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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

Titanic victim Robert Douglas Norman's open-face gold pocket watch

Partially verified

This open-face pocket watch is cased in 18-carat yellow gold and hallmarked for London in 1874/1875 with the incuse makers' mark of Richard James Oliver and John Evan Edwards. The white enamel dial features Roman numerals, an outer minute circle, and a recessed subsidiary seconds dial beneath a convex bullseye glass. The museum records that the watch belonged to second-class passenger Robert Douglas Norman, who perished in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912. It was recovered from the sea with his body by the vessel Mackay-Bennett, with the rusted hands stopped at approximately seven minutes past three.

Front view of gold open-face pocket watch with water-stained dial and rusted hands
Front view of gold open-face pocket watch with water-stained dial and rusted hands — National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.rmg.co.uk
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Richard James Oliver & John Evan Edwards
Reference
ZBA0004
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
circa 1874
Source-reported place
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
2730

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

Construction and Exterior

The watch is housed in an 18-carat yellow gold, open-face case featuring a milled band and engine-turned decoration on the back, which includes a central belt and buckle motif surrounding an uncut cartouche. It is fitted with a convex bullseye glass and a plain bulbous pendant with a push-piece. A cameo stamp mark, 'T.', is present on the pendant.

The case bears London hallmarks for 1874/1875, the serial number '2730', and an incuse maker's stamp reading 'RO' over 'JE'. Internal markings include '24.10.11 S.E.C.' and 'X.10.11.B'.

Evidence for this section
  • “The open-face case is 18 carat yellow gold with a milled band and engine-turned decoration on the back, with a central belt and buckle motif around an uncut cartouche.”
  • “The watch is hallmarked London 1874/1875 with incuse makers' stamp 'RO' over 'JE' and '2730'.”
  • “The inside of the case is marked '24.10.11 S.E.C.' and 'X.10.11.B'.”

Dial and Mechanism

The watch displays a flat, three-piece white enamel dial with Roman numerals and an outer minute circle. A recessed subsidiary seconds dial is located at the 6 o'clock position, featuring a seconds circle and Arabic numerals at ten-second intervals. The watch retains gold spade and poker hands.

The internal movement is inaccessible due to extensive corrosion. Museum documentation describes the mechanism as a probable 30-hour duration, single train, gilt brass, three-quarter plate movement equipped with a ratchet-tooth lever escapement.

Evidence for this section
  • “There is a flat white enamel three-piece dial with Roman hour numerals and minute circle.”
  • “The centre is recessed with a subsidiary seconds dial with Arabic ten seconds numerals and a seconds circle.”
  • “The watch has gold spade and poker hands.”
  • “Due to extensive rusting it is not possible to access the movement, but it is probably 30-hour duration”

Provenance and Recovery

The watch belonged to second-class passenger Robert Douglas Norman, who died during the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. The item was recovered from his clothing by the vessel 'Mackay-Bennett'.

The hands of the watch are fixed at seven minutes past three due to rust. The museum notes that the time displayed suggests the watch had not been set to the ship's local time at the time of the sinking.

Evidence for this section
  • “This watch belonged to Robert Douglas Norman who perished in the Titanic disaster on the morning of April 15, 1912.”
  • “This gold-cased watch was found among his clothing when his body was recovered from the sea by the vessel 'Mackay-Bennett'.”
  • “The rusted watch hands still show the time the watch was reading when he entered the water; seven minutes past three.”

Open research questions

  • What is the historical significance of the interior case markings '24.10.11 S.E.C.' and 'X.10.11.B'?
  • Does the 'T.' cameo stamp on the pendant indicate a specific manufacturer or retailer?
  • Are the movement specifications considered definitive or are they strictly based on visual inspection of the accessible components?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Titanic victim Robert Douglas Norman's open-face gold pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case HallmarkLondon 1874/1875“The watch is hallmarked London 1874/1875”
Case Material18 carat yellow gold“The open-face case is 18 carat yellow gold with a milled band”
Associated PassengerRobert Douglas Norman“This watch belonged to Robert Douglas Norman who perished in the Titanic disaster”
Recovery VesselMackay-Bennett“recovered from the sea by the vessel 'Mackay-Bennett'”
Museum IdentifierZBA0004“ID: ZBA0004”
Museum Inventory IDZBA0004“ID: ZBA0004”
Physical Dimensions16 x 54.5 x 46 mm“Measurements: Overall: 16 x 54.5 x 46 mm”

Visible details

  • Severe brown water staining and rust discoloration across the dial under the crystal
  • Gold spade and poker hands pointing to roughly seven minutes past three
  • Prominent spherical pendant and push-piece at the 12 o'clock position
  • Visible subsidiary seconds track at 6 o'clock

Research qualifications

  • Internal movement is inaccessible due to extensive corrosion; movement specifications stated in the museum record are probable conjectures
  • Back of the case, engine-turned decoration, and interior hallmarks are not visible in the front-facing photograph

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

Consulted source

Watch | Royal Museums Greenwich

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Record 43ec335bd2

Terms in this record

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

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