III Time as Trend

Fig. 5, Williamson. A silver and paste-set verge watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1780. Photo Sotheby's 

Fig. 6, Fine English 18K gold lever and fusee antique pocket watch with compensation curb and beautiful multicolor gold dial by Robert Roskell, Liverpool, circa 1810.

Fig. 7, Fine and beautiful 18K gold, pearl and enamel ladies antique pendant watch by Patek Philippe retailed by Tiffany & Co., circa 1889.

Fig. 8, Interesting skeleton verge movement circa 1760 with a painted biblical enamel panel circa 1600 in a purpose made gilt case.

Fig. 9, Fine English 18K gold, enamel and diamond verge and fusee midsize antique watch with matching key and seal in fitted box circa 1780. 

Fig. 10, Fine continental 18K gold and painted enamel verge and fusee antique pocket watch circa 1790. 

Fig. 11, Fine, rare and beautiful 18K gold, enamel and diamond antique verge and fusee continental skull form renaissance style memento mori watch by Romilli circa 1810.

Decorations and ornateness were primarily located on the outer case where it stood available for display. There was no practical purpose to the decorations, instead rendered the watch thicker and harder to wind, but allowed a concrete claim for proprietorship and a lovely opportunity to flaunt one’s wealth. Its embellishments included elaborate engravings of designs or initials, lavish jewel arrangements illustrated by Fig. 5, scenes of painted or colored flowers-buds, crosses, birds, dogs, bucolic scenes, and more… Pocket watches made out of silver or gold were especially sought after, Fig. 6. shows an excessive placement of different colored metals that was most likely very impressive. 

Withdrawing the watch was exposing the level of wealth and taste in luxury, conspicuously invested in the aesthetic appearance of the timepiece. It was, in this sense, a personalized impression of the owner’s social status. 

Social status was an important part of the watch, but other forms of imagery lean towards a more private intention. Fig. 8-10 illustrate the various social functions a pocket watch may adopt: Fig. 8 features  a religious scene with an angel and Joseph giving cherries to Jesus, reminding the holder their social duty in daily Christian charity, A more romantic aspect is Fig. 9, where the hair of a beloved is shown fastened inside at the center, evoking the owner's loyalty for their loved one. A delicately painted bucolic scene in Fig. 10 depicts a fisherman at labor, inciting the sense of arcadia as a reminder of our role as laborers nature bestows us. Certain outer cases induce the owner to contemplate on social duties and/or virtues, such as the following watches.

A curious and popular choice of decoration, notably in the earlier periods of pocket watches, took the form of a momento mori, (skull or cross) such as in Fig. 11. The ticking clock is meant to summon the owner; a reminder that every minute they view is a precious moment closer to their final reckoning, which people at the time seem to take a fondness for. The timepiece, in its innovative form, inquired the owner to reflect on his or her day-to-day existence and virtues, channeling to more cherished depths of contemplation. The item was thus simultaneously a public proclamation for the owner’s prosperity and/or piety and a reflection of private taste.

In each of these varied-styled cases,  the owners favored the watch's appearances over its functionality.