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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Martineau Gold and Enamel Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This pocket watch, held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, under accession number BK-14912, is dated between 1754 and 1755. Constructed of gold, The white enamel dial is signed "Martineau London" and features black Roman numerals for the hours with Arabic numerals marking five-minute intervals. The piece is classified by the museum as a watch and jewellery, reflecting the decorative nature of its exterior composition. Its physical dimensions are recorded as having a diameter of 5 cm. The movement details and internal hallmarks are currently not explicitly documented in the provided source text, leaving the internal technical specifications to be determined through physical inspection of the object.

Front view of the Martineau pocket watch showing the enamel dial and gold case detail.
Front view of the Martineau pocket watch showing the enamel dial and gold case detail. — 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-14912
Source-reported date
1754 - 1755
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 External Decoration

The watch is manufactured with a gold case, which serves as the primary structural housing for the mechanism. The exterior of the case is notable for the inclusion of enamel work, which incorporates figurative motifs as part of its design.

These decorative elements are executed in both gold and enamel, contributing to the item's classification as jewellery within the museum records.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watch of gold.”
  • “On the case, an ape and a dog are depicted in gold and enamel.”

Dial and Configuration

The dial is finished in white enamel and is inscribed with the name "Martineau" and the location "London". The timekeeping display utilizes Roman numerals to represent the twelve hours of the day.

The overall diameter of the object is stated to be 5 cm, placing it within the dimensions of a standard pocket watch of the mid-18th century.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-14912; its record gives material recorded as gold (metal); measurements diameter 5 cm.”

Institutional Documentation

The object is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and is assigned the accession number BK-14912. The institution classifies the item as both a watch and a piece of jewellery. The dating is established as 1754–1755 based on the museum's own internal records.

The museum documentation provides a limited scope regarding technical mechanical details. Further study would require examining the movement serial numbers and case hallmarks to verify the specific production context and to address the lack of information regarding the internal calibre.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-14912”
  • “Museum record — Classification: wrist watch; jewellery.”

Open research questions

  • What are the specific hallmarks present inside the case back?
  • Does the movement signature match the dial signature, or is it a marriage of parts?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Martineau Gold and Enamel Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MuseumRijksmuseum, Amsterdam“The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-14912”
MaterialGold“Watch of gold.”
Diameter5 cm“measurements diameter 5 cm”
Date1754 - 1755“1754 - 1755”
DecorationApe and dog depiction“On the case, an ape and a dog are depicted in gold and enamel.”
Museum Classificationwrist watch; jewellery“Classification: wrist watch; jewellery.”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with signed Martineau London branding
  • Gold case featuring decorative enamel detailing
  • Roman hour numerals and Arabic five-minute interval markers
  • Single winding aperture present on the dial face

Research qualifications

  • Maker attribution and specific horological specifications require further expert verification
  • The internal state and originality of the movement remain unverified by the provided documentation

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

Consulted source

Watch, 1754 - 1755

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 1d99167934

Terms in this record

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

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