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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Alarm pocket watch

Watch with Alarm by Paulus Bramer

Partially verified

This alarm pocket watch, attributed to the maker Paulus Bramer of Amsterdam, dates to the period between 1725 and 1735. It is held within the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, under the accession number BK-NM-3202. The watch features a complex casing construction, consisting of an inner silver case and an outer silver protective case. The outer case is detailed with pierced animal and plant motifs. The primary watch movement is housed in a case covered in shagreen, which is described in official records as sharkskin, further embellished with silver pins. The dial is constructed of silver and features a specific ring for the alarm function. The piece measures 5.5 cm in diameter, with additional measurements for the associated outer casings provided in the museum documentation. The watch is a representative example of 18th-century Dutch horological work, noted for its combined timekeeping and alarm capabilities.

Watch with Alarm by Paulus Bramer, showing the silver dial, alarm ring, and the protective casing.
Watch with Alarm by Paulus Bramer, showing the silver dial, alarm ring, and the protective casing. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Alarm pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Paulus Bramer
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-NM-3202
Source-reported date
c. 1725 - c. 1735
Source-reported place
Netherlands

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 Construction

The object is recorded with three distinct circular elements: an inner silver case, a secondary case covered in shagreen—identified by the museum as sharkskin—and a protective outer silver case. The outer silver case is decorated with pierced designs featuring animal and plant motifs, which provide a decorative finish while allowing for the sound of the alarm mechanism to pass through the casing.

The watch assembly is completed by a silver dial integrated with an alarm ring. The dimensions of the components vary; the main watch body measures 5.5 cm in diameter, while associated outer casings are documented at 6.3 cm and 7 cm respectively.

Evidence for this section
  • “silver outer case, pierced with animal and plant motifs”
  • “inner case ditto, silver dial with alarm ring”
  • “sharkskin, silver (metal)”
  • “diameter 5.5 cm”

Signature and Identity

The timepiece is identified by an inscription on the dial indicating the maker as Paulus Bramer of Amsterdam. The museum records classify the object within the broader categories of jewellery and pocket watches. This signature serves as the primary identifier for the object's origin within the Dutch horological context of the early 18th century.

The object is formally catalogued by the Rijksmuseum as BK-NM-3202. The museum's documentation serves as the foundation for this record, ensuring that the descriptive details and technical specifications are attributed directly to the specimen currently maintained within the institutional collection.

Evidence for this section
  • “marked: Paulus Bramer, Amsterdam.”
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-3202”
  • “Museum classification jewellery · pocket watch”

Historical Context

Dated to the approximate window of 1725 to 1735, the watch represents early 18th-century Dutch design.

The specific documentation provided by the Rijksmuseum ensures that the physical characteristics and materials are accurately preserved. Ongoing research remains necessary to place this specific piece within the wider corpus of Bramer's work and to understand how this alarm watch compares to contemporary counterparts from the Amsterdam region.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watch with Alarm, c. 1725 - c. 1735”
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-3202”
  • “Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific mechanism of the alarm function integrated into the silver dial?
  • Are there other documented horological works by Paulus Bramer that share similar pierced case designs?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Watch with Alarm by Paulus Bramer
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerPaulus Bramer“marked: Paulus Bramer, Amsterdam.”
MaterialsSharkskin and silver“sharkskin, silver (metal)”
Accession NumberBK-NM-3202“BK-NM-3202”
Date Rangec. 1725 - c. 1735“c. 1725 - c. 1735”
Measurements5.5 cm“diameter 5.5 cm”
LocationRijksmuseum, Amsterdam“The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-3202”

Visible details

  • Dial features a centrally positioned alarm indicator ring
  • Case construction includes a shagreen-covered section with silver pin accents
  • Outer silver case exhibits complex metalwork with pierced motifs
  • The watch is equipped with a pendant-mounted suspension ring

Research qualifications

  • The exact maker attribution to Paulus Bramer requires further corroboration in horological literature
  • The extent to which this specific object reflects a wider production type of the era remains unverified

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

Consulted source

Watch with Alarm, c. 1725 - c. 1735

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 4838f51e8c

Terms in this record

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

Other alarm pocket watch records