Watch 1615 - 1655

This watch was made by Jaques Sermand, probably in Switzerland, out of silver and glass. The first thing to notice is the intricate ornamentation, achieved through hand-engraving. Look closely at the bezel, the hinged cover, and the dial itself. This kind of watch was a luxury object for the elite. The silver case would have been cast, then meticulously chased and engraved, requiring a goldsmith’s level of expertise. The glass covers, both on the front and back, would have been carefully ground and polished. Note the painted landscape on the dial! And of course, the watch's movement is a feat of precision engineering – requiring highly skilled labor to assemble. The value of this object, then, lies not just in its precious materials, but in the sheer amount of work involved. It is a potent symbol of wealth, and the means of production at the time. Considering such an object invites us to think about labor, class, and the history of technology.