Antique 18k-gold Cylinder Ladies’ Pocket Watch. France, Circa 1870

This beautiful ladies’ pocket watch was made in France around 1870 and is a refined example of 19th-century watchmaking and ornamentation. It is a delicate and functional piece, crafted in 18K gold, remarkable both for the precision of its cylinder movement and for the elegance of its design. Signed on the dust cover by watchmaker Marius Delpin à Marseille, the watch comes with its original period case and winding key, which adds significant historical and collectible value.

The white porcelain dial, pure and understated, displays stylized Roman numerals and fine Fassonzeiger-type hands, slender and elegant in design. The back cover, in guilloché-worked gold, features a Hellenistic-inspired border with geometric patterns encircling a magnificent historiated star in the center, a common symbol in decorative jewelry of the era. The horse head hallmark, visible on the pendant and the inside of the lid, is typical of French gold, guaranteeing the authenticity of the 18K alloy. Serial numbers 13444 and 32020 are also visible, along with a maker’s mark inscribed “BJ”, enhancing the traceability of the piece.

The watch is housed in a hard case lined with sky blue satin and velvet. The exterior, in black lacquer, is decorated with a refined chinoiserie scene: two figures in traditional garments walking through fields, holding fans and lanterns. This evokes the 19th-century European taste for Oriental exoticism, so prominent in decorative arts. The clasp shows signs of wear and has a visible break, but it still fulfills its protective function, preserving the watch in excellent condition.

A jewel that combines art, functionality, and distinction. Perfect as a gift for an antique enthusiast or to integrate into a collection of historical watches. It would also make a charming decorative element on a display cabinet.

Do not miss this very special piece, with over 150 years of history, still beating with precision and elegance.

Dimensions: 32.5 mm (1.28 in). Weight: 28 g.

History of Marius Delpin à Marseille

Marius Delpin was a watchmaker active in Marseille during the second half of the 19th century, a time when French watchmaking was in a period of splendor. Marseille, as a major commercial port in the Mediterranean, was a hub for cultural dissemination and luxury trade, including precision watches. The Delpin firm, although more limited in production than the major Swiss manufacturers, specialized in ladies’ watches, particularly gold-cased pieces with cylinder movements, highly appreciated for their balance between aesthetics and performance.

The cylinder escapement system, later surpassed by technical advances, was at that time a reliable and widely adopted option for elegant small-format watches, especially those aimed at a female audience. The inclusion of official hallmarks, such as the horse head used in France between 1838 and 1919 for 18K gold items, confirms the authenticity and quality of the material used in this watch.

Supplementary marks, like the “BJ” initials inside a lozenge, likely correspond to the goldsmith responsible for crafting the case, since in France it was common for the case and the movement to be produced by different workshops.

Watches like this one, accompanied by their original key and decorated case, are in high demand among collectors and investors, as they preserve not only the value of the gold but also the charm and history encapsulated in a functional work of art. In specialized auctions or among prestigious antique dealers, a piece in this condition can fetch values significantly higher than its mere gold weight, due to its decorative context and overall integrity.