Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Gold pocket watch

Partially verified

This gold pocket watch, identified as object BK-NM-12845, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Dated to the period between circa 1840 and circa 1860, the timepiece features a circular gold case with engraved and hatched decoration on the back cover. The watch is equipped with an enamelled dial, which displays Roman numeral hour markers and a subsidiary seconds dial positioned at the six o'clock location. The overall physical measurements of the object are recorded as 4.5 cm in diameter, with a depth of 0.9 cm and an overall height (including the pendant and bow) of 6 cm. The timepiece is currently documented within the museum's database under the classification of jewellery. The technical internal specifications, including the movement type and escapement mechanism, remain unrecorded in the provided source material.

Gold pocket watch with enamelled dial, Rijksmuseum accession number BK-NM-12845.
Gold pocket watch with enamelled dial, Rijksmuseum accession number BK-NM-12845. — 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-NM-12845
Source-reported date
c. 1840 - c. 1860
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 Construction and Aesthetics

The object is a pocket watch constructed from gold. The exterior profile of the case features patterned, hatched, and engraved surfaces, particularly visible along the side of the case band and the suspension bow assembly. The circular form of the watch retains a traditional profile with a pendant mounted at the twelve o'clock position to facilitate attachment to a chain or fob.

The back of the watch case is finished with specific engraved and hatched detailing. These decorative elements provide textural contrast to the smooth, white surface of the dial. The overall diameter of the piece is measured at 4.5 centimetres, with a depth of 0.9 centimetres, maintaining a slim profile consistent with mid-19th-century portable timekeeping devices.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gold watch with enamelled dial.”
  • “The back cover is engraved and hatched.”
  • “diameter 4.5 cm x height 6 cm x width 4.5 cm x depth 0.9 cm”

Dial and Timekeeping Display

The dial is crafted from white enamel, providing a high-contrast background for the timekeeping indicators. Roman numerals are applied to represent the hours, arranged in a traditional circular track.

A subsidiary seconds dial is integrated into the primary face, located at the six o'clock position. This sub-dial is calibrated with numerals marking the seconds in ten-unit increments.

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

Documentation and Classification

The watch is currently part of the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, designated by the museum accession number BK-NM-12845. The institution dates the creation of the piece to the mid-19th century, specifically the window between circa 1840 and circa 1860.

The record relies on direct measurements and descriptions provided by the Rijksmuseum. No additional catalogue numbers or manufacturer marks are currently associated with the object in the available records, leaving the specific maker and technical provenance as areas requiring further historical investigation to confirm the origin or workshop responsible for the production of the timepiece.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-12845”
  • “c. 1840 - c. 1860”

Open research questions

  • Which specific workshop or watchmaker produced this timepiece within the 1840-1860 window?
  • What type of movement is concealed within the gold case?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Gold pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MaterialGold“gold (metal)”
Object numberBK-NM-12845“BK-NM-12845”
Diameter4.5 cm“diameter 4.5 cm”
Height6 cm“height 6 cm”
Depth0.9 cm“depth 0.9 cm”
Datingc. 1840 - c. 1860“c. 1840 - c. 1860”
Dial typeEnamelled“enamelled dial”

Visible details

  • Engraved decoration is visible on the edge of the case and the pendant bow.
  • The dial features a small subsidiary seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock.
  • Roman numerals are used for all twelve hour positions.

Research qualifications

  • The maker of the watch is not provided in the source documentation.
  • The specific type of internal movement or escapement remains unverified.

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

Consulted source

Watch of gold, c. 1840 - c. 1860 (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, BK-NM-12845)

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 5dd3c8cd0a

Terms in this record

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

Other pocket watch records