Pocket watch · Cylinder pocket watch with calendar

Silver Pocket Watch with Calender

Partially verified

This pocket watch is preserved in the Science Museum Group collection under object number 1916-213 and credited to Mr. Evan Roberts. The institution notes its origin as England, dating the watch between 1850 and 1890 with a silver case hallmarked 1860. The movement is documented as a cylinder escapement with balance under the dial. Visible features include a white enamel dial with Roman numeral hour indices, blued hands, a subsidiary seconds ring, and multiple calendar displays, including French day abbreviations.

Oblique dial view of the silver calendar pocket watch (object 1916-213). — The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk
Category: Pocket watch · Cylinder pocket watch with calendar
Maker / attribution: Not established
Reference: 1916-213
Catalogue / lot identifier: Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date: hallmarked 1860; 1850-1890
Country: England

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 Case Construction

This English pocket watch is housed in a silver case featuring a ribbed or engine-turned pattern along the middle band. The exterior architecture includes a pendant, a rounded winding or suspension knob, and a bow at the 12 o'clock position. A brass identification tag is attached to the bow.

The object measurements are recorded as 18 mm x 51 mm x 70 mm, with a weight of .08 kg.

Evidence for this section

“Silver case with ribbed or engine-turned pattern along the middle band.”
“Pendant, rounded winding or suspension knob, and bow at 12 o'clock with an attached brass identification tag.”
“overall: 18 mm x 51 mm x 70 mm”
“.08 kg”

Dial and Calendar Complications

The watch features a white enamel dial with black Roman numeral hour markers and blued hands. There are four subsidiary indications, including a running seconds dial at 6 o'clock.

The calendar display includes day of the week registers abbreviated in French: DIM., LUN., MAR., MER., JEU., VEN., and SAM.

Evidence for this section

“White enamel main dial with black Roman numeral hour markers and blued hands.”
“Four subsidiary indications including a running seconds dial at 6 o'clock and multiple calendar sub-dials.”
“Day of the week register abbreviated in French (DIM., LUN., MAR., MER., JEU., VEN., SAM.).”

Movement and Historical Context

The movement is described as a cylinder watch with the balance located under the dial. The maker is recorded as unknown.

The item is dated to a production range of 1850-1890, with a silver case hallmarked 1860.

Evidence for this section

“Cylinder watch in silver case, calendar, balance under dial”
“maker: Unknown”
“hallmarked 1860”
“1850-1890”

Open research questions

Does the presence of French-language calendar abbreviations on an English-hallmarked watch indicate Swiss-made components or an export-oriented movement?
What is the specific functionality of the additional sub-dials beyond the running seconds and day-of-the-week registers?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Silver Pocket Watch with Calender
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Object Number	1916-213	“Object Number: 1916-213”
Description	Cylinder watch in silver case, calendar, balance under dial	“Cylinder watch in silver case, calendar, balance under dial”
Hallmark Date	1860	“hallmarked 1860”
Production Date Range	1850-1890	“1850-1890”
Place of Origin	England	“in England”
Dimensions	18 mm x 51 mm x 70 mm	“overall: 18 mm x 51 mm x 70 mm”
Credit Line	Mr. Evan Roberts	“credit: Mr. Evan Roberts”

Visible details

White enamel main dial with black Roman numeral hour markers and blued hands.
Four subsidiary indications including a running seconds dial at 6 o'clock and multiple calendar sub-dials.
Day of the week register abbreviated in French (DIM., LUN., MAR., MER., JEU., VEN., SAM.).
Silver case with ribbed or engine-turned pattern along the middle band.
Pendant, rounded winding or suspension knob, and bow at 12 o'clock with an attached brass identification tag.

Research qualifications

The maker of the watch is unrecorded in museum records.
The internal cylinder movement and case hallmarks are not visible in the closed dial view.

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

Consulted source

Silver Pocket Watch with Calender, 1850-1860 | Science Museum Group Collection

Reviewed 2026-10-22 · Record 78a8add772

Terms in this record

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