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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Charles Bobinet pocket watch

Partially verified

This watch, attributed to the maker Charles Bobinet (1610–1678), dates to the period of approximately 1655–1660. The object originates from the Swiss center of Geneva. The case is constructed from agate and features enameled gold mounts. The dial consists of white enamel with a gold hand. Internally, the movement is composed of gilded brass and incorporates partly blued steel components. The watch has a case diameter of 1 5/16 inches (3.3 cm) and a back plate diameter of 1 1/16 inches (2.7 cm). It is currently held within the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Front view of the Charles Bobinet watch, showing the agate case and white enamel dial.
Front view of the Charles Bobinet watch, showing the agate case and white enamel dial. — 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
Charles Bobinet
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1617
Source-reported date
probably ca. 1655–60
Source-reported place
Switzerland, 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

Construction and Materials

The watch case is fashioned from agate, a hardstone material utilized here in combination with enameled gold mounts. The lid of the case is hinged, allowing access to the white enamel dial.

The movement is executed in gilded brass, with steel elements that are partially blued. The overall dimensions are compact, measuring 3.3 cm for the case and 2.7 cm for the back plate, consistent with the portable nature of seventeenth-century watches.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case: agate with enameled golt mounts; Dial: white enamel with gold hand; Movement: gilded brass and partly blued steel”
  • “Diameter (case): 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm); Diameter (back plate): 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm)”

Signature and Attribution

The movement is signed with the name of the watchmaker, Charles Bobinet. Historical documentation identifies Bobinet as a Swiss maker who lived from 1610 to 1678, with activity recorded in Geneva. The engraving on the back plate confirms the association between this specific object and the maker.

The attribution to Bobinet and the date range are associated with records from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The documentation classifies the object within the Geneva school of watchmaking, noting his relocation from Chastelrault to Geneva during his career.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: Charles Bobinet (Swiss, Chastelrault, France 1610–1678 Geneva)”
  • “Watch made by Charles Bobinet (Swiss, Chastelrault, France 1610–1678 Geneva), dated probably ca. 1655–60”

Museum Provenance

This watch is part of the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art under the accession number 17.190.1617. It is classified under the department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. The object was received as part of a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917.

The documentation provided by the museum serves as the primary record for the object's current status and physical description. The museum indicates that this is a single, specific object and that further horological research is necessary to confirm its broader classification.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1617”
  • “Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”

Open research questions

  • What specific escapement mechanism is utilized within the gilded brass movement?
  • Does the engraving style on the movement correspond to other known works by Charles Bobinet from the 1650s?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Charles Bobinet pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MaterialsCase: agate with enameled golt mounts; Dial: white enamel with gold hand; Movement: gilded brass and partly blued steel“Case: agate with enameled golt mounts; Dial: white enamel with gold hand; Movement: gilded brass and partly blued steel”
Case diameter1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm)“Diameter (case): 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm)”
Back plate diameter1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm)“Diameter (back plate): 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm)”
MuseumThe Metropolitan Museum of Art“The Metropolitan Museum of Art”
Accession Number17.190.1617“17.190.1617”

Visible details

  • The movement is engraved with the name 'Charles Bobinet'.
  • The dial features black Roman numerals and a single gold hand.
  • The agate case is fitted with a hinged lid decorated with enamel work.

Research qualifications

  • The exact production date remains approximate as 'probably ca. 1655–60'.
  • The wider context of the watch type has not been independently verified against horological references.

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

Consulted source

Watch by Charles Bobinet, Swiss, Geneva, probably ca. 1655–60

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 544c2943fb

Terms in this record

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

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