within its Applied Arts and Design collection. This attribution aligns with the physical hallmarks found on the silver casing.

Evidence for this section

“hallmarked H.M.Birmingham 1918, sterling silver with serial number 518996”
“Hebdomas Patent 8-days. Swiss made." on dial.”
“Credit Line: Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, H140”

Open research questions

What is the historical relationship between the 'Pioneer' labelled aluminium case and the Hebdomas-patented watch movement?
Does the specific serial number 518996 correspond to any specific production batch record for Hebdomas 8-day movements?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for 8-Day Pocket Watch
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker/Type	Hebdomas Patent 8-days	“Hebdomas Patent 8-days. Swiss made.”
Case Material	Sterling silver	“sterling silver”
Hallmarks	H.M.Birmingham 1918	“hallmarked H.M.Birmingham 1918”
Serial Number	518996	“serial number 518996”
Setting Mechanism	Push button	“Keyless with push button to set hands”
Dial decoration	White enamel with silver floral motifs	“White enamel face with silver floral motifs”
Accessory case engraving	Pioneer / BRITISH MAKE / 22 1/2	“engraved on back of aluminium case "Pioneer / BRITISH MAKE / 22 1/2”

Visible details

Visible escapement mounted on the dial side
Multiple prize medallions engraved on the barrel cover
Prominent large central mainspring barrel

Research qualifications

The source text notes the watch is 'Swiss made' but describes the external carrying case as 'BRITISH MAKE'
The connection between the 'Pioneer' engraving on the aluminium case and the internal watch movement remains unverified

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

Consulted source

Silver 8-day pocket watch with visible lever escapement, 1918

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 24191dfb49

Terms in this record

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