Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Dodecagonal pocket watch

Gold watch

Partially verified

This gold pocket watch is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, under the accession number BK-NM-12856. The case is constructed in a dodecagonal (twelve-sided) form and decorated with grisaille enamel depicting a scene of a shepherdess with two sheep standing beside a vase. The dimensions of the watch are approximately 4.6 cm in diameter, 6.4 cm in height, 4.5 cm in width, and 1.7 cm in depth. The piece is classified within the museum’s records as a forgery and is associated with the category of jewellery. It serves as an example of imitation high-value horology from the turn of the 19th century.

Front view of the gold watch showing the dial with 'Breguet à Paris' signature, the dodecagonal case, and the bow attachment.
Front view of the gold watch showing the dial with 'Breguet à Paris' signature, the dodecagonal case, and the bow attachment. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Dodecagonal pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-NM-12856
Source-reported date
c. 1800
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 Design

The object is a dodecagonal gold watch designed with a specific focus on its exterior aesthetics. The case is rendered in a twelve-sided geometry, a shape that distinguishes its profile from standard circular watches of the era. The primary ornamentation consists of grisaille enamel work applied to the case, depicting a pastoral scene featuring a shepherdess accompanied by two sheep positioned next to a vase. The enamel work serves as the central decorative feature of the watch body.

The dial is composed of white enamel and displays a classic configuration with Arabic numerals. The signature "Breguet à Paris" is printed centrally on the dial.

Evidence for this section
  • “The dodecagonal case is enamelled in grisaille, with a shepherdess with two sheep by a vase.”
  • “Gold watch with white enamelled dial.”
  • “Signed: "Breguet à Paris", but probably a contemporary Swiss forgery.”

Attribution and Status

While the watch carries the name of the renowned horologist Breguet, the source documentation explicitly identifies the object as a forgery. The attribution is considered to be a contemporary imitation, specifically described as a Swiss-made product meant to resemble the high-end French timepieces of the early 19th century.

The classification of this item as a forgery by the Rijksmuseum provides context for its inclusion in their collection. Research into the specific production origin of the movement has not been finalized, leaving the identification of the actual manufacturer an open question.

Evidence for this section
  • “Signed: "Breguet à Paris", but probably a contemporary Swiss forgery.”

Provenance and Physical Records

This watch is catalogued by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam under the accession number BK-NM-12856. The museum's records provide the primary source of information regarding its physical composition and dimensions. The watch is defined as being made of gold, with measured dimensions of 4.6 cm in diameter, 6.4 cm in height, 4.5 cm in width, and 1.7 cm in depth.

The object has been subjected to historical categorization by the institution, being placed within the context of jewellery and horological imitations. Because it is a museum-held object, its dimensions and material specifications are documented according to standard archival practices, though the broader horological significance of the forgery type itself requires further verification against wider industry records.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-12856”
  • “diameter 4.6 cm x height 6.4 cm x width 4.5 cm x depth 1.7 cm”

Open research questions

  • What specific Swiss workshop or region was responsible for the production of these Breguet-style forgeries around 1800?
  • Does the movement internal to the case contain any signatures or markers that would confirm its non-Breguet origin?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Gold watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Materialgold (metal)“gold (metal)”
Museum numberBK-NM-12856“BK-NM-12856”
Datec. 1800“c. 1800”
SignatureBreguet à Paris“Signed: "Breguet à Paris”
Attribution noteProbably a contemporary Swiss forgery“probably a contemporary Swiss forgery.”
Case designDodecagonal case enamelled in grisaille“The dodecagonal case is enamelled in grisaille, with a shepherdess with two sheep by a vase.”
Dimensions4.6 cm x 6.4 cm x 4.5 cm x 1.7 cm“diameter 4.6 cm x height 6.4 cm x width 4.5 cm x depth 1.7 cm”

Visible details

  • Dodecagonal case shape
  • Grisaille enamel scene on the case back showing a shepherdess
  • Signature on the dial reads 'Breguet à Paris'
  • White enamel dial with Arabic numerals and individual minute markings

Research qualifications

  • The watch is considered a contemporary Swiss forgery despite the signature
  • Origin and exact maker attribution remain unverified by independent horological research

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

Consulted source

Gold watch, c. 1800

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 0696cdc7ab

Terms in this record

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