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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Gold pocket watch with Aeneas relief

Partially verified

This gold pocket watch is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, under accession number BK-NM-12828. It is dated to the period circa 1762 to 1763. The watch is constructed primarily of gold. It features an enamelled dial with Roman numerals for the hour and Arabic numerals for the five-minute intervals. A notable decorative feature is the embossed relief on the outer case, which depicts a man consulting an oracle, identified as Aeneas. The object has a diameter of 4.2 cm for the movement area, with a total case diameter of 4.8 cm and a depth of 2.7 cm.

A gold pocket watch with an enamel dial, featuring an ornate suspension bow and openwork hands.
A gold pocket watch with an enamel dial, featuring an ornate suspension bow and openwork hands. — 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-12828
Source-reported date
c. 1762 - c. 1763
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

Construction and Exterior

The watch is manufactured from gold, featuring a circular case that measures 4.8 cm in diameter. The casing includes a suspension bow at the top, allowing it to be secured to a chain or chatelaine.

The exterior of the case is decorated with an embossed relief. This pictorial element depicts a figure consulting an oracle, which the Rijksmuseum identifies as the mythological character Aeneas.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gold watch with an enamelled dial.”
  • “An embossed depiction of a man consulting an oracle (Aeneas) is on the outer case.”

Dial and Timekeeping

The watch is fitted with an enamelled dial, which serves as the primary interface for time reading. The dial layout includes Roman numerals to denote the hours, arranged in a traditional circle around the center of the face.

The dial also includes Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals to aid in precision reading. The hands are designed with intricate openwork patterns, reflecting the decorative focus of the watch face.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gold watch with an enamelled dial.”
  • “diameter 4,2 cm (horloge)”

Provenance and Documentation

This watch is preserved as part of the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It is catalogued under the accession number BK-NM-12828. The institution serves as the primary source for the physical details and dating of the object.

Current records indicate the watch dates to the early 1760s. While the museum documentation identifies the object, research remains open regarding its specific maker, the mechanical specifications of its movement, and its broader historical context within 18th-century European horology.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-12828”
  • “c. 1762 - c. 1763”
  • “confirm the wider type, maker attribution and specifications against horological references.”

Open research questions

  • Who was the original maker or workshop responsible for this piece?
  • What is the construction and provenance of the internal movement?
  • Are there similar contemporary examples with the same Aeneas relief design?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Gold pocket watch with Aeneas relief
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Accession NumberBK-NM-12828“BK-NM-12828”
MaterialGold“gold (metal)”
Datingc. 1762 - c. 1763“c. 1762 - c. 1763”
Case diameter4.8 cm“diameter 4,8 cm (kast)”
Depth2.7 cm“diepte 2,7 cm”
Visual featureEmbossed man consulting an oracle“An embossed depiction of a man consulting an oracle (Aeneas) is on the outer case.”
Dial typeEnamelled“Gold watch with an enamelled dial.”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with Roman numeral hour markers
  • Outer five-minute markers in Arabic numerals
  • Ornate openwork hands
  • Suspension bow at the top of the case

Research qualifications

  • The maker of this watch is not specified in the source
  • The origin of the movement and its specific technical specifications remain unverified
  • The wider type classification has not been independently confirmed

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

Consulted source

Watch of gold, c. 1762 - c. 1763

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 0f1576ed0c

Terms in this record

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

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