Watch

Maker: Watchmaker: Charles Bobinet (Swiss, 1610–1678)

Date: probably ca. 1655–60

Culture: Swiss, Geneva

Medium: Case: agate with enameled golt mounts; Dial: white enamel with gold hand; Movement: gilded brass and partly blued steel

Dimensions: Diameter (case): 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm); Diameter: 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm)

Classification: Horology

Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917

Accession Number: 17.190.1617

Description

Rock crystal was not the only mineral used for making watchcases in Geneva, and Charles Bobinet was noted for supplying movements for cases made of various kinds of hardstone. The cases often exploited patterns in the stone, as in this example. Equally effective is the pristine white enamel dial, clearly calibrated to show fifteen-minute intervals indicated by the single hand. These dials were derived from the dials of the watches with enameled cases originally developed in France.

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