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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Pocket Watch from Einbeck City Museum

Partially verified

This silver-plated pocket watch, held in the collection of the Einbeck City Museum, features a white enamelled dial with both Roman numerals for the primary time display and a small seconds subsidiary dial at the six o'clock position. The case is equipped with a ring at the top for suspension. The watch is externally decorated with ornaments on the lid, and the back is hinged to allow access to the interior. Interior lid engravings and stamps include the date "1898," the name "Gust. Gundela(ch)," the location "Ammensen," and the serial number "68078." Additionally, hallmarks including a crown and a crescent moon, as well as a signature bearing the letters "CM," are present on the inner case. The museum notes that the watch was used in the Einbeck region and displays wear on the suspension ring, consistent with its recorded history.

Front view of the silver-plated pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and subsidiary seconds display.
Front view of the silver-plated pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and subsidiary seconds display. — Einbeck City Museum via Europeana. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1898
Source-reported place
Germany
Source-reported serial
68078

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 Features

The pocket watch is housed in a silver-plated case that measures 5 cm in diameter. The exterior of the hinged back lid is adorned with decorative ornamentation. A suspension ring is attached to the top of the case, intended for holding or hanging the watch. According to museum reports, the suspension ring exhibits signs of wear from extensive past use.

The interior of the lid contains several markings, including a serial number and various stamps. While some of these inscriptions remain partially illegible, they provide historical details regarding the object's provenance, linking it to the name Gust. Gundelach of Ammensen and the year 1898.

Evidence for this section
  • “silver-plated pocket watch”
  • “Exterior of the lid decorated with ornaments. - The watch was worn for a long time; the ring for the watch chain is worn.”
  • “1) 1898 Gust. Gundela(ch) (?) Ammensen”

Dial and Display

The watch face is constructed from white enamel, featuring traditional Roman numerals to indicate the hour. It is equipped with a primary minute and hour hand. Positioned at the lower edge of the main dial is a subsidiary dial specifically for tracking seconds.

The visual design maintains a clear layout, with the seconds display placed distinctly below the central axis of the hands.

Evidence for this section
  • “white enamelled dial with Roman numerals with a minute and hour hand - At the lower edge the watch has another small dial for the seconds display.”

Signatures and Hallmarks

The interior of the watch lid features a combination of stamps and engravings that suggest its origins and quality control. Among these markings are a crown and a crescent moon, which are standard German hallmarks for silver items, as well as an oval field containing the letters 'CM'.

These stamps, along with the inscription detailing the name 'Gust. Gundelach' and the date '1898', serve as the primary identifiers for the piece. The museum records these details as part of the formal documentation for the item's accession into the Einbeck City Museum collection.

Evidence for this section
  • “a crescent moon, turned to the left, and a crown oval field with signature CM (?)”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific manufacturer associated with the 'CM' hallmark on the internal case?
  • Can the 'Gust. Gundelach' inscription be verified as the original owner or a service mark?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pocket Watch from Einbeck City Museum
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Object typePocket watch“silver-plated pocket watch”
DialWhite enamelled with Roman numerals and seconds sub-dial“white enamelled dial with Roman numerals with a minute and hour hand - At the lower edge the watch has another small dial for the seconds display.”
Inscriptions1898 Gust. Gundela(ch) Ammensen, 68078, crown and crescent moon“1) 1898 Gust. Gundela(ch) (?) Ammensen 2) 68078 a crescent moon, turned to the left, and a crown”
Dimensions5 cm“diameter: 5 cm”
InstitutionEinbeck City Museum“Einbeck City Museum”
ConditionUsed, worn suspension ring“The watch was worn for a long time; the ring for the watch chain is worn.”

Visible details

  • White enamelled dial with Roman numerals
  • Subsidiary seconds dial at the bottom
  • Suspension ring at the top
  • Hinged case back

Research qualifications

  • Maker of the watch is not definitively confirmed, with 'CM' cited as an unclear signature.
  • The exact material composition beyond the 'silver-plated' description and 'metal' classification requires further verification.

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

Consulted source

Accessory / Pocket watch

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record b30ef3f23d

Terms in this record

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

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