Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Gold and Jasper Watch by Newell, London

Partially verified

This pocket watch, held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (accession number BK-NM-12868), dates to the period between circa 1720 and 1770. It is constructed from a combination of gold, diamond, and blood jasper. The dial displays the signature "Newell, London". With a diameter of 4 cm, the watch is classified within the museum's records as both a watch and a piece of jewellery. The object is currently documented through the Rijksmuseum's inventory, with further research required to verify its specific manufacturing history, internal movement specifications, and to contextualize its design within broader horological references of the 18th century.

Front view of the gold and jasper watch showing the dial signed 'Newell London'
Front view of the gold and jasper watch showing the dial signed 'Newell London' — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Newell
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-NM-12868
Source-reported date
c. 1720 - c. 1770
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 External Features

The watch is primarily defined by its luxury material composition, utilizing a combination of gold, diamond, and blood jasper. The construction prominently features blood jasper for the back cover and the rim of the front cover, providing a distinct aesthetic contrast to the metal elements.

The overall dimensions of the piece are compact, with a recorded diameter of 4 cm.

Evidence for this section
  • “The back cover and rim of the front cover are made of blood jasper.”
  • “With diamonds on the push-pieces.”
  • “material recorded as jasper, gold (metal), diamond (mineral)”
  • “technique ciselure”

Dial and Signature

The dial of the watch is crafted from gold and is decorated using a chased finish. Centrally positioned on the dial is the signature "NEWELL LONDON", identifying the maker as Newell, based in London.

The presence of this inscription provides the primary evidence for the piece's origin, although specific details regarding the maker's workshop or history are not provided by the museum record.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gold watch with chased dial.”

Museum Documentation and Classification

The watch is held as a formal accession in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, under the identifier BK-NM-12868. The museum classifies the item under the categories of "wrist watch" and "jewellery," noting its status as a historical object of the collection.

The information provided is derived from a translation of the museum's Dutch catalogue text. While the physical measurements and material descriptions are established through museum cataloguing, the broader historical context of the object remains subject to future research.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-12868”
  • “Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text”
  • “Museum classification wrist watch · jewellery”

Open research questions

  • Can the maker Newell be identified through London clockmaking records or archives?
  • Are there similar 18th-century watches with identical blood jasper and diamond-set casing configurations in other museum collections?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Gold and Jasper Watch by Newell, London
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Accession numberBK-NM-12868“BK-NM-12868”
MaterialsGold, jasper, diamond“material recorded as jasper, gold (metal), diamond (mineral)”
Datec. 1720 - c. 1770“c. 1720 - c. 1770”
TechniqueCiselure“technique ciselure”
Dimensions4 cm diameter“diameter 4 cm”

Visible details

  • Chased gold dial signed 'NEWELL LONDON'
  • Blood jasper back cover and front cover rim
  • Diamond accents on the push-pieces
  • Circular case measuring 4 cm in diameter

Research qualifications

  • The exact maker, Newell, is not further identified in the provided documentation
  • The dating range provided is broad, spanning fifty years

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

Consulted source

Watch, c. 1720 - c. 1770

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 5e109a9212

Terms in this record

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

Other pocket watch records