When I’m out antiquing, I often spend a lot of time looking at small trinkets. The urge to comb through the tiniest of treasures must have transferred from my other hobby of building and decorating dollhouses. If a large tin full of buttons looks promising, I’ll take the time to examine each one. Recently, this practice paid off. I found something that wasn’t a button at all.
It was a watch; a weird watch, similar in size to a clear glass marble. I asked the dealer how much it was. I was afraid it’d be expensive, as cool watches almost always are. The dealer had no idea it was in the button tin. In fact, she had never seen it before. “Five bucks,” she said. Then, she grabbed it and hastily twisted the little crown around. “I wish it worked.”
That wasn’t a deal breaker for me. Its unique appearance and cheap price were good enough. The dealer wrapped the piece up and I was on my way.
On the ride home, I excitedly took the watch out of its bag for closer inspection. Surprisingly, it was ticking. Not only did it work, but it was two minutes shy of the correct time! The dealer’s tinkering must have done the trick.
This little piece is akin to the steampunk fad of today. Known as a crystal ball watch for its likeness to the fortune-telling icon, it is really no more than a wrist watch in pendant form. The crystal case splits in half at its gold-plated seam for easy access to the watch works. The pendant would have been worn on a chain. While the average wrist watch has a flat opaque caseback, this has a convex crystal “skeleton” caseback, allowing us to see the works (magnified, no less). The face was made by Kent and the Swiss works were made by Elbon. Both of these companies thrived during the 1950s. The watch has seven jewels; the minimum number in terms of quality. A watch of exceptional quality might have as many as twenty-three jewels. (The typical watch has seventeen.)
Although it is just a novelty item, this crystal ball watch adds a refreshing touch of whimsy to my trinket box.
The Happiest Cow said:
I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award because you bring a smile to my face and in one way or another, you encouraged me in my beginning. You can read about what you need to do here: http://thehappiestcow.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/its-a-beautiful-day-sunshine-award/ and get a copy of the Sunshine Award picture to place on your blog.
Congratulations!!!
Mooooo
mirrorwithamemory said:
Thanks so much! I made sure to spread the word!
reesephoto said:
Another great find.
antiqueowl said:
Reblogged this on Antique Owl and commented:
Love this awesome post by Mirror with a Memory about an amazing find in amongst little trinkets, goes to show it really is worth being beady eyed. What a beautiful object!
mirrorwithamemory said:
Thanks, Antique Owl!
antiqueowl said:
My pleasure, love this post!
Tokyo Jinja said:
I have a very similar one on a chain which I wear all the time. Your blog is lovely too!
Martin Goodman said:
Beautiful! Clockwork, in all its forms, has always delighted me – especially the 17th and 18th century “Automata”.
Great Post, great blog!
mirrorwithamemory said:
Thank you very much!
Paul Ritchens said:
I have quite a few Mauretania Lucitania and Aquitania Buttons .
The tiny magnified watch is im sure pre first world war . I had one that was 1990s .
Paul Ritchens said:
I meant watch was 1890s in last post ! not 1990s …all fingers and thumbs here !