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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Hunter-case pocket watch

Swiss Yellow Gold, Pearl, and Enamel Minute Repeating Chronograph Hunter-Case Pocket Watch

Partially verified

Catalogued by Christie's, this Swiss manual keyless hunter-case pocket watch dates to circa 1900. Measuring 52 mm in diameter, the yellow gold case is embellished with enamel painting and pearls. Christie's records a white enamel dial with a fifths-of-a-second circle and a mechanical movement featuring minute repeating and chronograph complications. The closed cover displays a miniature portrait of a fair-haired woman set against a rich blue ground and framed by white seed pearls.

Exterior hunter cover featuring painted portrait miniature on blue enamel surrounded by seed pearls
Exterior hunter cover featuring painted portrait miniature on blue enamel surrounded by seed pearls — Christie’s. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
onlineonly.christies.com
Category
Pocket watch · Hunter-case pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
365
Source-reported date
circa 1900
Country
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

Identity and Attribution

This hunter-case pocket watch is catalogued by Christie's with a Swiss origin and dated circa 1900. No specific manufacturer, workshop, or individual watchmaker is recorded in the auction listing, leaving its maker unattributed in this documentation.

Christie's catalog title describes the timepiece as a yellow gold, pearl, and enamel minute repeating and chronograph pocket watch featuring a fifths-of-a-second circle.

Evidence for this section
  • “SWISS, YELLOW GOLD, PEARL AND ENAMEL MINUTE REPEATING AND CHRONOGRAPH WITH FIFTHS OF A SECOND CIRCLE HUNTER-CASE POCKET WATCH,”
  • “CIRCA: 1900”

Case Construction and Decorative Exterior

The case is catalogued with a diameter of 52 mm and constructed from yellow gold, pearl, and enamel. Direct visual observation of the closed hunter cover shows a painted miniature portrait of a woman against a royal blue guilloché enamel ground, framed by floral sprigs, with a continuous ring of seed pearls set along the outer perimeter of the bezel.

Visible case hardware includes a ribbed yellow-gold winding crown topped by a smooth circular suspension bow, a hinge on the left edge, and an actuation button or pusher on the right edge. In its condition notes, Christie's reports that decorative enamel painting is present on both sides, with very slight chipping noted to the enamel in the middle part and one seed pearl missing at 7 o'clock on the case back.

Evidence for this section
  • “CASE MATERIAL: Yellow gold, pearl and enamel”
  • “CASE DIAMETER: 52 mm.”
  • “Front cover displays a painted miniature portrait of a woman against a royal blue guilloché enamel background, framed by floral sprigs.”
  • “Outer perimeter of the bezel is set with a continuous ring of seed pearls.”
  • “Ribbed yellow-gold winding crown is topped with a smooth, circular suspension bow.”
  • “A small hinge is visible on the left edge and an actuation button or pusher on the right edge.”
  • “Both enamel painting very nice and clean. Enamel in the middle part with very slight chippings. One pearl on the case back missing at 7 o'clock.”

Reported Movement and Dial Details

The watch dial, cuvette, and internal movement are not visible in the provided exterior photograph. Christie's records the dial as white enamel, with condition notes describing it as crisp, original, and slightly dirty consistent with age.

The mechanism is recorded as a manual, keyless movement with minute repeater and chronograph functions. Christie's reported that the movement was ticking and the repeating function worked at the time of cataloguing, while noting that a service was required following prolonged lack of use.

Evidence for this section
  • “DIAL: White enamel”
  • “MOVEMENT: Manual, keyless”
  • “FUNCTIONS: Minute repeater and chronograph”
  • “Movement: The movement is ticking at the time of cataloguing, repeating is working, but a service is required as the watch has not been used in a long time.”
  • “Dial: Original, crisp. Slightly dirty, normal for the age of the watch.”

Open research questions

  • What hallmarks, case numbers, or maker marks are stamped on the interior cuvette or case lids?
  • Which movement manufacturer or ebauche supplier produced the repeating chronograph mechanism?
  • Does the reverse enamel painting depict a portrait, monogram, landscape, or other motif?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Swiss Yellow Gold, Pearl, and Enamel Minute Repeating Chronograph Hunter-Case Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Circa date1900“CIRCA: 1900”
Case materialYellow gold, pearl and enamel“CASE MATERIAL: Yellow gold, pearl and enamel”
Case diameter52 mm“CASE DIAMETER: 52 mm.”
DialWhite enamel“DIAL: White enamel”
Movement typeManual, keyless“MOVEMENT: Manual, keyless”
ComplicationsMinute repeater and chronograph“FUNCTIONS: Minute repeater and chronograph”
Case back pearl conditionOne pearl missing at 7 o'clock“One pearl on the case back missing at 7 o'clock.”
Middle enamel conditionVery slight chipping“Enamel in the middle part with very slight chippings.”
Dial condition reportReported as original, crisp, and slightly dirty“Dial: Original, crisp. Slightly dirty, normal for the age of the watch.”

Visible details

  • Front cover displays a painted miniature portrait of a woman against a royal blue guilloché enamel background, framed by floral sprigs.
  • Outer perimeter of the bezel is set with a continuous ring of seed pearls.
  • Ribbed yellow-gold winding crown is topped with a smooth, circular suspension bow.
  • A small hinge is visible on the left edge and an actuation button or pusher on the right edge.

Research qualifications

  • The watch dial, cuvette, and internal movement are not visible in the provided image.
  • No specific maker name is recorded beyond the Swiss geographic designation.

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

Consulted source

SWISS, YELLOW GOLD, PEARL AND ENAMEL MINUTE REPEATING AND CHRONOGRAPH WITH FIFTHS OF A SECOND CIRCLE HUNTER-CASE POCKET WATCH, | Christie’s

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 524f86544a

Terms in this record

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

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