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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Sun and moon verge watch

Silver pair-cased verge watch by Octavy Johann Dennicken

Partially verified

This pocket watch is an early 18th-century pair-cased timepiece signed by Octavy Johann Dennicken of Konigsberg. The watch features a silver champlevé dial displaying a sun-and-moon aperture, where a rotating disc indicates day and night hours. A single steel hand reads against an outer Arabic minute ring and an inner semi-circular chapter ring with Roman numerals. The lower portion of the dial is decorated with two eagles flanking the maker's signature. The watch is powered by a gilded full-plate movement with a verge escapement, fusee and chain, and a silver balance cock pierced and engraved with birds and a tortoise. The internal pillars are mounted with pierced and engraved eagle figures holding attributes such as a sword and an anchor. The timepiece is housed in a pair case, with the outer shell featuring tortoiseshell and piqué work.

Front view of the silver sun and moon verge watch, showing the champlevé dial, rotating disc, and single steel hand.
Front view of the silver sun and moon verge watch, showing the champlevé dial, rotating disc, and single steel hand. — Somlo. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.somlo.com
Category
Pocket watch · Sun and moon verge watch
Maker / attribution
Octavy Johann Dennicken
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
2400
Source-reported date
1720
Source-reported place
Konigsberg

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 Timekeeping

The watch features a silver champlevé dial designed with an aperture for a sun-and-moon display. This feature uses a rotating disc to indicate day and night phases, with a golden sun and silver moon shown against a blued steel sky. Daytime hours are marked by the sun, while nighttime hours correspond to the moon and stars.

Time is indicated by a single steel hand on an outer Arabic minute ring and an inner semi-circular chapter ring bearing Roman numerals. The lower half of the dial is finished with two eagle figures supporting signed banners, identifying the maker and location.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver champlevé dial with large aperture with rotating disc divided into day and night”
  • “daytime hours indicated by a golden sun with pointer, night hours indicated by a silver moon with pointer surrounded by silver stars”
  • “Lower half of the dial with two eagles supporting signed banners”

Movement Construction

The movement is a gilded full-plate assembly incorporating a verge escapement. Power is transmitted through a fusee and chain mechanism. Regulation is managed by a silver disc.

The balance cock is executed in silver and features piercing and engraving depicting three birds alongside a tortoise, while the broad cock foot is engraved with scrolling foliage. The movement structure is reinforced by plain brass pillars, each decorated with a pierced and engraved eagle holding specific attributes such as a sword and anchor.

Evidence for this section
  • “ilded full plate with verge escapement, silver balance cock decoratively pierced and engraved with three birds carrying a tortoise”
  • “broad cock foot engraved with scrolling foliage”
  • “plain brass pillars each mounted with a pierced and engraved eagle each holding a different attribute including a sword and an anchor”

Case and Exterior

The watch is preserved in a pair-cased configuration. The outer case is covered in tortoiseshell and features decorative silver piqué work. This work includes a central stylised flower motif and four coronets positioned at the edge.

The front bezel of the outer case contains additional pin work decoration. The watch pendant is noted as being plain.

Evidence for this section
  • “uter tortoiseshell covered case with silver piqué work depicting a stylised flower to the centre and four coronets to the edge”
  • “the front bezel with further pin work decoration plain pendant”

Open research questions

  • What is the symbolic significance of the specific attributes (sword and anchor) held by the eagles on the movement pillars?
  • Does the maker Octavy Johann Dennicken have a recorded history of production in Konigsberg beyond this piece?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Silver pair-cased verge watch by Octavy Johann Dennicken
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerOctavy Johann Dennicken“Signed Octavy Johann Dennicken, Konigsberg.”
Date1720“Made 1720”
EscapementVerge“ilded full plate with verge escapement”
Dial materialSilver“Silver champlevé dial”
Outer case decorationTortoiseshell and silver piqué“uter tortoiseshell covered case with silver piqué work”
Movement pillar detailPierced eagles“plain brass pillars each mounted with a pierced and engraved eagle”

Visible details

  • The dial contains a rotating day and night disc featuring a sun and moon.
  • The movement pillars are decorated with eagle-shaped embellishments.
  • The dial is signed 'Octavy Johann Dennicken' and 'KONIGSBERG'.
  • The watch is contained within a silver pair case.

Research qualifications

  • The precise mechanism of the tortoiseshell piqué work on the outer case is not fully visible in the provided photographs.
  • The condition of the fusee chain is not explicitly described in the source text.

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

Consulted source

Silver Octavy Johann pair cased sun and moon verge watch. Made 1720

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 68f62aa40d

Terms in this record

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