A Watch Cock Brooch - 19th Century recycling of an18th Century Watch Part

Here we have a beautiful, rare, one of a kind brooch pin. It is a form of early 19th Century recycling.  The watch cock is part of the internal movement of a Verge Fusee clock or pocket watch. Individual watchmakers took great care to cut and engrave these parts. Along the way these timepieces got broken. Pocket watches often had precious metal cases which were sent to scrap but some enterprising jewellers discovered that the internal workings were beautiful works of art in their own right, sometimes already set with real gems such as old cut diamonds and sapphires as part of their structure. So they saved these panels by turning them into wearable jewellery, namely brooches, pins, earring, necklaces and bracelets. The Victorian love of novelty ensured these things were worn with pride. There was even a specialist shop called Cameo Corner in London which retailed such pieces. They were dubbed “inspiration jewellery”. This particular pin , which I believe to have been made into a brooch in the Victorian era, has a grotesque face etched on it, somewhat like a “Green Man” and one of the photos shows this little man in detail.  I think the watchcock once was within  a Georgian pocketwatch because of the designs on it.  There are floral and curled etched and cut decorations. The circular panel also has pierced work which would have been created by cutting and filing by hand.

Offered in great order this Antique pin is robust enough to be worn, with its long functional pin and naive “c” closure. It would be a super addition to a collection of unusual 18th/19th Century costume jewellery - a real conversation piece. The brooch pin measures 3.5cm by a fraction over 2cm.

JEWELLERY DETAILS

Designer or Brand: No, this is a 'one off'

Country of Origin: UK

Condition: Very Good

Decade:  1890s brooch constructed from 18th Century piece

Era: Antique

Type: Brooch

Material: Gilded Steel