Watch with a Girl c. 1755 - 1760

This watch was crafted by Abraham Colomby, and its dimensions are quite intimate, measuring just over three centimeters in diameter. Visually, the watch face presents a striking contrast between the pristine white background and the stark black Roman numerals, all encased within a gold and jewel-studded frame. The ornate hands, along with the decorative signature of the maker, create a sense of baroque flourish. But beyond its aesthetic appeal, this watch is also a potent symbol. Consider how time, as a construct, is both precisely measured and yet elusively abstract. The watch objectifies and commodifies time, turning it into something tangible. The jewels adorning its perimeter serve not only as decoration but also as markers of status and wealth, transforming the watch into a portable statement of social standing. Ultimately, the watch functions as a semiotic device, encoding messages about temporality, value, and identity within its meticulously crafted form.