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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Auguste Bergeon Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This 19th-century pocket watch was crafted by the watchmaker Auguste Bergeon in Geneva, Switzerland. It is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art under the accession number 89.2.87, having entered the museum as a gift from Joseph W. Drexel in 1889. The watch is constructed from a combination of gold, enamel, and silver. Its diameter measures approximately 1 1/2 inches, or 3.8 centimeters. The timepiece is assigned to the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department at the institution. It remains an individual object record within the museum's digital archive, representing historical horological production from the Geneva region. The design includes a circular dial with roman numerals and an ornamental, possibly enameled, case exterior consistent with decorative timekeeping instruments of the period documented by the museum's registration records.

A detailed view of the Auguste Bergeon pocket watch, showing the dial, decorative case, and pendant.
A detailed view of the Auguste Bergeon pocket watch, showing the dial, decorative case, and pendant. — 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
Auguste Bergeon
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
89.2.87
Source-reported date
19th century
Source-reported place
Swiss, Geneva

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

Physical Description and Materials

The watch is identified by its metallic composition, utilizing gold, enamel, and silver to create its decorative form. The object maintains a circular profile with a diameter of 1 1/2 inches, equivalent to 3.8 centimeters.

The visual evidence shows a central dial featuring Roman numerals for time indication. Surrounding this central area, the case is sculpted into a floral or scalloped border that extends to a decorative bow at the twelve o'clock position. The combination of these materials and the detailed surface relief indicates a focus on ornamental finish alongside the functional requirements of a portable timepiece.

Evidence for this section
  • “The museum records its materials as: Gold, enamel, silver.”
  • “Recorded dimensions: Diameter: 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm).”

Maker and Historical Context

The timepiece is attributed to the watchmaker Auguste Bergeon, based in Geneva, Switzerland. This attribution aligns with the broader regional identification of the watch as Swiss in origin. The object is officially classified under the category of horology and is curated within the department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The provenance of the watch is clearly documented by its entry into the permanent museum collection in 1889. It was acquired as a gift from Joseph W. Drexel, establishing its presence in a major institutional collection for over a century. The registry notes provide the foundational data for identifying this specific specimen within the museum's holdings.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watch made by Auguste Bergeon, dated 19th century, from Swiss, Geneva.”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 89.2.87.”
  • “Credit line: Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889.”

Documentation and Research

The provided information originates from the institutional archives of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a catalogued museum object, its identification relies on the documentation provided by the institution's collection management system. The record indicates that while the maker and general period are assigned, the object requires further research to confirm technical specifications such as movement details or component provenance.

Because cases and movements for watches of this origin were occasionally sourced from different makers or modified, the museum documentation suggests verifying individual hallmarks and signatures to determine full authenticity. This record serves as a primary reference for the object as currently held and documented by the museum's department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts.

Evidence for this section
  • “These details come from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's own record of this object”
  • “Compare the case maker's marks and hallmarks inside the case back, the movement signature and serial number”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific movement type and escapement mechanism utilized in this Bergeon pocket watch?
  • Do the internal hallmarks correspond to the case maker, or is there evidence of an independent movement manufacturer?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Auguste Bergeon Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerAuguste Bergeon“Watchmaker: Auguste Bergeon”
Date19th century“19th century”
OriginSwiss, Geneva“Swiss, Geneva”
Accession Number89.2.87“89.2.87”
MaterialsGold, enamel, silver“Gold, enamel, silver”
Diameter1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm)“Diameter: 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm)”
ProvenanceGift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889“Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889”

Visible details

  • The watch case features ornate, embossed or chased floral detailing around the bezel
  • The dial is marked with Roman numerals for the hour chapters
  • An integrated circular pendant bow is present at the top of the watch case
  • The watch exhibits a multi-petaled or scalloped perimeter design surrounding the dial

Research qualifications

  • The specific horological mechanism details, such as the escapement or movement type, remain unverified in the source data
  • The source cautions that makers of cases and movements were often distinct, and component originality requires further verification

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

Consulted source

Watch by Auguste Bergeon, Swiss, Geneva, 19th century

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record dbb07ce41c

Terms in this record

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

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