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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watches · Winding

Key-Wind, Key-Set Watches

Verified

Watches wound and hand-set by inserting a separate key into a square arbor accessed through the case back or a hole in the crystal/dial.

Mechanism

A watch key with a female square engages the arbor; turning it winds the mainspring directly (going barrel) or via the fusee chain. A second, smaller key square resets the hands.

Typical characteristics

  • Winding square on the barrel or fusee arbor
  • Separate setting square for the hands
  • No crown or pendant winding mechanism

Identification characteristics

  • Winding and setting squares visible under a hinged cuvette or through case-back apertures
  • Absence of a winding crown
  • Often paired with a decorative watch key on the chain

Collector significance

Dates a watch to before widespread keyless adoption and is a basic sorting criterion for early pieces.

Known variations

  • Dial-aperture key wind
  • Cuvette-covered key wind
  • Combined winding/setting key

Photographs

Vintage Elgin Open Face Pocket Watch, Size 18, G.M. Wheeler, 13 Jewels, Key Wind & Key Set, Coin Silver Case, Circa 1882 (14762667401)
Vintage Elgin Open Face Pocket Watch, Size 18, G.M. Wheeler, 13 Jewels, Key Wind & Key Set, Coin Silver Case, Circa 1882 (14762667401) — Joe Haupt from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0. Wikimedia Commons file page
Vintage Elgin Open Face Pocket Watch, Size 18, G.M. Wheeler, 13 Jewels, Key Wind & Key Set, Coin Silver Case, Circa 1882 (14765847935)
Vintage Elgin Open Face Pocket Watch, Size 18, G.M. Wheeler, 13 Jewels, Key Wind & Key Set, Coin Silver Case, Circa 1882 (14765847935) — Joe Haupt from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0. Wikimedia Commons file page
Vintage Illinois Springfield Watch Co. Pocket Watch, Currier Model, Hunter Case, Coin Silver, Key Wind & Set, 11 Jewels, Size 18 (14714708570)
Vintage Illinois Springfield Watch Co. Pocket Watch, Currier Model, Hunter Case, Coin Silver, Key Wind & Set, 11 Jewels, Size 18 (14714708570) — Joe Haupt from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0. Wikimedia Commons file page

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

Sources & references

  1. Britten, F. J., Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers

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