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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pair-case watch

Pair-case watch by Thomas Tompion

Partially verified

This pair-case watch was crafted by the London watchmaker Thomas Tompion and is dated to 1685–86. The timepiece features a double-case construction. The inner case is made of silver, which also serves as the material for the champlevé dial. The outer case consists of red tortoiseshell decorated with silver inlay. The watch measures 2 1/4 inches (5.7 cm) in diameter. The dial incorporates a Roman numeral chapter ring and the signature "TOMPION" engraved in the center. The watch is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the gift of J. Pierpont Morgan.

Pair-case watch by Thomas Tompion with the outer case open, showing the silver inner case and dial.
Pair-case watch by Thomas Tompion with the outer case open, showing the silver inner case and dial. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pair-case watch
Maker / attribution
Thomas Tompion
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1487a, b
Source-reported date
1685–86
Source-reported place
London

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

Construction and Materials

The watch is constructed as a pair-case, consisting of an internal silver case and an external protective housing. The outer case is composed of red tortoiseshell, embellished with silver inlay work.

The champlevé dial is crafted from silver and integrates a Roman numeral chapter ring. The central area of the dial is engraved with the maker’s name, "TOMPION." The total diameter of the watch is 2 1/4 inches (5.7 cm), providing a consistent scale for the object.

Evidence for this section
  • “Outer case: red tortoiseshell with silver inlay; Inner case and champlevé dial: silver”
  • “Diameter: 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)”

Identification and Attribution

This object is identified as a work of the London watchmaker Thomas Tompion, who was active between 1639 and 1713. The museum records attribute the piece to the period of 1685–86.

The timepiece is formally catalogued by The Metropolitan Museum of Art under the accession number 17.190.1487a, b. This identification associates the object with the gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, received by the institution in 1917.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: Thomas Tompion (British, 1639–1713)”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1487a, b”

Documentation and Status

The record for this watch is based on information provided by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The documentation notes that the details correspond to the museum’s specific specimen.

The museum record does not detail specific catalogue references beyond the accession number. Further research is suggested to confirm the relationship of this specific piece to wider typological studies of Tompion’s work.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1487a, b; details are those of this museum object”
  • “Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and date against a specialist reference.”

Open research questions

  • What specific escapement type is utilized within this movement?
  • Are there specific hallmarks on the silver inner case that confirm the London assay date of 1685-86?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pair-case watch by Thomas Tompion
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerThomas Tompion“Watchmaker: Thomas Tompion (British, 1639–1713)”
Date1685–86“1685–86”
Outer Case MaterialsRed tortoiseshell with silver inlay“Outer case: red tortoiseshell with silver inlay”
Inner Case and Dial MaterialSilver“Inner case and champlevé dial: silver”
Diameter2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)“Diameter: 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)”
Holding InstitutionThe Metropolitan Museum of Art“The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1487a, b”

Visible details

  • Champlevé dial with Roman numerals
  • Outer case featuring tortoiseshell and silver inlay
  • Signed TOMPION on the dial
  • Silver bow and pendant on the inner case

Research qualifications

  • The provenance history beyond the gift of J. Pierpont Morgan is not explicitly detailed
  • Internal movement condition is not visually verified through the provided photographs

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

Consulted source

Pair-case watch, Thomas Tompion, 1685–86

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 4072c9cf55

Terms in this record

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

Other pair-case watch records