Pocket watches need special care
The first reference to a pocket watch is found in a letter written by Italian clockmaker Bartholomew Manfredi in 1462. By 1510, pocket watches were being manufactured in Nuremberg, Germany by a master locksmith named Peter Henlein. The manufacture of these watches spread across Europe during the 16th century.
These watches are of two types. The lepine has a winding stem that is in line with the seconds-marking dial on the face of the watch. The savonette watch has a winding stem that is at right angles to the direction of the seconds dial, on the face of the watch.
A lepine’s winding stem is commonly found at the 12 ‘o’ clock position and points straight up. The winding stem of the savonette is usually found at the 3 ‘o’ clock position and points to the right.
A savonette watch usually has a “consular�, or “hunter� face, with a hinged lid over the face. A consular watch case has a lid on the back also, to allow the movement to be removed. A lepine watch has an open face with a scratch-resistant crystal.
