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The Encyclopedia of Horology

London, England · c. 1580–1613

Michael Nouwen

Partially verified

Maker of catalogued clock watch, verge watch

Life & work

Michael Nouwen was a prominent horologist active in London between approximately 1580 and 1613.

Believed to be the son of a Flemish immigrant named Andrew Noway, Nouwen belonged to a family of clockmakers originally from 's Hertogenbosch in Brabant. He likely migrated to England as a refugee to escape the religious and political turmoil affecting the Low Countries during the late sixteenth century.

The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Training, contributions & innovations

  • Nouwen produced sophisticated clock watches that featured independent striking and going trains.

Documented works

  • A clock watch by Nouwen is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  • The British Museum houses an early watch by the maker dated to 1609.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

Firms, key models & movements

No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under Michael Nouwen. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • Back view of the pierced and engraved gilt-metal case with suspension ring
  • The clock watch shown with the hinged cover open to reveal the engraved gilded brass dial.

Sources & references

  1. Early English verge watch by Michael Nouwen | Science Museum Group Collection, Science Museum Group, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. Early English verge watch by Michael Nouwen, Science Museum Group, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Seventeenth-Century European Watches, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  4. The Luxury of Time: European Clocks and Watches, libmma.contentdm.oclc.org, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  5. Momentous Britain, momentousbritain.co.uk, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

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