Watch 1785 - 1795

This gold and pearl watch, made by Wetherell & Janaway, presents a study in contrasts and contained space. The bright white face is framed by the warm, reflective gold, drawing the eye into its circular form. Each pearl, uniform in size and softly luminescent, creates a delicate, tactile border. It begs the question: does this ornamentation merely adorn, or does it function as a commentary on the preciousness of time itself? The clean, spare numerals and hands suggest the influence of Enlightenment ideals, where reason and order reigned supreme. The watch's construction embodies a structuralist pursuit of perfect time measurement, each component working in concert to achieve its function. Consider how the semiotics of the watch—its shape, materials, and function—speak to broader cultural values. This piece invites us to consider the relationship between time, value, and the objects we create to measure our lives.