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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · La Chaux-de-Fonds

The bezel of the very heavy nickel silver case may be opened to set the hands manually

Verified

The white enamel dial has large painted Roman numerals for the hours and very robust brass hands. The minute hand is fitted with a counterpoise to facilitate setting the time.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-375
Object type
Pocket watch
Place of production
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Dating
c. 1867
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
maillechort, émail, laiton
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions min/max: 51 x 60 mm
Inscriptions (catalogue)
Roskopf Patent autour d'une étoile à cinq branches (Boîtier)

Historical significance

  • The white enamel dial has large painted Roman numerals for the hours and very robust brass hands. The minute hand is fitted with a counterpoise to facilitate setting the time.
  • The brass movement, based on new techniques introduced by G.F. Roskopf, has a pin-pallet escapement. To prevent breaking or overwinding, a slip-spring has been added to the mainspring.
  • The “proletarian” watch was made by G.-F. Roskopf for the working classes. This particular example is one of the first to have been manufactured in his workshops. It was sent on 10 August 1867 to Mr. J.-G. Rieckel, a banker in La Chaux-de-Fonds, together with a letter from Roskopf: "Now that the work on the small workman’s or proletarian watch has finally reached the point when we can partly fill some of the most urgent orders, I have hastened to present you with the second of those that I am delivering to La Chaux-de-Fonds..."

Photographs

The bezel of the very heavy nickel silver case may be opened to set the hands manually (MIH I-375)
The bezel of the very heavy nickel silver case may be opened to set the hands manually (MIH I-375) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
The bezel of the very heavy nickel silver case may be opened to set the hands manually (MIH I-375)
The bezel of the very heavy nickel silver case may be opened to set the hands manually (MIH I-375) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
The bezel of the very heavy nickel silver case may be opened to set the hands manually (MIH I-375)
The bezel of the very heavy nickel silver case may be opened to set the hands manually (MIH I-375) — 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-375: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/39521/

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