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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-faced pocket watch

Rockford Yellow Gold Filled Open-Faced Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This antique open-faced pocket watch is attributed by the seller to the Rockford Watch Company and dated to 1886. The round gold-filled case measures 55 mm in diameter and exhibits decorative engraving around the front bezel. The white kiln-fired enamel dial is marked 'ROCKFORD WATCH CO. ILLINOIS' below the 12 o'clock position, featuring black Roman numerals, a peripheral minute track, blued steel spade hands, and a sunken subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock. The seller reports the watch is powered by a manual-winding, 15-jewel full plate movement.

Front view of Rockford yellow gold-filled open-faced pocket watch, dated 1886
Front view of Rockford yellow gold-filled open-faced pocket watch, dated 1886 — Watch Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
watchmuseum.org
Category
Pocket watch · Open-faced pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Rockford Watch Company
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1886
Country
Switzerland

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

Dial and Visual Presentation

The pocket watch displays a white enamel dial marked 'ROCKFORD WATCH CO. ILLINOIS' positioned beneath the 12 o'clock marker. Hours are indicated by black Roman numerals, surrounded by an outer track for minutes. Time is indicated by blued steel spade hands, with continuous seconds displayed on a sunken subsidiary register at 6 o'clock.

The dial is housed in a round case featuring engraved scrollwork ornamentation along the perimeter of the front bezel rim. The winding assembly consists of a fluted onion or flattened crown paired with a matching bow and rounded pendant.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial signed 'ROCKFORD WATCH CO. ILLINOIS'”
  • “Black Roman numeral hour chapter with sunken subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock”
  • “Blued steel spade hands”
  • “Engraved scrollwork along the front bezel rim”
  • “Fluted onion/flattened crown with round pendant and matching bow”

Case and Movement Specifications

According to the source listing, the open-faced case is constructed from gold-filled material and measures 55 mm in diameter. The listing dates the watch to 1886 and assigns its production to the 1880–1889 period.

The movement is described in the listing text as a manual-winding, 15-jewel full plate movement. However, because no photographs of the movement or inner case covers are provided in the source, mechanical attributes and jewel counts rely solely on seller description.

Evidence for this section
  • “At 55mm in diameter”
  • “manual winding, 15-jewel full plate movement”
  • “features an open-faced design with a gold-filled case”

Geographic and Attributional Discrepancies

The source listing presents conflicting metadata regarding the origin of the watch. While the creator is listed as 'Rockford Watch Company' and the descriptive text outlines the company's establishment in Illinois, the structured metadata explicitly states 'Place of Origin: Switzerland'.

The dial visibly bears the signature 'ROCKFORD WATCH CO. ILLINOIS', directly conflicting with the listing's Swiss origin claim. Because the movement plates and interior case markings are not illustrated or recorded in the source, the reason for this discrepancy cannot be verified from the documentation.

Evidence for this section
  • “Creator: Rockford Watch Company”
  • “Place of Origin: Switzerland”
  • “White enamel dial signed 'ROCKFORD WATCH CO. ILLINOIS'”

Open research questions

  • What movement serial number is stamped on the mechanism, and does it align with Rockford Watch Company production records for 1886?
  • Why does the source metadata specify Switzerland as the place of origin when the dial is signed 'Rockford Watch Co. Illinois'?
  • What maker's hallmarks, gold-filled warranty stamps, or case serial numbers are struck inside the case back?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Rockford Yellow Gold Filled Open-Faced Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
CreatorRockford Watch Company“Creator: Rockford Watch Company”
Date of Manufacture1886“Date of Manufacture: 1886”
MovementManual winding, 15-jewel full plate movement“manual winding, 15-jewel full plate movement”
Case Diameter55mm“At 55mm in diameter”
Place of OriginSwitzerland“Place of Origin: Switzerland”
Case ShapeRound“Case Shape: Round”
Period1880-1889“Period: 1880-1889”
Style DesignationEarly Victorian“Style: Early Victorian”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial signed 'ROCKFORD WATCH CO. ILLINOIS'
  • Black Roman numeral hour chapter with sunken subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock
  • Blued steel spade hands
  • Engraved scrollwork along the front bezel rim
  • Fluted onion/flattened crown with round pendant and matching bow

Research qualifications

  • Source metadata specifies 'Place of Origin: Switzerland' despite Rockford Watch Company being an American manufacture and the dial bearing 'ILLINOIS'
  • Movement and interior case back are not pictured; jewel count and plate configuration rely solely on seller claims

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

Consulted source

Rockford Yellow Gold Filled Pocket Watch - 1886 » Watch Museum: Discover The World Of Antique & Vintage Pocket Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 08e924b050

Terms in this record

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

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