Rare Antique Pocket Key Watch French 1800s with Painted Enamel Dial

A very rare decorative beautiful enamel cultured seed pearl, full-faced Hunter pocket watch, with OMEGA stamped on the dial circa. 1894 -1912, probably aimed at the export market. The ingenuity of the artisan enamelers behind this lavishly decorated pocket watch is what stands out the most. The enamel seems to be painted on either side with old masters—a figure of a woman in period dress on one side and the other side with a reproduction of “An Allegory of Venus and Cupid and A Triumph of Venus” by painter Agnolo Bronzino (1503-1572). The painting displays the ambivalence, eroticism, and obscure imagery that are characteristic of the Mannerist period and is exquisitely executed. When the watchmaking industry began to boom in the 19th Century, pocket watches became the must-have tool for everyday people seeking function and style. By 1894, the most discerning customers wanted to have the very best pocket watch available, and the name OMEGA was synonymous with luxury and quality. We know the dial is in the OMEGA style and not the original, but still of some beauty and age because the forerunner of OMEGA, La Generale Watch Co, was founded at La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1848 by Louis Brandt, who assembled key-wound precision pocket watches from parts supplied by local craftsmen. He sold his watches from Italy to Scandinavia by way of England, his chief market. In 1894, his two sons Louis-Paul and César developed a revolutionary in-house manufacturing and total production control system that allowed component parts to be interchangeable. Watches developed with these techniques were marketed under the OMEGA brand of La Generale Watch Co. By 1903 the success of the OMEGA brand led La Generale Watch Co to spin off the OMEGA brand as its own company, and the OMEGA Watch Co was officially founded in 1903. There are also two important periods for enamel pocket watches: the first quarter of the 1600s and the two decades from 1800 to 1820. From 1800 onward, requests started coming in from China. This era saw the emergence of pocket watches and replicas made for export, some with complicated musical movements and mechanical actions whose functions were exaggerated and made visible so that buyers could marvel at their intricacy. This is an absolutely gorgeous decorative piece and is sold on its skilful enamel paintings. Enamelling is the process of decorating metallic plates in order to turn them into works of art, which takes an exorbitant amount of time to do. The pocket watch boasts an impressively large 5 cm diameter. The pale cream off-white enamel has the Swiss OMEGA symbol with Roman numerals and is signed OMEGA 1882. The circular banding design around the face of the watch is symbolic of OMEGA pocket watches of that period. The gold gilt Hunter casing is also inscribed with the OMEGA symbol. The front and back of the pocket watch are both framed with cultured seed pearl stones throughout, adding a unique touch to this lovely pocket watch. ------------------------------ Condition Report: Very Good. The enamel is intact with no signs of any deterioration. Minor scratching inside the case. 5 cm (Diameter). Our certified British Horological Institute member watchmakers inspect each watch before shipment, including final servicing, cleaning, and polishing. ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Provenance: Private collection. From a well-known independent reputable antique...

A Rare 18CT Gold Enamel Special Grade Diamond-Set Antique Hunter Pocket Watch Signed Waltham Mass Circa. 1898 - only 8 of this model type are known to exi...

A Swiss Open-Faced 18k Gold and Enamel Pocket Watch, By Martin & Marchinville Circa. 1880 This is an exquisite rare antique enamelled wat...

While the origin of this particularly unique piece remains a mystery, the brilliance and fine craftsmanship are without question. This small 18ct jewellery pocket watch houses elaborate, decorative silver mounting and bezels. There are 6 rubies at the front and 6 old European cut diamonds at the back. The outside of this one-of-a-kind piece is adorned with blue enamel and a colourful floral decoration ringed with gold-plated leaf. The interior uses a gold-plated dial of roman numerals to tell time with excellent balance and a total weight of 36 g. Our experts date this piece to the early 1970s. The tradition of carrying around a pocket watch has been popular since at least the 14th century. It has continued well into our current era as a mark of a true gentleman. It wasn’t until after World War I that wristwatches came into fashion. Each watch has a unique design and style that speak to the craft house that produced the timepiece. There are two pocket watch styles in wide use: open-face and hinged. This piece is hinged with a protective shell equally adorned with the interior face. This piece is meant for more formal attire and most likely would not be worn on a daily occasion due to the exquisite jewellery contents. ------------------------------ Condition Report: Pristine condition with a diameter of 4 cm ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Provenance: From a private collection. ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Literature: Cf.:Barry S...

A high-quality gold hardstone cameo (Circa 1860) depicting a classical roman lady, probably a deity or Bacchante. The detail is magnificent, with intricately hand-carved hardstone coupled with fine gold wirework and beading. The blue and white ornate enamel decorative oval frame sets this Cameo apart from any we have ever seen. A truly stunning piece! Hardstone cameos are the epitome of cameo art, and their monetary value reflects this. The use of hardstones dates back to ancient Rome. Artisans in the late 18th century produced pieces with noble and powerful subjects, reflecting the revival of the art of classical Greece and Rome. By the time Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, Cameos were characterized by romanticism and femininity and a revival of subjects from classical mythology. The passion for ancient history fuelled by archaeological discoveries and written accounts of the exploits of ancient civilizations made this period ripe for revivals of ancient jewellery styles. Many Cameos were carved in the neo-classical style popular in the late 1700s and early 1800s when taste in the arts echoed the subject matter and style of the Greek and Roman masters. Neo-classical Cameos...

Rare Art Deco Gilt Guilloche Enamel Teaspoon Set in Original Leather Case Of pure 1920s extravagance with a custom rainbow of gilt, guilloche enamel...

An exceptional antique Georgian pocket watch key, made of pink gold. The pink gold key is decorated and surrounded by detailed hollow curled figures on its border which features delicate decorative engravings on both sides. For the presentation behind the glass human hair is used to create a highly detailed floral design with white accented make it look like pearls. The shrine is probably made of bone and draped with these 'pearls', overall in excellent condition. The two arrowed hearts - depicting above the shrine - are a sign of love, the love between two people. Watched by The All Seeing Eye enclosed in a triangle surrounded by a ray of light. The eye also known as the Masonic Eye or Eye of Providence, is up there as one of the most recognized Freemason symbols. On the other side a lock of hair is beautifully displayed with the initials 'JAvJ'. The presentation has been impeccably preserved beneath the glass. The Georgian watch...

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Antique Zenith 14 karat gold pocket watch, savonette. Enamel dial with Arabic numbers. Pocket watch can be wound and works. Original, very good conditi...

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Tavannes Watch Company. A silver keyless lever, open face enamel pocket watch, C1920s. Dial: A silver dial with Roman numerals, outer minute track and ...