Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Gold pocket watch with enamel dial

Partially verified

This gold pocket watch, held in the collection of Museum Rotterdam, is dated to 1900. The timepiece features a white enamel dial marked with Arabic hour numerals, paired with gold hands and a separate seconds disc. The watch is constructed with a faceted bezel and an engine-turned back cover, which contains a 14K gold hallmark on the interior. The internal configuration includes a movement with a cylinder escapement and jeweled seconds wheels. Winding is performed via the crown, which can be switched to hand-setting mode using a secondary button mechanism. The pendant and inner cover are crafted from base metal. The watch measures 4.3 cm in diameter and integrates multiple materials including gold, copper, steel, brass, enamel, and glass. Documentation provided by the holding institution confirms the core physical components and functional features of this specimen.

A gold pocket watch with a white enamel dial, Arabic numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial, and a distinct crown with a hand-setting button.
A gold pocket watch with a white enamel dial, Arabic numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial, and a distinct crown with a hand-setting button. — Museum Rotterdam via Europeana. 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
/700/europeana_fashion_63837
Source-reported date
1900
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 Dial Construction

The exterior of the watch features a gold case distinguished by a faceted bezel and an engine-turned back cover. The back cover is adorned with a central cartouche, and the interior surface displays a 14K gold hallmark. The overall diameter of the object is 4.3 cm.

The dial is finished in white enamel, featuring Arabic hour numerals. It is equipped with gold hands and a dedicated subsidiary seconds dial. The pendant is constructed from base metal, complementing the mixed-material construction of the case and internal components.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial with Arabic hour numerals.”
  • “Faceted bezel and back cover.”
  • “Back cover engine-turned with a central cartouche and a gold hallmark (14K) on the inside.”
  • “4.3cm dm”

Movement and Technical Features

The movement is engineered with a cylinder escapement, with the seconds wheels being jeweled. The watch employs a winding crown, which includes a functional modification allowing the user to switch the crown's operation to hand-setting mode via a secondary, small button.

The internal assembly is composed of a variety of metals, including copper, steel, and brass, in addition to the external gold and glass components.

Evidence for this section
  • “movement with cylinder escapement”
  • “Seconds wheels jeweled”
  • “Winding crown switchable to hand setting via secondary small button”

Provenance and Documentation

This timepiece is recorded as part of the collection of Museum Rotterdam. The specific identity of the watch is tracked under the Europeana reference /700/europeana_fashion_63837.

The documentation provided reflects the institutional holdings and technical description as catalogued by the museum. Research into the specific maker and the broader manufacturing history of this type is ongoing.

Evidence for this section
  • “held by Museum Rotterdam (Netherlands)”
  • “Europeana record /700/europeana_fashion_63837”
  • “Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and date against a specialist reference.”

Open research questions

  • Who is the manufacturer of this cylinder movement?
  • Can the 14K hallmark be attributed to a specific region or period jeweler?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Gold pocket watch with enamel dial
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MuseumMuseum Rotterdam“held by Museum Rotterdam”
Date1900“dated 1900”
Case Hallmark14K“gold hallmark (14K) on the inside”
EscapementCylinder escapement“movement with cylinder escapement”
Diameter4.3 cm“4.3cm dm”
Winding mechanismCrown winding with button-actuated hand setting“Winding crown switchable to hand setting via secondary small button”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with Arabic numerals and decorative gold hands.
  • Faceted, engine-turned gold case back.
  • Winding crown with a small, separate hand-setting button.
  • Twisted-style pendant attachment.

Research qualifications

  • The maker of the watch is currently unidentified in the holding institution's records.
  • The broader production type and origin remain subject to further historical research.

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

Consulted source

Gold pocket watch with white enamel dial with gold hands and separate seconds disc, 1900

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 8a54fd36ec

Terms in this record

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

Other pocket watch records