Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Men's watch

Men's Watch

Partially verified

This mid-17th-century men's watch, held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (accession number BK-15035), dates to the period between 1650 and 1675. The watch is constructed from copper and silver, featuring a distinctive bowl-shaped back that is radially fluted. The dial, also crafted from silver, is decorated with an engraved river landscape, incorporating Roman numerals for the hours. Measuring 4.2 cm in diameter, the object is categorized by the museum as jewellery and a watch. The engraving technique is applied to the dial surface, which centers on a landscape view. As a museum-held specimen, it represents a specific horological artifact from the Dutch collection, though the maker remains unidentified.

View of the silver-cased watch showing the engraved river landscape on the dial and the Roman numeral chapter ring.
View of the silver-cased watch showing the engraved river landscape on the dial and the Roman numeral chapter ring. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Men's watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-15035
Source-reported date
c. 1650 - c. 1675
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 Exterior Design

The watch is defined by a metal case consisting of both copper and silver. The back of the watch is shaped as a bowl, featuring radial fluting that extends across its surface. This fluted construction provides the case with a textured profile.

The assembly includes a suspension loop attached to the top of the case, allowing for attachment to a chain or ribbon. The construction follows a circular geometry with a measured diameter of 4.2 cm.

Evidence for this section
  • “bowl-shaped back that is radially fluted”
  • “material recorded as copper (metal), silver (metal)”
  • “diameter 4.2 cm”

Dial and Decoration

The watch face is a silver dial featuring an engraved depiction of a river landscape at its center. The decoration is executed through the engraving technique, creating visible detail within the landscape scene.

Hours are denoted by Roman numerals placed around the perimeter of the landscape dial. The design integrates these numerals directly onto the silver surface, surrounding the central engraved image.

Evidence for this section
  • “river landscape is engraved on the silver dial”
  • “technique engraving”

Institutional Context

This object is part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It is officially catalogued under the object number BK-15035 and is referenced in the museum's database.

The Rijksmuseum classifies this object as jewellery and a watch. The current documentation relies upon internal museum records to define its material composition and technical execution.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-15035”
  • “Museum classification jewellery · wrist watch”

Open research questions

  • Who is the potential maker of this 17th-century watch based on regional styles?
  • What specific type of movement is contained within the silver case?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Men's Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Museum Object NumberBK-15035“BK-15035”
MaterialsCopper and silver“copper (metal), silver (metal)”
Diameter4.2 cm“diameter 4.2 cm”
TechniqueEngraving“technique engraving”
Datingc. 1650 - c. 1675“c. 1650 - c. 1675”

Visible details

  • Bowl-shaped back with radial fluting.
  • Engraved river landscape on the silver dial center.
  • Roman numerals for hour marking.
  • Suspension loop at the top of the case.

Research qualifications

  • Maker attribution is currently unrecorded.
  • The broader horological type requires further verification against specialized literature.
  • The classification of 'wrist watch' in museum data may be a modern indexing label rather than original intent.

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

Consulted source

Men's Watch, c. 1650 - c. 1675

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 79c21450db

Terms in this record

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

Other men's watch records