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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pull-wind pocket watch

English duplex pull-wind pocket watch

Partially verified

This open face pocket watch incorporates a movement dating to circa 1810 fitted into a custom-made English silver case hallmarked for London in 1977. The movement features a duplex escapement and an uncommon pull-wind crank mechanism operated via the stem cap. The silvered dial exhibits guilloché sunburst engraving, Roman numeral hour markers, and an offset subsidiary seconds dial between the 2 and 4 o'clock positions, paired with blued steel hands. Measuring 51 mm by 18 mm, the case is finished with coin-edged sides, a rounded bow, and a domed mineral glass crystal.

Front view of the silver open face pocket watch showing the silvered dial, blued hands, and sub-seconds dial
Front view of the silver open face pocket watch showing the silvered dial, blued hands, and sub-seconds dial — Atlam Watches. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.antiquesboutique.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pull-wind pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
WE28 (AB-93203)
Catalogue / lot identifier
itm93203
Source-reported date
c. 1810 (movement), 1977 (case)
Country
United Kingdom

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

Movement & Winding Construction

The watch is powered by an unbranded English gilt bridge movement dated by the seller to circa 1810. Internally, the mechanism features a duplex escapement and an atypical pull-wind system. Rather than standard key winding or conventional stem turning, winding is performed by repeatedly pulling the stem cap out and pushing it back in, which activates an underlying crank mechanism.

Underneath the dial, the movement bears an incised signature of 'London' alongside the numeral '18'. The seller notes that movements of this specific mechanical arrangement were typically produced by Viner of London, but clarifies that this example carries no maker's signature. Evidence of repair is documented under the dial, where the seller reports a solder repair to the hour wheel.

Evidence for this section
  • “the gilt bridge movement has a duplex escapement and is signed “London” and also 18 under the dial”
  • “To wind you pull the cap on the stem out and push it back in, thus using the crank mechanism under the dial to wind the watch.”
  • “Typically these movements were made by Viner, London but there is no signature on this movement.”
  • “the hour wheel under the dial has a solder repair”

Dial Configuration

The watch features a silvered dial decorated with sunburst guilloché engraving, bounded by an outer chapter of Roman numeral hour indicators. An eccentric subsidiary seconds dial is positioned off-center around 3 o'clock.

Time is indicated by a set of blued steel hands, comprising an hour hand terminating in a pear- or spade-style tip, a minute hand, and a small subsidiary seconds hand. The dealer notes that the dial is scratched and faded.

Evidence for this section
  • “The dial has guilloche sun burst engraving.”
  • “the silvered dial has a full set of blue steel hands.”
  • “Silvered dial with Roman numerals and an eccentric subsidiary seconds dial positioned around 3 o'clock”
  • “the dial is scratched and faded”

Case Manufacture & Provenance Limits

The movement is housed in an English silver open-face case measuring 51 mm by 18 mm, constructed with a hinged back and bezel, coin-edged sides, and a domed mineral glass crystal. It features a spherical pendant topped with a round bow.

The case is not contemporary to the movement; it was made as a later bespoke housing hallmarked in London for 1977, complete with the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee mark and sponsor/maker's mark 'LAO'. Because original case and movement records are not recorded in this source, the workshop of origin cannot be verified beyond the seller's stylistic comparison to Viner.

Evidence for this section
  • “The case has London hallmarks for 1977 (inc Queen Elizabeth Jubilee mark) and case makers marks for LAO.”
  • “The watch measures 51mm x 18mm”
  • “The case has coin edged sides and a smooth plain finish.”
  • “which has a hinged back and bezel”
  • “Plain silver open face case with coin-edged band and spherical pendant topped with a round bow”

Open research questions

  • Which silversmith or workshop is registered to the 1977 London hallmark sponsor's mark 'LAO'?
  • Does the inscription '18' under the dial represent an individual movement serial, caliber number, or batch code?
  • Does technical examination of the under-dial crank mechanism align with known patent specifications or recorded movements associated with Charles Viner?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for English duplex pull-wind pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
EscapementDuplex escapement“the gilt bridge movement has a duplex escapement”
Winding MechanismPull-wind stem crank“To wind you pull the cap on the stem out and push it back in, thus using the crank mechanism under the dial to wind the watch.”
Case HallmarksLondon 1977 with Jubilee mark“The case has London hallmarks for 1977 (inc Queen Elizabeth Jubilee mark) and case makers marks for LAO.”
Movement InscriptionLondon and 18 under the dial“signed “London” and also 18 under the dial”
Dimensions51mm x 18mm“The watch measures 51mm x 18mm”
Case MaterialEnglish silver“the movement comes in a top quality English silver open face case”
Hand Setting MethodKey set“The watch is pull wind and key set (comes with a key)”
Case ConstructionHinged back and bezel“which has a hinged back and bezel”
Glass MaterialDomed mineral glass“The watch has a domed mineral glass”
Mechanical RepairSoldered hour wheel“the hour wheel under the dial has a solder repair”

Visible details

  • Silvered dial with Roman numerals and an eccentric subsidiary seconds dial positioned around 3 o'clock
  • Blued steel hour hand with a spade/pear tip, blued minute hand, and blued seconds hand
  • Plain silver open face case with coin-edged band and spherical pendant topped with a round bow

Research qualifications

  • The movement is not signed by a specific maker, though the seller notes similarity to Viner, London.
  • The case was made much later in 1977 for the circa 1810 movement.

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

Consulted source

Rare English silver DUPLEX pocket watch with PULL WIND c1810 in Antique Pocket Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 9d1422856c

Terms in this record

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