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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Gold Engraved and Enamelled Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This gold pocket watch is a collaborative horological work originating from London. It was manufactured by B. Lawley in 1862-1863, with the movement specifically inscribed as being made for W. C. Shaw of Glasgow. The watch features an elaborate construction of engraved and enamelled gold. The case was produced by James Walter Stock of Clerkenwell, identified by the mark 'JWS', while the pendant is attributed to the maker Robert Bellows. The dial is decorated with an intricate scrollwork pattern in enamel, contrasted against an engine-turned metallic ground. The movement, housed within the gold case, is signed on the plate and bears the number 5075. The piece is part of the V&A collection, donated by Mrs. S. G. Edmonds in memory of W. T. Simmonds.

Front view of the gold pocket watch showing the enamelled scrollwork dial and Roman numeral indices.
Front view of the gold pocket watch showing the enamelled scrollwork dial and Roman numeral indices. — Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.vam.ac.uk
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
B. Lawley
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
M.9&A-1986
Source-reported date
1862-1863
Source-reported place
London
Source-reported serial
5075

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 watch is housed in an engraved and enamelled gold case that exhibits detailed surface work on both the exterior and the interior. The exterior back of the case features a dense, repeating geometric pattern of engine-turning, providing a uniform texture. The dial is a central point of the design, featuring a polychrome enamelled floral or foliate scrollwork motif against a metallic background, framed by Roman numerals for the hours.

The construction involves multiple specialist hands. The casing is identified with the mark 'JWS', attributed to James Walter Stock of Clerkenwell, a specialist hub for watchmaking components in London during the 19th century.

Evidence for this section
  • “Engraved and enamelled gold”
  • “casemaker's mark 'JWS' for James Walter Stock, Clerkenwell”
  • “pendant by Robert Bellows”

Movement and Inscriptions

It is clearly inscribed with the name of the manufacturer, B. Lawley, and identifies the retailer or client for whom it was commissioned, W. C. Shaw of Glasgow.

Mechanical components include a balanced cock with an adjustment scale marked for 'FAST' and 'SLOW' to allow the user or watchmaker to regulate the timing.

Evidence for this section
  • “inscribed on the movement 'Manufactured by B. Lawley, London, for W.C.Shaw, Glasgow'”

Provenance and Identification

The object is held in the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum under accession number M.9&A-1986. The history of the object includes its acquisition through a gift from Mrs. S. G. Edmonds, presented in memory of W. T. Simmonds. This donation provides a record of its later possession before entering the museum's care.

The technical details, including the London hallmarks, date the object precisely to the years 1862-1863. The provenance and the clearly marked components provide a definitive record of its manufacturing origins in the London trade, while the signature confirms its specific intent for the Glasgow market, illustrating the trade links between these two cities during the Victorian period.

Evidence for this section
  • “Given by Mrs S. G. Edmonds in memory of W. T. Simmonds”
  • “London hallmarks for 1862-3”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific nature of the business arrangement between Lawley of London and Shaw of Glasgow?
  • Are there records of Lawley's output as an individual maker versus as a supplier to retailers?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Gold Engraved and Enamelled Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerB. Lawley“Manufactured by B. Lawley, London, for W.C.Shaw, Glasgow”
Accession numberM.9&A-1986“M.9&A-1986”
Date1862-1863“1862-1863”
CasemakerJames Walter Stock“casemaker's mark 'JWS' for James Walter Stock, Clerkenwell”
Pendant makerRobert Bellows“pendant by Robert Bellows”
InscriptionManufactured by B. Lawley, London, for W. C. Shaw, Glasgow“'Manufactured by B. Lawley, London, for W.C.Shaw, Glasgow'”

Visible details

  • Enamelled scrollwork dial design
  • Engine-turned decorative case back
  • Regulator scale marked 'FAST' and 'SLOW'
  • Movement signed 'Manufactured by B. Lawley, London, for W. C. Shaw'

Research qualifications

  • Potential for separate components (pendant vs case) not fully integrated into one makers' history
  • Exact nature of the business relationship between Lawley and Shaw is not detailed

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

Consulted source

Watch

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 6c5d830da7

Terms in this record

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

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