Watch 1690 - 1700

Curator: Isn't she lovely? This pocket watch was crafted sometime between 1690 and 1700 by Jacob Hasluck, and is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: There’s a strange solemnity to it, isn’t there? Like holding a miniature clock tower. You can practically smell the history, the polished metal whispering tales of baroque extravagance. Curator: Precisely! What fascinates me is the level of intimacy inherent in its design. These weren't just functional objects; they were portable philosophies. Just picture the watchmaker hunched over their bench, meticulously engraving each flourish into the metal. The labour, the precise movements mirroring the clock’s… mesmerizing! Editor: Speaking of labor, it really does scream exclusivity, doesn't it? It makes you wonder about the raw materials and the craftsmanship and the lives intertwined in its production. These watches weren't democratized tools; they symbolized privilege and the dawn of mechanized time for the elite. Curator: And yet, doesn't it also transcend mere utility? The engraved floral motifs around the perimeter, the detailed inner workings laid bare...It hints at humanity's inherent desire to create beauty and meaning, even in the face of inevitable transience. Imagine carrying a tiny galaxy in your pocket—each tick echoing not just seconds, but eons. Editor: You are definitely right, but there is always a trade off. Thinking about the environmental impact now, all those metals. The cost wasn’t only about labour and design; it was extracted from the Earth itself. We praise its beauty and skill while maybe glossing over what went into creating this… a material reckoning. Curator: And, if it could whisper its own tick-tock story…oh, what secrets it could reveal! To think this metal disc saw people through an entire era and has lived to show its beauty. Editor: So, as time keeps ticking, even with us just musing over it here, maybe it's the perfect time to go dig deeper into how something so lovely came to exist. We definitely don't praise our watch or even time the same way as before.