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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Gentleman's watch of gold

Partially verified

This gentleman's watch, held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam under accession number BK-15037, is documented as a gold-cased timepiece dating to approximately 1850. The watch is defined by its ornate, four-colour gold ('en quatre couleurs') dial, which is further embellished by a border set with stones. The watch has a recorded diameter of 4.3 cm and a height of 5.8 cm, with a depth of 1.8 cm. The technical specifications and materials are limited to gold, and the provenance remains tied to the official museum record, with specific maker attributions not present in the current documentation for this specific inventory number.

Gentleman's watch of gold (BK-15037) from the Rijksmuseum collection.
Gentleman's watch of gold (BK-15037) from the Rijksmuseum collection. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-15037
Source-reported date
c. 1850
Source-reported place
Not established

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 Construction

The object features a construction primarily realized in gold. The exterior back of the case is decorated with engine-turning, a mechanical method of engraving geometric patterns into a metal surface. This decorative choice is consistent with the mid-19th-century origin attributed to the piece by the Rijksmuseum.

The dial utilizes a four-colour gold technique, referred to as 'en quatre couleurs'. Surrounding this central dial plate is a decorative border that incorporates set stones. These elements contribute to the visual complexity of the timepiece, adhering to the mid-19th-century aesthetics documented in the institution's collection record.

Evidence for this section
  • “The case back is engine-turned.”
  • “Gentleman's watch of gold, with a four-colour gold ('en quatre couleurs') dial. Around the dial a border set with stones.”

Documentation and Dimensions

The watch is officially catalogued under the inventory number BK-15037 by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. This identification ensures the item's presence within the museum's documented collection. The object is formally described as a 'Gentleman's watch of gold'.

The physical dimensions are measured at a diameter of 4.3 cm, a height of 5.8 cm, a width of 4.3 cm, and a depth of 1.8 cm. These measurements provide the spatial profile for the object within the institutional registry, serving as the basis for its identification in the collection database.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-15037”
  • “measurements diameter 4.3 cm x height 5.8 cm x width 4.3 cm x depth 1.8 cm.”

Institutional Classification

The Rijksmuseum classifies this object within the broader categories of jewellery and wrist watch. This classification is the primary institutional record for the item. The record notes that the description provided is a translation from the museum's original Dutch catalogue text.

The source notes clarify that while the object is a museum piece, further research is required to verify its broader typological context and to identify potential maker attributions. No specific horological workshops or master marks have been linked to this piece in the provided documentation.

Evidence for this section
  • “Museum classification jewellery · wrist watch”
  • “Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider type, maker attribution and specifications against horological references.”

Open research questions

  • Does the movement contain any maker signatures or hallmarks that could identify the origin?
  • Why is the object classified by the museum as a 'wrist watch' when the design is that of a pocket watch?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Gentleman's watch of gold
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Materialgold (metal)“material recorded as gold (metal)”
Techniqueengine turning“technique engine turning”
Dimensions4.3 cm x 5.8 cm x 4.3 cm x 1.8 cm“diameter 4.3 cm x height 5.8 cm x width 4.3 cm x depth 1.8 cm”
Object NumberBK-15037“Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-15037”
Datec. 1850“Period c. 1850”
DecorationFour-colour gold dial“with a four-colour gold ('en quatre couleurs') dial”

Visible details

  • Four-colour gold dial
  • Border set with blue stones
  • Engine-turned case back
  • Ornate crown and bow

Research qualifications

  • Maker attribution not provided
  • Museum classification as 'wrist watch' contrasts with typical pocket watch form

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

Consulted source

Gentleman's watch of gold

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 4fb05e302e

Terms in this record

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

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