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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

Exact Open-Face Pocket Watch with Hebrew Dial

Partially verified

This open-face pocket watch, manufactured in Switzerland during the early 20th century, is signed by the maker Exact. Its case is constructed from gunmetal, a dark, gun-barrel steel, accented with gold-plated components including the bezel, hinge, winding stem, and bow. The dial is made of white enamel and features hour markers in Hebrew characters rather than standard numerals. , while the subsidiary seconds hand rotates counter-clockwise to align with the right-to-left reading direction of Hebrew script. The movement is a keyless-wound type, characterized by a gilt three-quarter plate with a shortened gear train and oversized going barrel. The regulatory system includes a simple cock, steel regulator, uncut bimetallic balance, and a blued steel hairspring, utilizing a club-foot lever escapement. The Exact maker's mark is engraved on the movement bridge.

Front view of the open-face pocket watch showing the enamel dial with Hebrew characters and the gold-plated crown.
Front view of the open-face pocket watch showing the enamel dial with Hebrew characters and the gold-plated crown. — Zamanito. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Exact
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
early 20th century
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 is an open-face model with a case fashioned from dark gunmetal.

The white enamel dial replaces traditional hour markers with Hebrew characters. Time is indicated by skeletonized, gold-plated brass hands. A subsidiary seconds dial is positioned at the bottom, featuring a hand that rotates counter-clockwise to facilitate reading in accordance with the right-to-left orientation of the Hebrew alphabet.

Evidence for this section
  • “قاب ساعت از جنس گان‌متال (فولاد تفنگی تیره) ساده ساخته شده که در هماهنگی چشم‌نواز با بخش‌های زراندود”
  • “صفحه ساعت از مینای سفید مرغوب است و ارقام ساعت به جای اعداد لاتین یا رومی، با حروف عبری طراحی شده‌اند.”
  • “عقربه زراندود ثانیه‌شمار فرعی بر خلاف جهت عقربه‌های ساعت (پادساعت‌گرد) می‌چرخد تا با جهت خوانش راست‌به‌چپ خط عبری همخوانی داشته باشد.”

Movement and Escapement

The timepiece utilizes a keyless-wound movement characterized by a gilt three-quarter plate. Mechanical components include an oversized going barrel and a shortened gear train featuring a reverse escapement setup.

The escapement is a club-foot lever type. The regulatory assembly incorporates a simple cock with a steel regulator, an uncut bimetallic balance, and a blue-tempered steel hairspring. The maker's name, Exact, is engraved directly onto the plate.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت دارای ساختار کوک بدون کلید (Keyless) و پل سه‌چهارم طلایی‌رنگ (Gilt 3/4 Plate) با قطار چرخ‌دنده‌های کوتاه‌شده و مهار معکوس است.”
  • “مخزن کوک (Going Barrel) در این موتور به صورت بزرگ‌تر از اندازه استاندارد (Oversized) طراحی شده است.”
  • “این سازوکار از مهار اهرمی با دندانه‌های پایه چماقی (Club Foot Lever Escapement) بهره می‌برد و نام سازنده به صورت Exact روی پل موتور حکاکی شده است.”

Reported Condition

The auction description specifies that technical dimensions in millimeters are not available. Additionally, there is no documented record regarding recent servicing.

Prospective owners are advised to independently assess the condition of the enamel dial, the functional integrity of the reverse seconds mechanism, and the state of the gunmetal finish.

Evidence for this section
  • “جزئیات دقیقی از ابعاد بر حسب میلی‌متر و تاریخچه سرویس‌های اخیر ثبت نشده است.”
  • “خریداران و مجموعه‌داران محترم می‌توانند پیش از خرید، سلامت لعاب مینای صفحه، کارکرد دقیق سازوکار ثانیه‌شمار معکوس و میزان سلامت پوشش تیره‌رنگ گان‌متال را به طور مستقل مورد بررسی قرار دهند.”

Open research questions

  • What specific patent or horological tradition prompted the production of Exact-branded Hebrew dial watches?
  • Are there recorded instances of other Exact movements utilizing the same reversed gear train configuration?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Exact Open-Face Pocket Watch with Hebrew Dial
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerExact“نشان سازنده Exact”
Movement typeKeyless, gilt three-quarter plate“موتور ساعت دارای ساختار کوک بدون کلید (Keyless) و پل سه‌چهارم طلایی‌رنگ”
DialWhite enamel with Hebrew numerals“صفحه ساعت از مینای سفید مرغوب است و ارقام ساعت به جای اعداد لاتین یا رومی، با حروف عبری طراحی شده‌اند.”
Seconds handCounter-clockwise rotation“عقربه زراندود ثانیه‌شمار فرعی بر خلاف جهت عقربه‌های ساعت (پادساعت‌گرد) می‌چرخد”
EscapementClub-foot lever“مهار اهرمی با دندانه‌های پایه چماقی (Club Foot Lever Escapement)”
Case materialGunmetal with gold-plated elements“قاب ساعت از جنس گان‌متال (فولاد تفنگی تیره) ساده ساخته شده که در هماهنگی چشم‌نواز با بخش‌های زراندود شامل زه شیشه، لولا، زبانه بازشو، دسته کوک و حلقه آویز (Bow) قرار دارد.”
CountrySwitzerland“ساخت سوئیس”

Visible details

  • Hebrew characters on the enamel dial
  • Counter-clockwise subsidiary seconds hand
  • Gilt three-quarter plate movement
  • Two-tone gunmetal and gold-plated case

Research qualifications

  • Absence of specific dimensional data
  • Unverified status of recent service history

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

Consulted source

Rare Gunmetal Hebrew Dial Watch

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 5bbe5c61f9

Terms in this record

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

Other open-face pocket watch records