Pocket watch · Astronomical keyless double face world time watch with triple calendar

Swiss Double Face World Time Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This Swiss-made pocket watch, attributed to circa 1890, was produced for Henry Lewis & Co., 172 New Bond Street, London. It is an 18K gold, keyless, double-face world time watch featuring triple calendar functions and astronomical complications. The timepiece measures 55 mm in diameter. The front features a white enamel dial with Roman numerals, subsidiary dials for the day, date, and month, an inner subsidiary seconds dial, and a moon phase aperture with an age-of-the-moon border. The reverse of the watch displays a white enamel dial with seven subsidiary dials indicating time for New York, London, St. Petersburg, Calcutta, Melbourne, Vienna, and Berlin. The movement is rhodium-plated, features 'fausses cotes' decoration, and utilizes a straight-line lever escapement with a cut bimetallic balance and Breguet balance spring.

Front view of the 18K gold double-face pocket watch showing the triple calendar, moon phase, and 'The Royal Astronomer' dial branding. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category: Pocket watch · Astronomical keyless double face world time watch with triple calendar
Maker / attribution: Swiss, made for Henry Lewis & Co.
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 264
Source-reported date: circa 1890
Source-reported place: Switzerland

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 Exterior

The watch is housed in a three-piece 'bassine' gold case, which is finished with a polished surface. The construction includes a glazed back, allowing the movement to be viewed while the watch is closed. The watch is keyless in operation, featuring a winding crown at the top.

The dial on the front is white enamel. It incorporates Roman numerals for the hours and contains three subsidiary dials for displaying the days of the week, the dates, and the months. Additionally, an inner subsidiary dial is provided for the seconds, and there is a moon phase aperture with the age of the moon marked along its border.

Evidence for this section

“C. Three piece, massive, 'bassine', polished with glazed back.”
“D. White enamel on the front made for Greenwich Time with Roman numerals, subsidiary dials for the days of the week, the dates and the months with inner subsidiary seconds, moon phase aperture, the age on the border.”

Movement and World Time

The movement is a 17-jewel caliber, rhodium-plated with 'fausses cotes' decoration. It is equipped with a straight-line lever escapement, a cut bimetallic balance, and a Breguet balance spring.

The reverse of the watch features a second white enamel dial specifically designed for world time. This dial is configured with seven small subsidiary dials, each indicating the time for a specific city: New York, London, St. Petersburg, Calcutta, Melbourne, Vienna, and Berlin. The watch utilizes blued-steel 'spade' hands for the display of information on both sides.

Evidence for this section

“M. 19???, rhodium-plated, 'fausses cttes' decoration, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring.”
“White enamel on the reverse with seven small subsidiary dials giving the time for New-York, London, St. Petersburg, Calcutta, Melbourne, Vienna and Berlin.”
“Blued-steel 'spade' hands.”

Signatures and Attribution

The object is attributed to Swiss manufacture and was produced for Henry Lewis & Co., located at 172 New Bond Street, London.

The source provides a grading system assessment for the components of the watch, noting the case as 4-12, the movement as 4-5, and the dial as 3-04, classifying the overall lot as AAA Excellent.

Evidence for this section

“Swiss, made for Henry Lewis & Co., 172 New Bond Street, London, circa 1890.”
“Signed on the bezel.”
“Grading System Grade: AAA Excellent Case: 4 - 12 Movement: 4 - 5* Dial: 3 - 04”

Open research questions

What is the complete serial number of the movement, indicated as '19???' in the auction records?
What is the specific horological history or background of Henry Lewis & Co. in relation to importing complex Swiss timepieces during the 1890s?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Swiss Double Face World Time Pocket Watch
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker	Swiss, made for Henry Lewis & Co.	“Swiss, made for Henry Lewis & Co., 172 New Bond Street, London”
Date	circa 1890	“circa 1890”
Material	18K Gold	“Fine 18K gold”
Diameter	55 mm	“Diam. 55 mm.”
Escapement	Straight-line lever	“straight-line lever escapement”
Balance	Cut bimetallic	“cut bimetallic balance”
Movement decoration	Fausses cotes	“rhodium-plated, 'fausses cttes' decoration”
Functions	World time, triple calendar, moon phase	“moon phase, astronomical, keyless, double face world time watch with triple calendar”

Visible details

The dial bears the inscription 'THE ROYAL ASTRONOMER' and 'CALCUTTA TIME'.
The case is described as a three-piece 'bassine' style.
The watch features blued-steel 'spade' hands.
The watch has a glazed back revealing the movement.

Research qualifications

The movement number is listed as '19???' in the source description.
The exact nature of the 'unsigned' status of the maker beyond the retail name is not explicitly clarified.

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

Consulted source

Swiss, made for Henry Lewis & Co., 172 New Bond Street, London, circa 1890.Fine 18K gold, moon phase, astronomical, keyless, double face world time watch with triple calendar.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 07ccd2df49

Terms in this record

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