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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face presentation pocket watch

Louis-Frédéric Perrelet Presentation Pocket Watch with Enamel Portrait of Jérôme Bonaparte

Partially verified

Source reports this 18K yellow gold and enamel open-face presentation pocket watch by Perrelet, Paris dates to December 1852. Measuring 44.6 mm in diameter, the engraved case back displays an octagonal polychrome enamel miniature depicting Jérôme Bonaparte, signed lower left by H.L. Steiner à Paris. According to the auction catalogue, the front features a white enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, blued steel Breguet hands, and subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock. The internal mechanism is reported as a 17 1/2-lignes gilded brass movement with a lateral equilibrated lever escapement.

Case back of Louis-Frédéric Perrelet gold presentation pocket watch showing painted enamel portrait of Jérôme Bonaparte
Case back of Louis-Frédéric Perrelet gold presentation pocket watch showing painted enamel portrait of Jérôme Bonaparte — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face presentation pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Louis-Frédéric Perrelet
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
330
Source-reported date
1852
Country
France
Source-reported serial
1 775

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

Identity and Presentation Context

This open-face presentation pocket watch is catalogued by the source under the brand Perrelet, Paris and model designation 'Horloger Mécanicien', dated to December 1852. The case is catalogued as No. 198, and the movement is recorded as No. 1 775 with ebauche No. 0198. The watch is distinguished by its reported iconographical subject: Jérôme Bonaparte (1784–1860), King of Westphalia, Marshall of France, and appointed President of the French Senate in 1852.

The auction catalogue identifies the portrait miniature in the centre of the case back as Jérôme Bonaparte in bust against a red curtain with the dome of the French Senate at the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris in the background. The miniature is recorded as painted polychrome on enamel on gold and signed at the lower left 'H.L. Steiner à Paris'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Model “Horloger Mécanicien””
  • “Year December 1852”
  • “the portrait in bust of Jerome Bonaparte (1784-1860), King of Westphalia (1807-1813), Governor of the Invalides (1848), Marshall of France (1850), President of the French Senate (1852)”
  • “the miniature signed lower left “H.L. Steiner à Paris””

Case Construction and Decorative Execution

Direct visual inspection of the available photograph confirms a polychrome enamel portrait miniature on the case back showing a military officer in uniform against a red drapery and dome background. The miniature is set within an octagonal recess surrounded by engraved gold scrollwork on the outer perimeter, and a circular gold bow is mounted atop a rounded pendant at 12 o'clock.

The auction catalogue lists the case as 18K yellow gold and enamel, key-winding and round-shaped, with a diameter of 44.6 mm and an approximate weight of 67.4 grams. It also reports a case back engraved in taille-douce (fine cut) with friezes, a fluted case-band, and a gold cuvette (dome) carrying a signature.

Evidence for this section
  • “Polychrome enamel portrait miniature on the case back depicts a military officer in uniform against a red drapery and dome background.”
  • “The miniature is framed within an octagonal recess surrounded by engraved gold scrollwork on the outer bezel.”
  • “Case-back engraved in taille-douce (fine cut) with friezes”
  • “gold cuvette (dome); fluted case-band”
  • “Weight 67.4 gr. (approx.)”
  • “Signature cuvette (dome)”

Dial, Mechanism, and Cataloguing Limitations

Because only the case back is visible in the provided reference photograph, all descriptions of the dial, hands, cuvette interior, and internal movement rely entirely on the auction house catalogue. The dial is reported as white enamel featuring radial Roman numerals, blued steel Breguet hands, and subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock.

The movement is catalogued as a 17 1/2-ligne gilded brass calibre with a going barrel and a lateral equilibrated lever escapement. Additional reported mechanical features include a cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws, a blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, a polished steel index-regulator, and polished rose gold end-pieces on the escape wheel and lever.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals; blued steel “Breguet” hands.”
  • “with subsidiary seconds at 6”
  • “Movement 17’’’ ½, gilded brass, going barrel, lateral equilibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, polished steel index-regulator, polished rose gold end-pieces on the escape-wheel and on the lever.”

Open research questions

  • What is the exact text inscribed on the inner gold cuvette, and does it specify the presentation recipient or Perrelet's workshop address?
  • Does inspection of the dial, hands, and movement confirm the catalogue's mechanical description and the ebauche marking '0198'?
  • What historical provenance or documentation links the December 1852 date to an official commission by or gift to Jérôme Bonaparte upon his appointment as Senate President?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Louis-Frédéric Perrelet Presentation Pocket Watch with Enamel Portrait of Jérôme Bonaparte
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case Material18K yellow gold and enamel“18K yellow gold and enamel”
Movement Number1 775 (ebauche No. 0198)“Movement No. 1 775 (ebauche No. 0198)”
Case Number198“Case No. 198”
Diameter44.6 mm“Diameter 44.6 mm.”
Caliber17’’’ ½“Caliber 17’’’ ½, lateral equilibrated lever escapement”
Miniature SignatureH.L. Steiner à Paris“signed lower left “H.L. Steiner à Paris””
Total Weight67.4 g (approx.)“Weight 67.4 gr. (approx.)”
Case-Band DecorationFluted“fluted case-band”
Cuvette MaterialGold“gold cuvette (dome)”
Escapement End-PiecesPolished rose gold on escape wheel and lever“polished rose gold end-pieces on the escape-wheel and on the lever”
Winding MethodKey-winding“key-winding”

Visible details

  • Polychrome enamel portrait miniature on the case back depicts a military officer in uniform against a red drapery and dome background.
  • The miniature is framed within an octagonal recess surrounded by engraved gold scrollwork on the outer bezel.
  • Circular gold bow is mounted atop a rounded pendant at 12 o'clock.

Research qualifications

  • Only the case back is visible in the provided photograph; dial, hands, movement, and inner cuvette details are source-reported.
  • Condition and internal mechanical integrity are unverified and rely on auction description.

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

Consulted source

Louis-Frédéric Perrelet Presentation pocket watch; 18K yellow gold and enamel | | Hong Kong, May 28, 2022

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record c0190a7b43

Terms in this record

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