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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

Miniature gold and enamel open-face pocket watch

Partially verified

This miniature open-face pocket watch dates to the mid-nineteenth century and is attributed to Swiss manufacture by Ruegger à Genève. The watch is encased in gold, featuring a case band with engine-turned decoration. The case back is finished with champlevé enamel, depicting a Japanese scene featuring a pagoda in black enamel, surrounded by multicolored decorative cartouches set against an engine-turned ground. It is powered by a gilt Lepine calibre movement with a key-wind mechanism, featuring a suspended going barrel, cylinder escapement with a polished steel cylinder, and a three-arm gold balance with a blued steel hairspring. The white enamel dial displays Roman numerals and gold hands. The watch includes an accompanying gold male winding key. The gold cuvette is engraved with the maker's signature and the serial number 6388.

Miniature gold and enamel pocket watch, open-face, featuring Champlevé decoration on the case back, alongside its gold male winding key.
Miniature gold and enamel pocket watch, open-face, featuring Champlevé decoration on the case back, alongside its gold male winding key. — Zamanito. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Ruegger à Genève
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
mid-nineteenth century
Source-reported place
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
6388

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

The watch is an open-face miniature piece housed in a gold case featuring engine-turned decoration on the middle band. The back of the case is decorated using champlevé enamel techniques, centered on a black enamel image of a Japanese landscape including a pagoda. The central scene is framed by various multicolored translucent enamel decorative cartouches set against an engine-turned background.

The white enamel dial features Roman numeral hour markers and gold hands. Surface analysis of the dial indicates the presence of cracks and scratches, which the source attributes to the passage of time. A gold cuvette protects the movement and serves as a surface for the maker's signature and serial number.

Evidence for this section
  • “پشت قاب با تکنیک میناکاری کنده‌کاری‌شده (Champlevé) منقوش شده و در بخش مرکزی آن، منظره‌ای ژاپنی به همراه پاگودا در مینای سیاه تصویر شده است”
  • “بر روی سطح صفحه مینا ترک‌ها و خراشیدگی‌هایی ناشی از گذر زمان دیده می‌شود”

Movement and Mechanism

The movement is a gilt Lepine calibre designed for key-winding. The power transmission system incorporates a suspended going barrel. The timekeeping regulation is managed by a cylinder escapement, comprising a polished steel cylinder and steel escape wheel.

Further technical components include a three-armed gold balance wheel paired with a blued steel hairspring. The balance cock is of simple construction, fitted with a polished steel regulator for adjustment. The internal gold cuvette features an aperture specifically designed to accommodate the gold male winding key, though the surface shows light scratches from historical use.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت دارای کالیبر لِپین (Lepine calibre) با روکش طلاکاری‌شده (Gilt) و مکانیزم کوک با کلید است”
  • “سیستم تنظیم و مهار زمان شامل چرخ‌دنگ استوانه‌ای (Cylinder escapement) با استوانه فولادی پرداخت‌شده و چرخ گریز فولادی است”

Signatures and Markings

The watch is identified by the signature "RUEGGER À GENÈVE," which is engraved directly onto the gold cuvette. This engraving is accompanied by the serial number 6388.

The physical condition of the watch in relation to these markings suggests frequent use, particularly regarding the cuvette's surface, which exhibits light abrasion.

Evidence for this section
  • “درب محافظ داخلی (Cuvette) از جنس طلا بوده و بر روی آن نام و مشخصات «RUEGGER À GENÈVE» به همراه شماره سریال ۶۳۸۸ حکاکی شده است”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific connection, if any, between this Japanese-themed enamel work and the watch's origin in Geneva?
  • Are there additional records for Ruegger à Genève watches in the 6000-serial range to confirm production date more precisely?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Miniature gold and enamel open-face pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerRuegger à Genève“Ruegger à Genève”
Serial number6388“شماره سریال ۶۳۸۸”
Datemid-nineteenth century“اواسط قرن نوزدهم میلادی”
Escapementcylinder escapement“چرخ‌دنگ استوانه‌ای (Cylinder escapement)”
Case materialgold“قاب باریک از جنس طلا”
Dialwhite enamel“صفحه ساعت از جنس مینای سفید”
Movement typeLepine calibre“کالیبر لِپین (Lepine calibre)”
Accompanimentsgold male key“یک کلید کوک نری (Male key) از جنس طلا”

Visible details

  • Case back features Champlevé enamel work with a Japanese pagoda motif
  • White enamel dial shows visible cracks and scratches
  • Movement is a key-wind Lepine calibre with gilt finish
  • Gold cuvette engraved with maker name and serial number

Research qualifications

  • Structural integrity of the enamel work is unverified
  • Functional performance of the cylinder escapement is unverified

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

Consulted source

Miniature Gold and Enamel Watch with Male Key

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 653fbf4376

Terms in this record

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

Other open-face pocket watch records