Willem V en Wilhelmina van Pruisen, prins en prinses van Oranje-Nassau 1787

This silver watch key by Johannes le Francq van Berkhey, currently held at the Rijksmuseum, presents Willem V and Wilhelmina van Pruisen, Prince and Princess of Orange-Nassau. The piece prominently features an anchor, a symbol that has navigated through the tides of time and culture. Initially, the anchor was used by early Christians, symbolizing hope and steadfastness in faith, subtly marking their presence in a world often hostile to their beliefs. As centuries passed, the anchor evolved, becoming a secular emblem of stability, security, and a safe return home. Here, the anchor's inclusion on a watch key, an object intimately connected with time, suggests a deeper reflection on the enduring nature of the Orange-Nassau lineage. It speaks to a desire for their reign to be seen as a source of constancy. The symbol stirs something primal within us—a longing for permanence in an ever-changing world. Indeed, the anchor reminds us of the cyclical dance between the past and the present, ever resurfacing.