Antique Oversize 67mm Swiss GMT World Time 24H Pocket Watch c1890 & Bronze Stand

RARE Antique Oversize 67mm Swiss GMT World Time 24H Pocket Watch c.1890 & Luxury Bronze Elephant Desk Stand

Item specifics:

• Era: Victorian / Belle Époque (c. 1890s)

• Origin: Swiss Made

• Case Size: Oversize 67mm

• Complications: True 24-Hour Dial, Rotating World Time (GMT) Inner Disc

• Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding), 15 Jewels, Lever Escapement

• Included Accessory: Luxury bronze elephant desk display stand on a black marble base

A Masterpiece of 19th-Century Horology

Welcome to this extraordinary auction for a remarkably rare, museum-quality timepiece. Up for your consideration is a late 19th-century, oversize (67mm) Swiss pocket watch featuring a highly coveted true 24-hour dial and a rotating GMT world-time center.

To complete this magnificent presentation, the watch is accompanied by a breathtaking custom desk display: a solid bronze elephant figurine and matching watch hanger, elegantly mounted on a heavy, polished black marble base.

The Historical Context: The Birth of Global Time

In the 1880s and 1890s, the world was rapidly shrinking. The expansion of transcontinental railroads and international telegraph networks made local solar timekeeping obsolete. In 1884, the International Meridian Conference established Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) as the global standard, dividing the world into 24 time zones.

This watch is a direct, functional artifact of that exact era. Crafted for a sophisticated international traveler, diplomat, or railway executive, the rotating inner dial allowed the user to instantly calculate the time in major global hubs—from London and Paris to Tokyo and Chicago—by aligning the cities with the 24-hour track.

The Mechanics of a True 24-Hour Dial

Unlike standard watches with military time printed as an afterthought, this is a purpose-built 24-hour timepiece.

A real 24-hour dial watch only has a 24-hour notation on the dial. That means the movement has been expertly altered so that the hour hand doesn’t go 360 degrees around the dial in 12 hours, but rather completes a single rotation every 24 hours. If the hour hand points straight to the bottom, it shows exactly 12:00 hours (noon); if it points to the left, you are looking at 18:00 hours, and you’d know for sure that it was early evening.

Conventional 12-hour watches have a “motion work” involving a 12-to-1 reduction in the gear train from the minute hand. This bespoke 24-hour watch has completely different gearing, featuring a true 24-to-1 reduction. To be highly technical, the motion work is the small reduction gear train that turns the timepiece’s hour hand from the minute hand. It is attached to the going train by the friction coupling of the cannon pinion, allowing the minute and hour hands to be turned independently to set the timepiece. This intricate gearing is located on the outside of the movement’s front plate, just under the dial.

Detailed Item Specifications

The Dial & Hands 

• Pristine white enamel with a complex, three-tiered layout.

• Outer Track: 60-minute indications with striking red numerals at 5-minute intervals.

• Middle Track: The defining 1–24 hour true military/railway time track.

• Inner Disc: A manually rotatable world-time center dial detailing major global cities and their relation to “London GTM” (Greenwich Time Meridian), including New York, Rio, Tokyo,  and more.

• Hands: Exquisite, highly ornate gold-tone Louis XV-style hands.

The Case 

• Massive 67mm diameter gives it incredible presence.

• Constructed of darkened gunmetal/blued steel, beautifully contrasted by an elaborate, applied brass/bronze-tone band around the bezel and edge. This remarkable repoussé-style banding features incredibly detailed mythological dragons/beasts and floral motifs.

The Movement & Engravings 

• The inner dust cover (cuvette) is proudly stamped: “ANCRE DOUBLE PLATEAU LEVEES VISIBLES 15 Rubis” (Anchor lever escapement, visible pallets, 15 jewels)—the mark of a high-grade, accurate Swiss movement of the era.

• The inside of the case back features a beautiful, sweeping historical personalization, hand-engraved in elegant period script.

The Desk Display Stand 

• A stunning luxury display designed to transform this pocket watch into a prominent desk clock.

• Features a beautifully cast bronze elephant with rich, authentic patina , standing proudly on a sleek black marble base.

• A sturdy, matching bronze post with a top hook securely cradles the heavy oversize watch for perfect viewing.

Condition Report

This antique set is in exceptional vintage condition, exhibiting a gorgeous, honest patina commensurate with over 130 years of history. The dial is exceptionally clean with bold, legible typography. The gunmetal case shows appropriate, even wear that adds to its antique charm, while the intricate edge detailing remains remarkably crisp. The marble and bronze stand is weighty, stable, and completely intact. (Please review all high-resolution photos carefully as they form a major part of the description).

The set comes with an APPRAISAL CERTIFICATE FOR $9000

Terms & Shipping: The item will be meticulously packaged with heavy protective materials to ensure the watch, bronze, and marble arrive safely. Ships fully insured with signature confirmation required upon delivery.

Don’t miss your chance to own this breathtaking intersection of art, history, and mechanical ingenuity. Place your bid today!