Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-faced pocket watch

Bonnet 18kt Solid Gold Pocket Watch with Engine Turned Dial - 1850

Partially verified

This 1850 open-faced pocket watch by Bonnet is constructed from 18kt yellow gold and measures 39mm in diameter. The timepiece features a hand-engine-turned dial with applied black Roman numeral hour markers and blued steel hands. It operates on an 8-jewel key-wound movement, which includes a cylindrical escapement and is described by the source as incorporating bridge work in the Breguet style. The watch is accompanied by a winding key. The source attributes its origin to Switzerland and identifies the overall aesthetic as following the Breguet style. It is presented as a mid-19th-century horological object currently documented in excellent condition.

Front view of the Bonnet 18kt gold open-faced pocket watch with engine-turned dial.
Front view of the Bonnet 18kt gold open-faced pocket watch with engine-turned dial. — Watch Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
watchmuseum.org
Category
Pocket watch · Open-faced pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Bonnet
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1850
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 Dial

The watch features a round, 39mm open-faced case crafted from 18kt yellow gold. The exterior presents a simple design consistent with mid-19th-century horological aesthetics, emphasizing the gold composition. A bow is attached at the top of the case to accommodate a chain or cord.

The dial is finished with a hand-applied engine-turned pattern, a decorative technique that provides a textured appearance. It features black Roman numeral hour markers positioned around the perimeter and blued steel hands, which provide contrast against the gold dial surface. The case design is open-faced, allowing direct view of the dial without a protective lid.

Evidence for this section
  • “hand engine turned dial, adorned with blued steel hands”
  • “ed in lustrous 18Kt. yellow gold”

Movement and Escapement

The watch is powered by an 8-jewel movement that requires a key for winding. According to the provided information, the movement construction incorporates a cylindrical escapement, a mechanism that was used in various 19th-century pocket watches.

The source characterizes the bridge work as being in the 'Breguet style.' This terminology is used to describe the arrangement and finish of the movement bridges. The watch includes a matching key for the winding function.

Evidence for this section
  • “runs on a key winding 8 jewel movement and comes equipped with a key”
  • “The movement is constructed with classic Breguet Bridge Work and a Cylindrical Escapement”

Provenance and Condition

The watch is attributed to the maker Bonnet and is dated to 1850. The origin is stated as Switzerland, reflecting the broader Swiss watchmaking tradition of that period.

The item is described in its current condition as excellent. No further provenance or ownership history is provided by the source, which classifies the watch as a vintage/antique object.

Evidence for this section
  • “Creator: Bonnet”
  • “Date of Manufacture: 1850”
  • “Place of Origin: Switzerland”
  • “Condition: Excellent”

Open research questions

  • What specific hallmarks or signatures are present on the movement or inside the case back to confirm the Bonnet attribution?
  • Does the movement contain specific serial numbers that can be referenced against existing Swiss horological records from 1850?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Bonnet 18kt Solid Gold Pocket Watch with Engine Turned Dial - 1850
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
CreatorBonnet“Creator: Bonnet”
Material18kt yellow gold“ed in lustrous 18Kt. yellow gold”
Diameter39mm“39mm diameter”
Movement Type8 jewel, key winding“key winding 8 jewel movement”
EscapementCylindrical“Cylindrical Escapement”
OriginSwitzerland“Place of Origin: Switzerland”
Date1850“Date of Manufacture: 1850”

Visible details

  • 39mm diameter gold case
  • Engine-turned dial surface
  • Blued steel hands
  • Roman numeral hour indices

Research qualifications

  • The source attributes the watch to 'Breguet Style' but does not confirm it was made by Abraham-Louis Breguet or his firm.
  • The inclusion of 'Breguet Bridge Work' is a descriptor used by the source and has not been verified by internal movement photography.

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

Consulted source

Bonnet 18kt. Solid Gold Pocket Watch with Engine Turned Dial - 1850

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 8238ad690d

Terms in this record

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

Other open-faced pocket watch records