These days, pocket watches have unfortunately largely been replaced by wristwatches and are considered to relics of a bygone era. Their gold chains used to dangle from our grandfathers’ waistcoats and wealthy ladies, such as Infanta Maria Teresa, elegantly wore them on their waist.
The invention of the pocket watch during the 16th century was directly linked to the development of the spring mechanism. The first portrayal of a pocket watch attached to clothing was in Hans Holbein the Younger’s (1497-1543) portrait of merchant Georg Giesze, made in 1530.
Over the centuries, various casing shapes were developed, including the Savonnette, the Half Savonnette and the Lépine. There were, of course, no creative limits regarding their decorative case designs. Through monograms, colorful enamel inlays and fine chasing, pocket watches could be individually fashioned whilst still being testament to top quality watchmaking.
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