Pocket watch · Pocket watch
This gold pocket watch, held in the Rijksmuseum collection under accession number BK-NM-12862, is dated to the period between 1800 and 1900. It features a gold case adorned with chased decoration in four colors (à quatre couleurs) and a central polychrome enamelled medallion depicting nymphs at a fountain. The watch is equipped with a white enamelled dial showing Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the five-minute intervals. The dial bears the inscription "Pre. Roy A PARIS". The case has a diameter of 4.2 cm and a total height, including the bow and stem, of 6 cm. The object is catalogued by the museum as a watch of gold. It remains under research to confirm the wider type and specific maker attribution within horological references.
Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.
The watch is housed in a gold case featuring elaborate chased decoration executed in four colors (à quatre couleurs).
The reverse or decorative portion of the case incorporates a polychrome enamelled medallion. The combination of chasing and enamelling serves as the primary visual interest for the case exterior.
The watch displays a white enamelled dial, which provides a high-contrast background for the timekeeping indicators. The hour scale is marked with black Roman numerals. Additionally, the dial includes an outer track of Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals, providing precise minute tracking.
Centrally located on the dial is the inscription "Pre. Roy A PARIS". This signature identifies the purported location of the maker as Paris.
The object is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam under the accession number BK-NM-12862. It is catalogued as a "Watch of gold". The museum records the dimensions of the object as 4.2 cm in diameter, with a total height of 6 cm, a width of 4.2 cm, and a depth of 2 cm.
These measurements confirm the watch is a compact, portable timepiece. The museum's documentation serves as the primary record for this object, reflecting its current status within the national collection. Further research is needed to determine the specific horological background of the maker or the workshop that produced this timepiece.
| Field | Source-reported value | Source quotation |
|---|---|---|
| Material | gold | “gold (metal)” |
| Dimensions | 4.2 cm diameter | “diameter 4.2 cm x height 6 cm x width 4.2 cm x depth 2 cm” |
| Institution | Rijksmuseum | “Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam” |
| Decoration | Chased decoration in four colors and polychrome enamel | “chased decoration à quatre couleurs and a polychrome enamelled medallion with nymphs at a fountain” |
Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.
Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record f21b32ff3a
Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.
