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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Union Clock Company Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This pocket watch, manufactured by the Union Clock Company in Furtwangen, dates to approximately 1890. It is currently held within the collection of the German Clock Museum (Deutsches Uhrenmuseum). According to museum records, the physical dimensions of the object are recorded as 8.00 cm in height, 6.00 cm in width, and 2.00 cm in depth. While the museum documentation notes that only the movement is displayed, the photographic evidence provided shows the complete pocket watch assembly.

A front-facing view of a pocket watch with a white enamel dial, blue hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial.
A front-facing view of a pocket watch with a white enamel dial, blue hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial. — German Clock Museum via Europeana. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Union Clock Company
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
c. 1890
Source-reported place
Germany

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

Dial and Case Construction

It utilizes high-contrast black Arabic numerals for the primary hour track, framed by a delicate minute index ring that features small triangular markers at the five-minute increments. The presence of a recessed subsidiary seconds dial at the bottom of the main dial is clearly visible, incorporating a radial scale marked in ten-second intervals.

The case is designed with a prominent, robust circular pendant bow, allowing for attachment to a watch chain. The overall geometry of the piece suggests a larger format, consistent with the recorded 8.00 cm height, reflecting the substantial sizing frequently seen in manufacturing from the Furtwangen region during this period. The surface of the dial shows minor signs of age, specifically around the central arbor area, which may suggest historical exposure to moisture or aging of the dial substrate.

Evidence for this section
  • “Pocket watch, Union Clock Company, Furtwangen c. 1890”
  • “height: 8.00 cm, width: 6.00 cm, depth: 2.00 cm”

Museum Attribution and Provenance

The watch is formally identified as a product of the Union Clock Company based in Furtwangen, an institution of historical significance in German horology. The documentation for this specific object is maintained by the German Clock Museum, which provides the primary reference for its attribution. This institutional link provides the basis for the object's classification within the museum's digital archive.

The museum records explicitly note the maker as the Union Clock Company and assign an approximate dating of 1890 to the piece. While the museum record notes that the movement is the primary component exhibited, the object maintains its identity as a functional pocket watch. This record serves as the official entry for the specimen in the museum's collection database, ensuring it is tracked with historical accuracy.

Evidence for this section
  • “maker recorded: Union Clock Company”
  • “held by German Clock Museum, dated 1890”

Display and Technical Condition

Photographic documentation of the object demonstrates its current state, including the visual appearance of the dial, hands, and case. The blue color of the hour, minute, and second hands is apparent, a detail resulting from the heat-treatment process used to harden the steel.

The documentation indicates that for the purposes of the museum exhibition, the internal movement is displayed separately. Despite this separation in exhibition, the item is catalogued in its entirety as a pocket watch, confirming its classification as an integrated timekeeping instrument.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement only on display (Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Furtwangen)”
  • “Photograph of a collection specimen”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific metal composition of the case?
  • Does the serial number on the internal movement match the case markings?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Union Clock Company Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerUnion Clock Company“maker recorded: Union Clock Company”
Datec. 1890“Pocket watch, Union Clock Company, Furtwangen c. 1890”
LocationFurtwangen, Germany“Union Clock Company, Furtwangen”
Height8.00 cm“height: 8.00 cm”
Width6.00 cm“width: 6.00 cm”
Depth2.00 cm“depth: 2.00 cm”
CollectionGerman Clock Museum“held by German Clock Museum”

Visible details

  • White dial with black Arabic numerals
  • Blue-tempered steel hands
  • Subsidiary seconds dial at six o'clock position
  • Circular bow at the crown

Research qualifications

  • Movement visibility on display vs. complete unit in photograph
  • Unverified material composition of the watch case

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

Consulted source

Pocket watch, Union Clock Company, Furtwangen, c. 1890, Union Clock Company, 1890

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 6f808ee7db

Terms in this record

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

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