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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Keyless fob watch with chatelaine

Anonymous Swiss Keyless Fob Watch with Chatelaine

Partially verified

This Swiss keyless fob watch, manufactured circa 1890, is suspended from a matching 18 ct. gold short chatelaine. The chatelaine is chased with scrollwork and topped by a Ducal crown, incorporating two champleve enamelled coats of arms. The watch case is a four-body "pomme et filets" construction. Its back cover features a painted enamel scene depicting a seated bagpiper, a dog, and two young ladies, framed by black enamel with engraved floral decoration. The cuvette is made of engine-turned gold. The dial is white enamel, displaying Roman numerals and an outer Arabic minute ring, accompanied by gold "Louis XV" hands. The movement is a 12 ligne, nickel-plated caliber, featuring "fausses côtes" decoration and eight jewels. It utilizes a cylinder escapement, a plain gold three-arm balance, and a flat balance spring. The total diameter of the watch is 32 mm.

The 18 ct. gold keyless fob watch with its accompanying gold chatelaine, displaying the Ducal crown and heraldic coats of arms.
The 18 ct. gold keyless fob watch with its accompanying gold chatelaine, displaying the Ducal crown and heraldic coats of arms. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Keyless fob watch with chatelaine
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
372
Source-reported date
circa 1890
Source-reported place
Switzerland

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 Chatelaine

The watch is housed in a four-body "pomme et filets" case crafted from 18 ct. gold. The reverse side of the case displays a painted enamel composition of a bagpiper, a dog, and two young women, surrounded by an outer frame of black enamel with floral engraving. A gold engine-turned cuvette protects the internal movement.

The watch is suspended from a matching gold chatelaine, designed with chased scroll decoration. The top section terminates in a Ducal crown and is set with two distinct shields featuring champleve enamelled coats of arms. This ensemble forms an integrated unit for attachment to clothing.

Evidence for this section
  • “C. Four body, massive "pomme et filets", the back with a painted enamel scene of a sitting bagpiper with his dog, playing playing for two young ladies, outer black enamel frame with engraved floral decoration.”
  • “Gold engine-turned cuvette.”
  • “Fine 18 ct. gold and enamel, keyless fob watch, suspended to a gold short châtelaine, chased with scrolls, a Ducal crown at the top, and set with two champleve enamelled coats of arms.”

Dial and Hands

The watch features a white enamel dial, providing a contrast to the gold case. It is marked with standard Roman numeral hour indices.

For precise time reading, the dial includes an outer Arabic numeral track for minutes. The time is indicated by a pair of gold "Louis XV" style hands, completing the ornamental design of the watch face.

Evidence for this section
  • “D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring.”
  • “Gold "Louis XV" hands.”

Movement

The movement is a 12 ligne, nickel-plated caliber constructed with 8 jewels.

Technical regulation is achieved through a cylinder escapement. The oscillator consists of a plain gold three-arm balance paired with a flat balance spring.

Evidence for this section
  • “M. 12"', nickel plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 8 jewels, cylinder escapement, plain gold three arm balance, flat balance spring.”
  • “In very good condition.”

Open research questions

  • What specific family or entity do the two champleve enamelled coats of arms represent?
  • Does the chatelaine contain any hallmarks indicating the specific gold assayer or origin city in Switzerland?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Anonymous Swiss Keyless Fob Watch with Chatelaine
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerAnonymous“Anonymous, Swiss, circa 1890.”
Material18 ct. gold and enamel“Fine 18 ct. gold and enamel, keyless fob watch”
Movement size12 ligne“M. 12"', nickel plated”
EscapementCylinder escapement“cylinder escapement”
DecorFausses côtes“fausses côtes" decoration”
DialWhite enamel“D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring.”
Diameter32 mm“Diam.32 mm.”
Case typeFour body "pomme et filets"“C. Four body, massive "pomme et filets”

Visible details

  • The watch is attached to a decorative chatelaine via a gold ring.
  • The back of the watch case shows a painted scene of a bagpiper.
  • The chatelaine features two shield-shaped enamel heraldic emblems.
  • The case includes a Ducal crown motif at the top of the chatelaine.

Research qualifications

  • The exact provenance of the coats of arms is not provided in the source.
  • The attribution to the maker is only identified as anonymous.

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

Consulted source

Anonymous, Swiss, circa 1890. Fine 18 ct. gold and enamel, keyless fob watch, suspended to a gold short châtelaine, chased with scrolls, a Ducal crown at the top, and set with two champleve enamelled coats of arms.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 5a625d1e8e

Terms in this record

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