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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Perpetual calendar open-face pocket watch

École Professionnelle de la Vallée de Joux 'Pièce École' Perpetual Calendar Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This open-face, keyless-winding pocket watch was produced as a 'pièce école' attributed to maker Edouard Falcy at the École Professionnelle de la Vallée de Joux, dated circa 1961. The watch is encased in gold plate measuring 47 mm in diameter and weighing 73 grams. Its white dial presents a perpetual calendar layout showing the month, leap year indication, date, day of the week, and moon phases. According to the auction catalogue, it is powered by a 38 mm rhodium-plated caliber with 19 jewels, fausses côtes finishing, a straight-line lever escapement, and a swan-neck micrometer regulator. It is accompanied by an EPVJ presentation box and a timing rate certificate dated March 20, 1961.

Dial view of the gold-plated perpetual calendar pocket watch with accompanying rate certificate and red box
Dial view of the gold-plated perpetual calendar pocket watch with accompanying rate certificate and red box — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Perpetual calendar open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Ecole Professionnelle de la Vallee de Joux, Switzerland
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
1
Source-reported date
Circa 1961
Country
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
472

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

Identity and Attribution

This perpetual calendar pocket watch is designated as a 'pièce école', described as an educational project timepiece associated with the École Professionnelle de la Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. The auction source attributes the creation of this specific watch to Edouard Falcy.

The watch is dated to circa 1961, based on the source metadata, and is identified by the movement number 472.

Evidence for this section
  • “ECOLE PROFESSIONNELLE DE LA VALLEE DE JOUX, SWITZERLAND, “PIÈCE ÉCOLE”, MADE BY EDOUARD FALCY”
  • “Year Circa 1961”
  • “Movement No. 472”

Configuration

The timepiece is an open-face, keyless-winding, round-shaped, perpetual calendar pocket watch with leap year indication and moon phases. The exterior is described as gold plated.

The watch is supplied with an original presentation box engraved “EPVJ” and a rate certificate dated 20 March 1961.

Evidence for this section
  • “gold plated open-face, keyless-winding, round- shaped, perpetual calendar, leap year indication, phases of the moon pocket watch.”
  • “Original presentation box engraved “EPVJ” (École Professionnelle de la Vallée de Joux), accompanied by a rate certificate dated 20 March 1961.”

Movement Specifications

According to the auction source, the watch is powered by a 38 mm rhodium-plated movement with 19 jewels and 'fausses cotes' decoration.

Technical features cited include a straight-line lever escapement, a swan-neck micrometer regulator, and a blued steel balance spring with a terminal curve.

Evidence for this section
  • “Caliber 38 mm., 19 jewels, rhodium plated, "fausses cotes" decoration, straight line lever escapement, swan-neck micrometer regulator, blued steel balance spring with terminal curve.”

Open research questions

  • What is the underlying base metal material of the case?
  • What specific markings or signatures are present on the movement and dial beyond those documented in the auction catalogue?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for École Professionnelle de la Vallée de Joux 'Pièce École' Perpetual Calendar Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Maker attributionEdouard Falcy at Ecole Professionnelle de la Vallee de Joux“MADE BY EDOUARD FALCY”
Movement number472“Movement No. 472”
Case diameter47 mm“Diameter 47 mm.”
Total weight73 gr.“Weight 73 gr.”
Caliber specifications38 mm, 19 jewels“Caliber 38 mm., 19 jewels”
Certificate date20 March 1961“accompanied by a rate certificate dated 20 March 1961”

Visible details

  • White dial configured with four subsidiary displays: month and leap year at 12 o'clock, date at 3 o'clock, moon phases at 6 o'clock, and day of the week at 9 o'clock.
  • Gold-plated round case featuring a top winding crown and arched pendant bow at 12 o'clock.
  • Presented resting over a printed rate certificate with visible handwritten movement number 472, accompanied by a textured red presentation case behind.

Research qualifications

  • Movement condition, finishing, and signatures are not visible in this dial-side photograph and rely on source catalogue description.
  • Underlying base metal beneath the gold plating is not stated.

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

Consulted source

Geneva, November 7th-8th, 2026 Auction | Geneva, November 8th-9th, 2025

Reviewed 2026-10-22 · Record 9459e1e5c7

Terms in this record

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