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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Watch by Moynier & Fils

Partially verified

This pocket watch, held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession number 89.2.84), is attributed to the Geneva-based firm Moynier & Fils. Recorded as dating to approximately 1825, the timepiece features a gold and enamel case, reflecting the decorative metalwork traditions of the period. The internal mechanism consists of a jeweled movement equipped with a cylinder escapement. The watch measures 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm) in diameter, with a recorded height of 1/16 inch (0.2 cm). This specimen was acquired by the museum as a gift from Joseph W. Drexel in 1889. , with a central winding aperture located on the dial. The dial itself features a machine-turned guilloché center with Roman numerals placed on a peripheral track.

Front view of the watch, showing the scalloped enamel bezel, dial with guilloché center, and blued-steel hands.
Front view of the watch, showing the scalloped enamel bezel, dial with guilloché center, and blued-steel hands. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Moynier & Fils
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
89.2.84
Source-reported date
ca. 1825
Source-reported place
Swiss, Geneva

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 Aesthetic Design

The exterior of this pocket watch is defined by its ornate enamel work and scalloped configuration. The gold case utilizes a radial design, with individual segments filled with polychrome enamel in various shades, separated by gold outlines. The circular form of the watch is echoed by the scalloped edge of the case, which continues the motif of the back onto the bezel surrounding the dial.

The dial is similarly decorated, featuring a centrally placed guilloché texture. Roman numerals are arranged around the periphery, indicated by a set of blued-steel hands.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case of gold and enamel”

Movement and Construction

The watch is powered by a jeweled movement. The primary information provided regarding the internal mechanics identifies the use of a cylinder escapement. This type of escapement was frequently employed in European watches during the early 19th century. The watch is thin, with a recorded height of 1/16 inch, indicating a focus on compact movement construction relative to the diameter of the piece.

Further technical details regarding the train or specific caliber of the movement are not specified. The attribution to Moynier & Fils suggests the watch was produced in Geneva, a center for watchmaking during this period. The watch functions as a self-contained horological object with standard key-wound mechanics.

Evidence for this section
  • “jeweled movement, with cylinder escapement”
  • “Height: 1/16 in. (0.2 cm)”

Provenance and Identification

The watch is part of the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, assigned the accession number 89.2.84. It entered the collection in 1889 as a gift from Joseph W. Drexel. The object is associated with the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department at the museum. The firm Moynier & Fils, responsible for the piece, is recorded in horological archives as active in Geneva between approximately 1825 and 1830.

The record indicates the attribution is based on museum cataloguing, though it acknowledges that the wider context of the firm's output requires further research to verify specifications. The piece is presented as a singular example within the museum's holdings, documenting a specific style of Swiss watchmaking from the first quarter of the 19th century.

Evidence for this section
  • “Museum object number 89.2.84”
  • “Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889”
  • “Firm of Moynier & Fils (recorded about 1825–30)”

Open research questions

  • What specific production volumes are associated with Moynier & Fils during the 1825-1830 period?
  • Are there similar extant examples of Moynier & Fils watches featuring this specific polychrome enamel pattern?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Watch by Moynier & Fils
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerMoynier & Fils“Watch made by Firm of Moynier & Fils”
Place of ManufactureGeneva, Switzerland“Swiss, Geneva”
Dateca. 1825“ca. 1825”
Case MaterialGold and enamel“Case of gold and enamel”
Escapement TypeCylinder escapement“cylinder escapement”
Dimensions4.4 cm diameter“Diameter: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)”
Accession Number89.2.84“89.2.84”

Visible details

  • The case exhibits a scalloped perimeter decorated with polychrome enamel in red, blue, green, and gold tones.
  • The dial features a central engine-turned guilloché pattern and blued-steel hands.
  • A winding square is visible on the dial, offset to the right of the center.

Research qualifications

  • The exact origin and full production history of the firm Moynier & Fils remain limited to general 1825–1830 recording periods.
  • The internal technical specifications beyond the type of escapement are not detailed in current museum records.

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

Consulted source

Watch by Firm of Moynier & Fils, Swiss, Geneva, ca. 1825

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 5453ba2caf

Terms in this record

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

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