Silver 0.800 Niello Pocket Watch 1925s

Silver 0.800 Niello Pocket Watch 1925s

This is an exquisite silver Niello pocket watch, dating back to the early 20th century.

DIAL: The white enamel dial has Arabic numerals, blued hands and an outer minute track and subsidiary dial at the six.

MOVEMENT: This pocket watch is fitted with a stem wound anchor lever movement and contains 17 jewels. The movement is currently in good working condition. However, we cannot guarantee the complete accuracy of any antique pocket watch.

CASE: The watch lies in a silver open face case with an all-over Niello design. The inner side of the case is and is stamped 0.800.

Signed:  Swiss made 1925s

Diameter: 49mm - Weight: 72.6g

Information about NIELLO. A form of semi-hard black enamel decoration used as a rule on silver watch cases. The design is deeply engraved and filled with an alloy of silver, lead and copper with sulphides, the case is then heated. The sulphides remain black. Niello work was in use as early as the first part of the 17th century but was more commonly found in the latter part of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The pattern is somewhat similar to marquetry inlay, the silver picking out the design. Also known as Tulla Work, from Tulla, a Russian town where the work originated.

Niello is a type of silverware decorated with engraved designs and filled with a clack compound. Care is needed when cleaning niello, as the piece will be damaged if the compound is removed. Never use a dip, but lightly clean the surface with a long-term silver polish to reveal the design.

The wonderful period of art design which led to the development of the niello period quickly passed. By 1929, the world economy was affected by the Wall Street crash, and the pocket watch market was declining quickly. Much of the decline was due to the increasing popularity of the bracelet watch or wristwatch. Hunter case watches were the first to disappear and open face cases were not far behind. All of this leads to the fact that Niello’s, a representative form of an outstanding period in design, were produced in limited numbers. We will never again see such a magnificent “niche” in the art of watch case design and decoration.

As passionate collectors and enthusiasts, we are always looking to purchase pocket watches in any condition, whether working or not, valuing their history, craftsmanship, and the unique story behind every treasured timepiece we acquire.