Pocket watch with chatelaine

From the 16th to the mid-18th century, the ornamental character and thus the prestige value of a watch far exceeded the practical value of the technically rather immature timekeepers back then. Early watches were pieces of jewellery representing their wearers’ standing in society and demonstrating their good taste.
Watch case makers used the same crafting and decorating techniques as goldsmiths. Cases depicting Rococo-style mythological, biblical, historical or genre scenes and crafted using the repoussé and chasing techniques were particularly popular in England during the 18th century.