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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Autriche

Round watch entirely made of mother-of-pearl

Verified

The engine-turned gilt-brass case has a mother-of-pearl back. The annular dial, also in mother-of-pearl, has painted Roman numerals for the hours. Its open centre reveals the movement, whose bridges and main plate are pierced.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-141
Object type
Pocket watch
Place of production
Autriche
Dating
1823
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
Nacre, Laiton
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions min/max: 51 x 60 mm
Inscriptions (catalogue)
Jos. Würtl 1823 (Mouvement)

Historical significance

  • The engine-turned gilt-brass case has a mother-of-pearl back. The annular dial, also in mother-of-pearl, has painted Roman numerals for the hours. Its open centre reveals the movement, whose bridges and main plate are pierced.
  • The movement has a lever escapement. The three-armed balance, wheel train, bridges and plate are all in mother-of-pearl. The mainspring barrel is silver. The openwork plate is engraved with garlands of leaves.

Photographs

Round watch entirely made of mother-of-pearl (MIH I-141)
Round watch entirely made of mother-of-pearl (MIH I-141) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. I-141: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/35211/

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.