Pair-case watch

Art Historical Context

Step into the exquisite world of 17th-century British horology with this pair-case watch, around 1685–86 by master watchmaker Thomas Tompion and silmith Nathaniel Delander in London. Measuring just 2¼ inches in diameter, it features an outer case of luxurious red tortoiseshell adorned with intricate silver inlays protecting the inner silver case its champlevé dial—a technique where recessed cells in the metal are filled with enamel for vibrant, durable designs. Often featuring expressive faces (as hinted by its tags), the dial exemplifies the period's blend of functionality and ornamentation. Thomas Tompion, revered as the "Father of English Watchmaking," revolutionized timepieces with his precision engineering and innovative mechanisms, setting standards for accuracy that influenced generations. Collaborating with Delander on the casework elevated this watch to a pinnacle of decorative arts, reflecting the opulence of Restoration England under Charles II, when pocket watches became status symbols for the elite. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department (gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917), this treasure highlights horology's artistic merit—merging silversmithing, enameling, and mechanical genius into wearable jewelry that told time with elegance and flair.