Antique French Memento Mori Skull Ring Watch c1890 Hidden Poison Container

Offered for your consideration is a remarkable and exceedingly rare antique Memento Mori ring watch, dating to the late Victorian era (circa 1890s). This exceptional piece perfectly encapsulates the 19th-century fascination with the macabre and the esoteric, combining precision horology with a secretive architectural design. Often referred to historically as “poison rings,” pieces featuring concealed compartments were utilized to discreetly carry mementos, solid perfumes, or historically, toxic powders. The incorporation of a fully functioning timepiece with a sculpted skull acts as a potent Memento Mori—a constant reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of mortality.

Detailed Specifications & Condition Report

The Ring & Hidden Compartment

• Sizing & Foundation: The ring is sized at a US 6. The heavy shank is beautifully textured and serves as the structural base for the watch.

• The Secret Locket: The entire watch case operates as a hinged lid. By releasing a delicate, hinged locking latch on the side of the shank, the watch swings upward to reveal a deeply recessed, rectangular hidden compartment crafted into the ring’s base.

The Case & Skull Crown

• Materials & Engravings: The watch case and ring foundation are crafted from high-quality 18k gold-plated silver (vermeil). The exterior of the watch case is meticulously hand-engraved with elegant floral and scroll motifs, showcasing exceptional period craftsmanship.

• The Crown: Serving as the focal point of the Memento Mori theme, the winding crown is cast as a highly detailed, three-dimensional skull, perfectly integrated into the watch mechanism.

• Markings: The polished interior case back is cleanly stamped with the serial number “166090”.

The Dial & Hands

• Dial Surface: The watch features a beautifully preserved white enamel dial.

• Timekeeping: Hours are marked by crisp black Roman numerals, surrounded by an outer minute track composed of delicate gold dot indices.

• Hands: Time is indicated by a set of ornate, gold-tone antique filigree hands.

The Movement

• Mechanics: Protecting the movement is an inner dust cover (cuvette) elegantly engraved with “Cylindre 10 Rubis”, noting its cylinder escapement and 10-jewel construction.

• Architecture: The antique mechanical movement features classic bridge architecture with exposed gears and a polished balance wheel.

• Operating Condition: This miniature marvel of Victorian engineering remains in excellent working order, winding smoothly via the skull crown and maintaining time.

This antique presentation timepiece and secret locket ring is a functioning piece of history and is sold exactly as photographed. Please review all high-resolution images carefully, as they form a definitive part of the description.