Component record · Case
Bow
VerifiedThe ring or loop, hinged to the pendant, from which a pocket watch is suspended by a chain, fob, or ribbon.
What it does
Provides the attachment point for a chain or fob, allowing the watch to be carried securely and retrieved from a pocket.
How it works
The bow is typically pivoted on a small pin through the pendant so it can swing freely, and some historical designs include a spring-loaded catch allowing the bow to be swung aside for opening a cover, or removed for case maintenance.
Because it bears the watch's suspended weight and receives ongoing contact from a chain or fob, the bow and its pendant attachment are common wear points, particularly on gold cases where the metal is comparatively soft.
Evolution
A largely unchanged design element throughout the history of pocket watches, though wristwatches dispensed with the bow in favour of a strap or bracelet attached to lugs.
Known variations
- Fixed bow
- Swing-out or spring-catch bow allowing removal
Identification for collectors
- Wear grooves or thinning at the bow, especially near the pivot, are common on well-used pocket watches and a useful sign of genuine age and use
Common failure modes
- Wear thinning or eventual breakage at the pivot
- Bow pulling loose from the pendant under strain
Photographs
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Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.
Sources & references
- Britten, F. J., Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.