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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Silver-plated repeating watch

Partially verified

This repeating pocket watch, currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, is identified as a silver-plated copper object. Its construction features a plain copper exterior finished with silvering. Measuring 4.5 cm in diameter and 6.3 cm in height, the watch incorporates an enamelled dial within its case. The object is attributed to the period between circa 1798 and circa 1809. Documentation for the piece is provided by the Rijksmuseum under accession number BK-NM-12839. The current record is based on translations from the museum's Dutch catalogue text. As an individual museum item, the specific details regarding its maker and broader technical specifications remain subject to further horological research to confirm its place within a wider type of timepiece.

Back view of the silver-plated repeating watch, showing the plain exterior and suspension bow.
Back view of the silver-plated repeating watch, showing the plain exterior and suspension bow. — 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
BK-NM-12839
Source-reported date
c. 1798 - c. 1809
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

Physical Description and Materials

The object is a pocket watch constructed primarily from copper, which has been subjected to a silvering technique to create a silver-plated appearance. The exterior of the watch case is described as plain, lacking complex ornamentation or engraving on its surfaces.

With a diameter of 4.5 cm and a total height of 6.3 cm, the timepiece has a compact, circular form. It features an enamelled dial, a common element for period timekeepers, which provides a contrast to the metal casing.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver-plated copper repeating watch with an enamelled dial.”
  • “With plain copper exterior.”
  • “material recorded as copper (metal); technique silvering”

Provenance and Documentation

The watch is currently part of the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It is officially identified and catalogued within their archives under the accession number BK-NM-12839.

The information provided is derived from the museum's Dutch catalogue text. While the object is securely held and documented by the institution, its specific horological history, including the manufacturer and specific technical mechanisms, remains an area requiring further academic investigation.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-12839”
  • “Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text”
  • “confirm the wider type, maker attribution and specifications against horological references.”

Dating and Classification

The watch has been dated to the period ranging from approximately 1798 to 1809. This timeframe reflects the estimated origin attributed to the object by the holding institution.

Within the museum's internal classification system, the item is categorized under jewellery and wrist watch designations.

Evidence for this section
  • “Period c. 1798 - c. 1809”
  • “Museum classification jewellery · wrist watch”

Open research questions

  • Who is the maker or workshop responsible for this repeating movement?
  • Does the repeating mechanism utilize a specific type of rack or cylinder escapement?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Silver-plated repeating watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Materialcopper (metal)“copper (metal)”
Techniquesilvering“technique silvering”
Dimensions4.5 cm x 6.3 cm x 4.5 cm x 2 cm“diameter 4.5 cm x height 6.3 cm x width 4.5 cm x depth 2 cm”
Datec. 1798 - c. 1809“c. 1798 - c. 1809”
Museum numberBK-NM-12839“BK-NM-12839”
Typerepeating watch“repeating watch”

Visible details

  • Plain circular copper-colored case back
  • Visible surface patination
  • Suspension bow attached to the pendant
  • Hinged case construction visible on the left side

Research qualifications

  • Maker attribution and horological specifications are not confirmed
  • Whether the object represents a wider type of watch is unverified

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

Consulted source

Watch, silver-plated

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record e06c1e6816

Terms in this record

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

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