Watch 1685 - 1705

This is a silver watch, two inches in diameter, crafted by Richard Colston, a London clockmaker active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The watch's design reflects a society increasingly preoccupied with measuring and managing time. In an era of expanding trade and nascent industrialization, punctuality became a virtue, a sign of diligence and trustworthiness. Timepieces like this weren't merely functional objects; they were symbols of status and social position. Ownership marked one as a person of means, someone who valued efficiency and order. But beyond its immediate context, this watch also embodies broader shifts in European thought. As scientific inquiry gained traction, there was a growing emphasis on empirical observation and mathematical precision. The very act of quantifying time speaks to a desire to impose structure and predictability onto the world. To understand the watch fully, we might consult trade directories, guild records, and probate inventories. These kinds of resources can reveal how such objects functioned within the social and economic networks of their time.