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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Digital jump-hour pocket watch

Cortébert Pallweber Open Face Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This open-face pocket watch is attributed by the auction house to Cortébert, featuring a digital display system under the Pallweber patent. The case is described as 14-karat rose gold including an inner dust lid, measuring approximately 48 mm in diameter excluding the crown. A silver dial plate decorated with floral relief patterns displays jump hours and minutes digitally via cut-out apertures, alongside an analog subsidiary seconds dial. According to the auction description, the manual-wind movement contains 28 jewels, a lever escapement, bimetallic balance, and blued hairspring, signed with patent inscriptions.

Front view of the Cortébert Pallweber open-face pocket watch in rose gold showing the relief-engraved silver digital dial
Front view of the Cortébert Pallweber open-face pocket watch in rose gold showing the relief-engraved silver digital dial — Auktionshaus Eppli / Invaluable. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.invaluable.com
Category
Pocket watch · Digital jump-hour pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Cortébert
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
505
Source-reported date
Not established
Country
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

Dial Configuration and Display

The watch features a silver dial plate decorated with floral relief engraving and foliage motifs across its surface. The time is presented via a digital jump system combined with an analog display.

Apertures set horizontally across the center of the dial present the digital hour and minute indications in Arabic numerals. Adjacent to the right aperture sits an analog subsidiary dial fitted with a dark blued hand.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver dial plate decorated with floral relief engraving and foliage motifs”
  • “DIal made from silver with digital display of hours and minutes in combination with arabic numerals!”
  • “Analog subsidiary dial with a dark blued hand positioned adjacent to the right aperture”

Case Construction and Condition

The pocket watch is housed in an open-face circular case rendered in 14-karat rose gold, including its interior dust lid. The case measures approximately 48 mm in diameter excluding the winding crown.

Visible external fittings include a fluted onion crown paired with a suspension bow and a push pin located on the adjacent case side. The auction catalog records the watch in used condition, noting scratches and light dents on the case.

Evidence for this section
  • “Rose gold 14K, incl. dust lid.”
  • “Diameter approx. 48mm without crown.”
  • “Fluted onion crown with suspension bow and an adjacent case-side push pin”
  • “Used condition, case with scratches and light dents.”

Reported Movement and Technical Specifications

According to the auction house description, the watch is powered by a manual-wind movement equipped with 28 jewels, a lever escapement, a bimetallic balance, and a blued hairspring.

The movement is stated to be signed 'Cortebert Watch Co., Brevete, S.G.D.G., Patent Pallweber, No. 11979'. Because internal movement components and inscriptions are not visible in the provided lot photography, these mechanical details rely entirely on the cataloger's report.

Evidence for this section
  • “Manual wound movement with 28 jewels, lever escapmenet, bimetallic balance and blued hairspring”
  • “signed "Cortebert Watch Co., Brevete, S.G.D.G., Patent Pallweber, No. 11979"”

Open research questions

  • What specific serial or reference numbers, if any, are engraved on the movement or inside the 14K rose gold case back and dust lid?
  • Does direct examination of the movement confirm the reported 28-jewel count and Pallweber patent stamping No. 11979?
  • What is the mechanical function of the case-side push pin adjacent to the winding crown?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Cortébert Pallweber Open Face Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case Material14K Rose gold“Rose gold 14K, incl. dust lid.”
Movement InscriptionCortebert Watch Co., Brevete, S.G.D.G., Patent Pallweber, No. 11979“signed "Cortebert Watch Co., Brevete, S.G.D.G., Patent Pallweber, No. 11979"”
Jewel Count28 jewels“Manual wound movement with 28 jewels”
Dial MaterialSilver“DIal made from silver with digital display of hours and minutes in combination with arabic numerals!”
Case DiameterApprox. 48 mm without crown“Diameter approx. 48mm without crown.”
Escapement and Balance DetailsLever escapement, bimetallic balance, and blued hairspring (source-reported)“lever escapmenet, bimetallic balance and blued hairspring”

Visible details

  • Silver dial plate decorated with floral relief engraving and foliage motifs
  • Digital display apertures set horizontally across the center of the dial
  • Analog subsidiary dial with a dark blued hand positioned adjacent to the right aperture
  • Fluted onion crown with suspension bow and an adjacent case-side push pin
  • Polished rose-gold colored circular case

Research qualifications

  • Movement and interior dust lid inscriptions are not visible in the provided image and rely entirely on the auction house report.
  • Source notes used condition with scratches and light dents on the case.

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

Consulted source

Sold at Auction: CORTEBERT very rare open face pocket watch "Pallweber".

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 47cbbe5c3b

Terms in this record

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