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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Fusee lever pocket watch

Open-face 18 ct. gold fusee lever pocket watch

Partially verified

This is a full plate undersprung fusee lever pocket watch, held in the Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira collection. It is constructed with a heavy open-faced 18 ct. gold case, which includes an enamel dial and a secondary sub-dial for seconds. The movement is jewelled to the third wheel and features a steel balance with a diamond endstone. The interior of the back case is stamped with the letters CM and hallmarked with a crown followed by the number 18. This object was donated to the museum by Mrs C G Kernick and is recorded under the accession number 1966.52. The mechanism incorporates a regulation scale marked with the terms FAST and SLOW for adjusting the watch's timekeeping speed.

Close-up view of the movement of the 18 ct. gold fusee lever pocket watch, showing the balance wheel and regulator markings.
Close-up view of the movement of the 18 ct. gold fusee lever pocket watch, showing the balance wheel and regulator markings. — Auckland Museum Collections. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
commons.wikimedia.org
Category
Pocket watch · Fusee lever pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
1966.52
Source-reported date
Not established
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 Dial

The pocket watch is housed in a heavy open-faced case crafted from 18 ct. gold. The case back bears internal marks including a stamp of the letters CM and a hallmark comprising a crown and the number 18.

The timepiece is equipped with an enamel dial, which features a secondary sub-dial dedicated to the tracking of seconds. The watch is designed as an open-face configuration, which leaves the dial exposed for viewing.

Evidence for this section
  • “Heavy open faced 18 ct. gold case with enamel dial and second sub-dial.”
  • “CM stamped inside back case and hallmarked with crown 18.”

Movement and Escapement

The movement is a full plate, undersprung fusee lever mechanism. It is constructed with a steel balance wheel, which is fitted with a diamond endstone. The train of the watch is jewelled up to the third wheel.

Adjustment of the watch's speed is managed via a regulator on the movement plate. This component features a graduated scale engraved with the words FAST and SLOW to facilitate timekeeping regulation.

Evidence for this section
  • “Full plate undersprung fusee lever pocket watch, jewelled to third wheel. Steel balance with diamond endstone.”

Provenance and Identification

This watch is part of the Applied Arts and Design collection at the Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira. It was acquired as a gift from Mrs C G Kernick.

The object is officially catalogued within the museum archives under the accession number 1966.52, also noted with the identifier H64.

Evidence for this section
  • “Part of the Applied Arts and Design collection.”
  • “Gift of Mrs C G Kernick, Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 1966.52, H64”

Open research questions

  • What is the significance of the 'CM' maker's stamp found inside the case?
  • To what approximate time period does the hallmarking 'crown 18' refer?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Open-face 18 ct. gold fusee lever pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case material18 ct. gold“18 ct. gold fusee lever pocket watch”
Movement typeFull plate undersprung fusee lever“Full plate undersprung fusee lever pocket watch”
HallmarksCrown 18 and CM“CM stamped inside back case and hallmarked with crown 18.”
JewellingJewelled to third wheel“jewelled to third wheel”
Accession number1966.52“1966.52”
DonorMrs C G Kernick“Gift of Mrs C G Kernick”
ComponentsEnamel dial and sub-dial“enamel dial and second sub-dial”

Visible details

  • Fast/Slow regulation scale visible on the movement plate
  • Steel balance wheel construction
  • Jewelled movement
  • Gold case with enamel dial

Research qualifications

  • Maker is unidentified
  • Exact date of manufacture is not specified

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

Consulted source

Open-face 18 ct. gold fusee lever pocket watch

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 86af0cde87

Terms in this record

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