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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch

Silver Verge Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This silver pocket watch is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, under accession number BK-14998. Dated to circa 1865, the timepiece features a verge escapement mechanism and a white enamelled dial. The physical housing is composed of silver, with decorative elements on the case back characterized by engine-turned surfaces alongside a central medallion that incorporates foliate ornament and tendrils. Measuring approximately 4.6 cm in diameter, the object exhibits a depth of 1.4 cm and a total height, including the bow, of 6.6 cm. While catalogued in the museum’s records as a type of wrist watch, its physical structure indicates the form of a traditional pocket timepiece. The documentation provided by the Rijksmuseum confirms the material composition and decorative techniques employed in its manufacture. Further research is required to determine potential maker attributions and specific production context beyond the institution's existing classification records.

Front view of the silver verge pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and suspension bow.
Front view of the silver verge pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and suspension bow. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-14998
Source-reported date
c. 1865
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 Construction and Aesthetics

The watch is housed in a silver case characterized by meticulous decorative work. The primary surface of the case back is finished with engine turning, a repetitive geometric pattern that provides a textured contrast to the overall form. Intersecting this mechanical finish is a central medallion containing organic design elements, specifically tendrils and foliate ornament.

The overall dimensions of the object are consistent with standard 19th-century pocket timepieces, measuring 4.6 cm in diameter and 1.4 cm in depth. The height of the case, which reaches 6.6 cm when accounting for the bow, reflects the functional requirements of its suspension, allowing it to be secured to a chain or chatelaine as was customary for this period.

Evidence for this section
  • “The case back is engine-turned with the exception of a medallion with tendrils and foliate ornament.”
  • “measurements diameter 4.6 cm x height 6.6 cm x width 4.6 cm x depth 1.4 cm.”

Dial and Escapement

The timekeeping display consists of a white enamelled dial, a finish chosen for its durability and aesthetic clarity. The dial features markers in a standard format, supporting the verge escapement housed within the case.

The specific internal arrangement of the movement remains subject to further mechanical examination to identify technical components beyond the escapement type recorded in the museum documentation.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watch of silver, with verge escapement and white enamelled dial.”
  • “verge escapement and white enamelled dial.”

Provenance and Documentation

The object is preserved by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam under the accession number BK-14998. The museum's database provides the primary technical specifications for the piece, confirming its material, dimensions, and general mechanical features. The source classifies the object as a watch within their collection, though it also notes an internal classification of 'wrist watch', a designation that appears inconsistent with the physical form shown in the archival photographs.

This documentation serves as the primary record for the watch. While the museum offers a physical description, the wider horological context, such as a specific maker or workshop origin, has not been established in the current documentation. The record remains an individual museum entry intended for reference within the Rijksmuseum's larger collection of historical objects.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-14998”
  • “Museum classification wrist watch · jewellery”

Open research questions

  • Confirm the accuracy of the 'wrist watch' classification versus the visual evidence of a pocket watch.
  • Investigate potential maker or regional origin through comparison with similar silver watches in the Rijksmuseum collection.

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Silver Verge Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Materialsilver (metal)“silver (metal)”
Techniqueengine turning“technique engine turning”
Diameter4.6 cm“diameter 4.6 cm”
Object NumberBK-14998“BK-14998”
Escapementverge“verge escapement”
Datec. 1865“c. 1865”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with Roman numerals
  • Engine-turned silver case back
  • Central decorative medallion with foliate detail
  • Bow suspension mechanism visible

Research qualifications

  • Museum classifies as a wrist watch despite the pocket watch form
  • Maker identity is currently unknown

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

Consulted source

Watch of silver, c. 1865

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record f9df9ce060

Terms in this record

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

Other verge pocket watch records