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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Form watch

Gold and Enamel Beetle Form Watch

Partially verified

This Swiss form watch is designed as a realistic beetle-shaped brooch and pendant. Dating to the late 19th century, the gold-cased watch functions through a keywind mechanism. The beetle's wings are decorated with translucent red enamel over a guilloché ground, inlaid with rows of diamonds and pearls. The head features champlevé black enamel and green stone-set eyes, while the underside is engraved to represent the insect's legs. A gold oval loop at the head allows for suspension. The watch dial is made of white enamel with Roman numerals for hours and Arabic numerals for minute intervals, featuring blued steel hands. The heart-shaped movement is gold-plated and equipped with a suspended going barrel, a three-arm gold-plated balance with a blued steel hairspring, and a polished steel cylinder escapement. The winding and time-setting are performed through an oval gold cuvette.

The beetle form watch with wings open to reveal the enamel dial.
The beetle form watch with wings open to reveal the enamel dial. — Pieces of Time. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Form watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
late 19th 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 External Design

The watch is constructed as a decorative form watch shaped like a beetle. The case is gold, with wings that open when a button at the end of the body is pressed. These wings are embellished with translucent red enamel over a guilloché engine-turned pattern and are further decorated with inlaid diamonds and pearls. The head of the beetle incorporates champlevé black enamel and two green stones for the eyes.

A gold loop is provided at the head to allow the object to be worn as a pendant or brooch. The underside of the watch body is engraved to depict the insect's legs, which are attached to the hinged back cover. The design aims for a realistic representation of the insect while concealing the clockwork mechanism beneath the protective wings.

Evidence for this section
  • “قاب ساعت از جنس طلا بوده و بال‌های آن با مینای شفاف قرمز بر روی زمینه گیلوشه تزئین شده”
  • “سر قاب‌بال با تکنیک قلم‌زنی و مینای سیاه شامپلوه (Champlevé) کار شده”
  • “بخش زیرین بدنه ساعت نیز با دقت بالا به صورت پاهای ظریف و حکاکی‌شده حشره پردازش شده”

Dial and Timekeeping

The time is indicated on a white enamel dial concealed by the beetle's wings. The display features Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals at the perimeter for the minutes. The watch uses blued steel hands to display the time.

The movement is shaped to match the beetle's body, characterized by a heart-like form. It is a gold-plated movement that requires a key for winding and adjustment. This process is accessed via a small oval gold cuvette on the movement.

Evidence for this section
  • “صفحه ساعت از مینای سفید با اعداد رومی برای ساعت‌ها و اعداد عربی برای فواصل زمانی تشکیل شده”
  • “موتور ساعت دارای فرم قلبی‌شکل متناسب با بدنه است”
  • “کوک و تنظیم ساعت از طریق دریچه کووت (Cuvette) بیضی‌شکل طلا صورت می‌پذیرد.”

Movement Specifications

The movement is a gold-plated bar type, designed specifically to fit the form of the beetle casing. It incorporates a suspended going barrel and a three-arm gold-plated balance wheel. The hairspring is made of blued steel.

The escapement is of the cylinder type, constructed from polished steel and paired with a steel escape wheel. The functional status of this mechanical system is not reported by the auction description.

Evidence for this section
  • “این موتور طلااندود (Gilt bar movement) مجهز به بشکه‌فنر معلق (Suspended going barrel)، پل ساده، رقاصک سه پره طلااندود”
  • “مهارگر استوانه‌ای (Cylinder escapement) از فولاد صیقلی به همراه چرخ‌دنگ فولادی است.”
  • “وضعیت عملکرد دقیق موتور در اطلاعات منبع ذکر نشده است.”

Open research questions

  • Are there any maker's marks or stamps hidden on the inner cuvette or case?
  • Is the mechanism fully functional, or does it require restoration of the hairspring or escapement?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Gold and Enamel Beetle Form Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Country of originSwitzerland“مبدأ ساخت: سوئیس”
Datelate 19th century“اواخر قرن نوزدهم میلادی”
Case materialGold“قاب ساعت از جنس طلا بوده”
EscapementCylinder“مهارگر استوانه‌ای (Cylinder escapement) از فولاد صیقلی”
WindingKeywind“به صورت کوک با کلید (Keywind) عمل می‌کند.”
Dial materialWhite enamel“صفحه ساعت از مینای سفید”
Movement formHeart-shaped“موتور ساعت دارای فرم قلبی‌شکل متناسب با بدنه است”

Visible details

  • Wings are hinged to reveal the watch face upon pressing a button at the base.
  • Dial features black Roman hour markers and smaller Arabic minute markers.
  • Beetle head is finished with black champlevé enamel and green stone eyes.
  • Movement is shaped to fit the heart-like profile of the beetle's body.

Research qualifications

  • The source does not specify the current operational state of the movement.
  • The completeness of the diamond and pearl setting remains unverified in the text.

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

Consulted source

Gold and Enamel Beetle Form Watch

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 244674c417

Terms in this record

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

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