Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Railway pocket watch

Saxonia Large Railway Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This open-face railway pocket watch, branded Saxonia and dated by the dealer to the beginning of the 20th century, features a white enamel dial with Arabic numerals, an outer 24-hour chapter ring, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock. It is fitted with blued steel hands and housed in a solid nickel case measuring 57 mm in diameter. The seller notes that the case back features a locomotive in relief and that it houses a gilded brass anchor escapement movement equipped with a compensated balance, Breguet hairspring, and micrometric adjustment.

Dial view of the Saxonia open-face railway pocket watch
Dial view of the Saxonia open-face railway pocket watch — Luc Baudry / Proantic. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.proantic.com
Category
Pocket watch · Railway pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Saxonia
Reference
1628824
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
early 20th century
Country
Germany

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 Configuration

The timepiece is an open-face pocket watch featuring a white enamel dial signed 'SAXONIA' below the 12 o'clock position. The dial layout includes Arabic numerals and a subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock.

The watch is equipped with pear-shaped hands described as burnished steel. An outer chapter ring displaying numerals 13 through 24 is present.

Evidence for this section
  • “Enamel dial with Arabic numerals, seconds at six o'clock, pear-shaped hands in burnished steel.”
  • “White enamel dial signed 'SAXONIA' below 12 o'clock.”

Construction and Case Specifications

The watch is housed in a solid nickel case measuring 57 mm in diameter with a stated height of 77.5 mm. The case features a pendant bow and a crown at the 12 o'clock position.

The seller reports that the case back features a locomotive in relief. This detail is not visible in the provided source photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “Solid nickel case, with a locomotive in relief on the back.”
  • “Diameter: 57 mm Height: 77,5 mm”

Movement Specifications

The watch contains a gilded brass movement. Stated technical features include an anchor escapement, a compensated balance, a Breguet balance spring, and a micrometric adjustment of the racket.

These internal movement specifications are provided by the seller and remain unverified by the visible photographic documentation.

Evidence for this section
  • “Magnificent movement in gilded brass, with anchor escapement, well jeweled, compensated balance, Breguet balance spring, and micrometric adjustment of the racket.”

Open research questions

  • Does the 'Saxonia' branding correlate with specific German manufacturers, or is it a retailer-specific signature?
  • Can the locomotive relief design on the case back be linked to a specific railway company?
  • Is the inclusion of a 24-hour chapter ring standard for the specific movement architecture described?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Saxonia Large Railway Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Dial descriptionEnamel dial with Arabic numerals, seconds at six o'clock, and pear-shaped hands“Enamel dial with Arabic numerals, seconds at six o'clock, pear-shaped hands in burnished steel.”
Case material and decorationSolid nickel case with locomotive in relief on the back“Solid nickel case, with a locomotive in relief on the back.”
MovementGilded brass movement with anchor escapement, compensated balance, Breguet hairspring, and micrometric adjustment“Magnificent movement in gilded brass, with anchor escapement, well jeweled, compensated balance, Breguet balance spring, and micrometric adjustment of the racket.”
Case dimensionsDiameter 57 mm, height 77.5 mm“Diameter: 57 mm Height: 77,5 mm”
Dealer-Reported PeriodEarly 20th century“early 20th century”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial signed 'SAXONIA' below 12 o'clock.
  • Outer railway chapter ring displaying numerals 13 through 24.
  • Pear-shaped blued steel hour hand and slender blued minute hand.
  • Subsidiary seconds register positioned at 6 o'clock.
  • Open-face metallic case with a pendant bow and fluted crown at 12 o'clock.

Research qualifications

  • Case back with locomotive relief is not visible in the photograph.
  • Movement specifications (escapement, balance, hairspring) cannot be independently verified from the dial photograph.

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

Consulted source

Proantic: Saxonia: Large Railway Watch, Brand (saxonia), From The Begi

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record f97d600940

Terms in this record

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