Watch Pendants

The origins of the watch pendant dates to the days of Jean Adrien Phillipe, a Swiss gentleman who was known for his remarkable contributions to watch precision technology. Phillipe also developed the pendant watch, which by the end of the 19th century had escalated to one of the most popular watch types among women. So intense was the demand for such watches that even American watch companies began manufacturing them.

From the late 19th- into the 20th century, watch pendants assumed varying levels of decoration and luxury. Some were simply plated with a precious metal to give an air of elegance, while others were encased in elaborate enamelwork or encrusted with gems. Regardless of ornateness, however, these pendant watches reflect a true piece of fashion history.

Quick Facts:

• Jean Adrien Phillipe went on to be co-founder of Patek Phillipe & Company, which began watch production under this name around the midpoint of the 19th century
• Phillipe also published a book on his inventions, entitled “Les montres sans clef,” or “Watches Without Keys,” in 1863
• Some of the more unique pendant watches are those that come with a locket enclosure, such that the inside of the watch case allows for an image to be hidden away and revealed only when flipped open by the wearer