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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Pocket watch of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte

Partially verified

This pocket watch, held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (accession number NG-NM-637), is historically associated with Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, King of Holland from 1806 to 1810. The timepiece is documented as dating to 1808. Its construction is distinctive, featuring a gold housing and an internal movement fabricated entirely from ivory. The dial, finished in white enamel or a similar material, bears the Latin inscription "Ludovico primo Regi Bataviae." The reverse of the watch case features a carving of the Holland lion, also executed in ivory. Measuring 4.5 cm in diameter, the object represents a specific historical artifact linked to the Batavian Commonwealth period. The source material notes that descriptions are translated from the museum's Dutch records, and further independent horological verification regarding the maker or the functional specifications of the ivory movement remains a subject for potential research.

Front view of the pocket watch showing the dial, inscription, and gold casing.
Front view of the pocket watch showing the dial, inscription, and gold casing. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. 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
NG-NM-637
Source-reported date
1808
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

Construction and Materials

The pocket watch is distinguished by its unusual material composition, specifically the integration of organic and metallic elements. The outer housing is constructed of gold, featuring a milled or decorative border around the bezel. The dial is presented with Arabic numerals and a central hands arrangement, with the specific Latin inscription "Ludovico primo Regi Bataviae" positioned across the lower center of the dial surface.

Beyond the exterior, the watch is notable for its internal mechanics. The source specifies that the movement is constructed entirely from ivory. This choice of material for the functional parts of a horological instrument is rare and marks the object as a particular point of study regarding 19th-century material applications in watchmaking.

Evidence for this section
  • “Mounted in gold. The entire internal movement is made of ivory.”
  • “On the reverse, the Holland lion carved from ivory.”

Historical Provenance and Identification

The watch is catalogued by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam under the accession number NG-NM-637. It is explicitly associated with Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, who was appointed King of Holland by his brother Napoleon I in 1806. The watch is dated to 1808, a period during which Louis Bonaparte reigned as the monarch of the Kingdom of Holland.

The inscription on the dial serves as a dedication or identifier to the monarch, translating to "Louis I, King of Batavia."

Evidence for this section
  • “Stated as having belonged to King Louis Napoleon.”
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as NG-NM-637”

Documentation and Current Status

The information regarding this timepiece is derived from the Rijksmuseum's institutional records. The object is publicly held and documented as a pocket watch, with a diameter of 4.5 centimeters. The record emphasizes that the details provided are extracted from the museum's Dutch catalogue text.

Because this entry pertains to a singular museum accession, the documentation focuses on the confirmed physical attributes and historical associations rather than trade-related provenance or technical horological analysis. The museum context establishes the authenticity of the object as a historical artifact, though the technical horological origins remain to be confirmed by external experts.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as NG-NM-637”
  • “Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text; details are those of this museum object”

Open research questions

  • What is the functional mechanism or escapement design of the ivory-based movement?
  • Who was the maker or horologist commissioned to create a watch with an internal ivory movement in 1808?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pocket watch of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Object numberNG-NM-637“NG-NM-637”
Materialivory, gold (metal)“ivory, gold (metal)”
Diameter4.5 cm“diameter 4.5 cm”
Movement materialivory“The entire internal movement is made of ivory.”
Case decorationHolland lion in ivory“On the reverse, the Holland lion carved from ivory.”

Visible details

  • Dial features the inscription 'Ludovico primo Regi Bataviae'
  • Gold case with decorative border detailing
  • Enamel-style dial with Arabic numerals and central hands
  • Museum accession tag 'NG-NM-637' visible at the bottom of the case

Research qualifications

  • The maker of the movement is not identified in the provided documentation.
  • The functional status of the ivory movement and its technical specifications are not detailed beyond the use of material.
  • While associated with King Louis Napoleon, specific provenance documentation is not outlined in the provided text.

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

Consulted source

Pocket watch of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 5cee7f84ad

Terms in this record

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

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