{"product_id":"belgica-silver-pocket-watch-niello-heraldic-caseback-24-hour-dial-c-1885","title":"Médaille d'Or Silver, Niello Heraldic Caseback, c.1890","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Belgian-market Swiss pocket watch with a hand-engraved niello enamel heraldic caseback and a rare 24-hour chapter ring - the kind of piece that rewards a second look.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProduced in Switzerland for the Belgian market under the \"Belgica\" trade name, this open-face pocket watch carries a gold medal quality claim - \"Medaille D'Or\" - engraved on its gilt dustcap alongside the jewel count: 10 Rubis. The caseback is the centrepiece: hand-engraved silver filled with black niello enamel to produce a heraldic scene of a lion rampant on a shield, surrounded by dense scrollwork and floral borders, with matching niello decoration running around the bezel. The Belgian lion in niello enamel on a Belgian-market watch is a satisfying piece of provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe white enamel dial is clean and legible, with Roman hour numerals and an outer chapter ring in red Arabic numerals running to 24 - a Continental European feature associated with railway and postal timekeeping that you rarely see at this price point. Gilt hands, a sub-seconds register at 6 o'clock, and a glass crystal complete the dial picture. The 10-jewel lever movement is marked \"DEPOSE\" (registered design) and runs reliably.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 0.800 silver case is 43mm across and in honest good condition - age-appropriate wear and light tarnish, no dents or damage. A small hairline crack on the dial at VIII\/20 is the only material fault in an otherwise attractive piece.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Belgica","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54239738167635,"sku":"PW-0005","price":350.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1080\/3121\/3907\/files\/belgica-silver-pocket-watch-c1885-front.jpg?v=1783550306","url":"https:\/\/estatecollection.nl\/products\/belgica-silver-pocket-watch-niello-heraldic-caseback-24-hour-dial-c-1885","provider":"The Estate Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}