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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Silver Pocket Watch with Key, 1784

Partially verified

This 1784 silver pocket watch is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (accession number BK-1980-181). The timepiece features a white enamelled dial marked with black Roman numerals and an outer minute track with Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals. The silver outer case is decorated with an embossed scene, which has been described as a depiction from Roman history. The watch is accompanied by a winding key. The overall dimensions of the object are approximately 6.3 cm in height by 5 cm in width and 2.6 cm in depth, with a dial diameter of 4.1 cm. Documentation is provided by the Rijksmuseum, which records the material as silver. The mechanism is wound via the accompanying key, a common feature for timepieces of this period.

The pocket watch shown alongside its winding key, displaying the enamel dial and decorative silver casing.
The pocket watch shown alongside its winding key, displaying the enamel dial and decorative silver casing. — 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-1980-181
Source-reported date
1784
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

Case and Dial Construction

The pocket watch is housed in a silver case characterized by an embossed relief design. According to the institution's documentation, this decoration portrays a scene derived from Roman history, although the specific subject remains subject to interpretation.

The dial is constructed of white enamel, providing a high-contrast background for the time display. Roman numerals are used for the primary hour markings, while a secondary track with Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals surrounds the hour scale. The overall diameter of the watch is 4.1 cm, fitting within the specified external dimensions of 6.3 cm by 5 cm.

Evidence for this section
  • “The silver outer case has an embossed depiction from Roman history (?)”
  • “Watch with white enamelled dial with Roman numerals.”
  • “With key.”
  • “diameter 4.1 cm”

Institutional Provenance

The object is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is catalogued under the reference number BK-1980-181.

As a catalogued museum object, the watch is subject to ongoing research by the institution. The museum catalogue indicates the classification of the item as both a watch and a piece of jewellery, reflecting its dual function as an instrument and a decorative accessory of the late eighteenth century.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-1980-181”
  • “Museum object number BK-1980-181”
  • “Museum classification wrist watch · jewellery”

Documentation and Attribution

Documentation for the watch is derived directly from the Rijksmuseum’s registry. The record identifies the watch by its date of 1784 and confirms the material composition as silver. Because the entry is based on museum records, the information provided is limited to the verified physical data currently in their possession.

The attribution of the watch remains broad, without a recorded maker or specific provenance details. Future research regarding the watch's origin and the identity of the maker or workshop would require examination of the movement and internal case hallmarks, which are not currently detailed in the primary source material.

Evidence for this section
  • “Period 1784”
  • “Material silver (metal)”
  • “Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text”

Open research questions

  • Are there hidden maker's marks or hallmarks inside the case back that would identify the silversmith or watchmaker?
  • Can the embossed scene on the case be definitively identified through art historical analysis of Roman history motifs?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Silver Pocket Watch with Key, 1784
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MaterialSilver“silver (metal)”
Dimensions6.3 cm x 5 cm x 2.6 cm“hoogte 6,3 cm x breedte 5 cm x diepte 2,6 cm”
Museum Accession NumberBK-1980-181“BK-1980-181”
Dial FeaturesWhite enamel with Roman numerals“white enamelled dial with Roman numerals”
Included ComponentsWinding key“With key.”
Case DecorationEmbossed depiction from Roman history“embossed depiction from Roman history (?)”

Visible details

  • White enamelled dial with black Roman numerals
  • Outer ring with Arabic numerals for minutes
  • Silver case featuring embossed decorative relief
  • Includes a matching winding key

Research qualifications

  • Maker attribution is currently unrecorded
  • The embossed scene on the case is described as a depiction from Roman history with uncertainty

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

Consulted source

Watch, 1784

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record ed92885b19

Terms in this record

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

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