Featured Chatelaine or Fob watch?

Don't hold me to this, but one of the nuns/nurses on Call the Midwife might have had one. I may be thinking of nurses elsewhere, but...

 

Can we watch while you try?, she asks conversationally.

Even with a swivel, it would be very awkward to read with 12 at the top. Watches designed to be read while you are looking down at them have the 12 at the bottom.

I don't really see this very dressy watch being worn on a garment with lapels, or on the job by a nurse or schoolteacher. I refer back to the photo in the earlier thread referenced above.

 

nurses watches have the dial turned 180°, don't they ?

 

Ones that are actually meant to be used by working nurses do. The term seems to have been generalized/misapplied to any small ladies watch worn dangling from a brooch. The more pedestrian nurses watches I remember did not detach from the pin & hung with 12 at the bottom.

 

I can’t help here, but I just wanted to say, that is one lovely watch pin

 

I love this. The green enamel is so beautiful.

 

Exactly, nurses' watches and other watches made to go on a pin have the 12 at the bottom and the 6 at the top.
BMRT's watch was not made to go on a pin, but on a chain of sorts. It was married with the pin. Beautiful, but not practical.

 

The bow brooch might be British, I've had some of our stuff marked like that. And some marked STERLING with full hallmarks, and some just marked silver and so it goes. I agree it's a happy marriage.

 

I know nothing on this topic.

I just know that reading an upside down clock simply isn't that difficult.

Well, not if you grew up with analog clocks.

 

There were chatelaine watches advertised in 19th-early 20th century catalogs and ads, can't recall seeing any, whether shown on regular chatelaine belt-hooks or a watch-pins, with the faces reversed, the same true of those antique pieces I've seen with original matching chatelaine or pin/brooch - my impression has been that pendant and pin watches with the faces reversed were mid-20th century or later...

~Cheryl

 

True. But, when looking down at one pinned to you, or picking up one hanging as a pendant on a chain to read it, you're less likely to throw your neck out of whack or to tangle/strangle yourself with the chain. A lady never wants to look awkward.

 

This is a very nice married couple/ The pin is definitely prior to 1906 and after 1900. I'm guessing that the watch is Swiss and probably made some years prior to the side date since it looks to be pin set. I'm also guessing that it is a low (6) jeweled watch,w which was common and quite adequate. Chatelaine appears to be any item of jewelry that was attached by chain. Remember, or note, women of earlier eras had pockets and chains were pretty much multi-sex. Many men and women wore longer chains about their necks with watches and spectacles attached. They probably were put into pockets, vests, coats, lapels, waist, etc. with the chain draping across their chests. Many watches for the lapel had upside down faces (nurses watches). That way they could be tilted up directly and read. But perhaps a person had failing eyesight, then he or she might go for a long chain in order that the watch might be read more easily at a distance.

 

This is from 1897... it seems there were options. The first watch with a standard face and the face of the third watch is turned, but it's a -90° turn, not 180°.

 

Since the swivel is a clip & watch can be removed, these could also be worn in pocket watch fashion & not look odd when used that way. You would have to wear the one with the bow brooch to your right not to be looking at it upside down again. Having 12 at the bottom makes it more versatile that way.