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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Musical pocket watch

Musical pocket watch for the Chinese market

Partially verified

This musical pocket watch, created circa 1820 for the Chinese market, features a four-body Empire case in yellow gold, lavishly decorated with pearls and a painted enamel flower bouquet on an opalescent guilloche ground. The watch houses a high-quality Swiss movement, attributed to Piguet et Meylan, which incorporates English-style features such as a single-footed balance cock. The movement is a sur-plateau musical train equipped with a fixed barrel and a pinned disc that plays music on the hour or on demand via a lever at the 11 o'clock position. The white enamel dial displays radial Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds, accompanied by gold poire hands. The construction utilizes a jeweled cylinder escapement and includes a lever on the cuvette for music or silence control. The timepiece is sized at 62 mm in diameter, with the movement measuring 53.5 mm.

Front view showing the enamel-decorated case back and the dial with subsidiary seconds.
Front view showing the enamel-decorated case back and the dial with subsidiary seconds. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Musical pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Piguet et Meylan
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
152
Source-reported date
circa 1820
Source-reported place
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
24/33

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 watch features a four-body Empire-style gold case, which is ornately decorated with pearl-set bezels and a matching pearl-set bow and pendant. The back cover opens on a hinge and is finished with an opalescent guilloche enamel ground, serving as a canvas for a meticulously painted bouquet of flowers. The decorative scheme includes a scallop-edged gold border, supplemented by white and pale green enamel lines.

The white enamel dial features black radial Roman numerals and an outer minute track, with a large subsidiary seconds dial positioned below the center. It is fitted with gold poire hands. The case band features a distinctive coin-edge finish and a lever located at 11 o'clock, which is utilized to trigger the musical function.

Evidence for this section
  • “hinged and sprung back cover decorated with a very finely painted on enamel bouquet of flowers on an opalescent guilloche enamel ground”
  • “hinged pearl-set bezel, pendant and bow, coin-edge band with lever at 11 for activating the music”

Movement and Musical Mechanism

The watch is powered by a matte gilt movement measuring 53.5 mm, which operates on a jeweled cylinder escapement with a steel escape wheel. It incorporates a four-arm brass balance and a flat balance spring. The construction reflects English stylistic influence, notably seen in the single-footed balance cock, which was intended to cater to the specific preferences of the Chinese export market during the early 19th century.

The sur-plateau musical train utilizes a large fixed barrel and a flat pinned disc. Sound is produced by 25 tuned steel vibrating blades that play against the rotating disc, activated by polished steel levers. A hinged gold cuvette protects the movement and provides access to winding apertures, alongside an integrated lever for switching between music and silence modes.

Evidence for this section
  • “Sur-plateau musical train with large fixed barrel, flat pinned disc with 25 tuned steel vibrating blades playing on both sides of the pinned disc”
  • “entirely of Swiss craftsmanship, this watch is very much made in the English style in particular the single-footed balance cock”

Provenance and Attribution

This watch is attributed to the Geneva partnership of Piguet et Meylan, who were noted for their expertise in musical and automaton movements between 1811 and 1828. This strategy was common during this era, as goods associated with London were perceived by Chinese collectors to be of superior quality.

The movement, dial, and case carry distinct identification numbers, indicating specific numbering sequences used during production.

Evidence for this section
  • “attributed to Piguet et Meylan, perhaps supplied to Ilbery or Charman, London”
  • “Made for the Chinese market, circa 1820”
  • “This large and heavy, beautifully decorated musical watch has a very high quality movement almost certainly made by PIGUET & MEYLAN”

Open research questions

  • What is the significance of the movement punch-number 32 relative to the case number 24/33?
  • Are there archival records linking this specific serial number to the Ilbery or Charman commission?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Musical pocket watch for the Chinese market
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case DecorationPainted enamel and pearls“hinged and sprung back cover decorated with a very finely painted on enamel bouquet of flowers on an opalescent guilloche enamel ground”
EscapementJeweled cylinder escapement“jeweled cylinder escapement with steel escape wheel, four-arm brass balance, flat balance spring”
Movement StyleEnglish-style Swiss movement“entirely of Swiss craftsmanship, this watch is very much made in the English style in particular the single-footed balance cock”
Serial Number (Case)24/33“case numbered 24/33”
Serial Number (Dial)9124“Dial numbered 9124”
Serial Number (Movement)32“movement punch-numbered 32 on the musical disc”
Diameter62 mm“DIAM. 62 mm.”

Visible details

  • Case decorated with painted enamel floral bouquet and pearls
  • Dial features Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds
  • Lever at 11 o'clock for musical activation
  • Sur-plateau musical movement with 25 tuned steel blades

Research qualifications

  • Maker attributed to Piguet et Meylan
  • Possibly supplied to Ilbery or Charman

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

Consulted source

IMPRESSIVE MUSICAL WATCH FOR THE CHINESE MARKET FLOWER BOUQUET ENAMEL & YELLOW GOLD Swiss, "English-style" movement, attributed to Piguet et Meylan, perhaps supplied to Ilbery or Charman, London. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1820. Extremely fine and very rare, large, musical, gold, painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watch with sur-plateau musical movement playing music on the hour or at will.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 5552542b0b

Terms in this record

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

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