Featured Stellar find! 18k pocket watch with 10k Georgian? Chain!

The chain isn't stamped, it tested as 10k:

And as @Ownedbybear noted, it is American, not British. You weren't to know that spartcom lives in the US, but the use of K instead of ct is an indication, although it isn't set in stone.

 

Gold chatelaine components, like these could well be, but without the chatelaine clasp (and chains), aren't worth many thousands of pounds. After all, they are missing the chatelaine proper.

The chatelaine is named after the lady of the castle, chatelaine in French. She wore the keys to the castle and its many rooms on a clasp and chain combination. The clasp was fastened to her belt or waistband.
Later the chatelaine was used for small items like a needlecase, scissors etc.

 

Just an example, a Frisian gold chatelaine with attributes or components. The components can vary according to the owner's requirements. The chatelaine proper is the clasp with chains:



Can't find the link now, but the photo is from 'Geheugen van Nederland' (Memory of the Netherlands).

 

The watch is Swiss - ARS&F (Auguste Robert Stauffer & Fils) was registered in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1880.

The fancy vest chain might have been used by either men or women, and could date earlier or even a few years later than the watch. At left in the first pic is an empty bail, which most likely held a toggle bar that was inserted into the buttonhole of a vest, the charm or charms hanging down, and the watch tucked into a pocket...

~Cheryl

 

Good spot on the maker, Cheryl. I’m surprised it doesn’t have Swiss hallmarks.

 

https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/swisshallmarks.php

 

Thanks all for the comments! I have some other things I need to post soon. The empty bail on the left side was actually just attached to the jump ring on the bow of the watch. I took it apart for pictures

Here's the interesting part. The jump ring on the bow of the watch is impossible to take off without taking the bow off because the diameter of the metal of the bow is too thick to fit through the jump ring.

 

Please forgive me, I have a sinus headache and am barely functional, so having a hard time following the watch bow and jump ring thing, but can say that if the watch was oddly attached with the jump ring to that bail on the left, it didn't belong there. Typically, that's where a T-bar would be attached, and there's no reason for the jump ring to be on the bow, it would hang from the dog clip (your hinged and threaded form is fairly uncommon) at the lower right in your first pic.

Here is a vest chain of somewhat similar form with toggle bar present (but no charm):



https://www.etsy.com/listing/1133036867/antique-gold-filled-watch-chain-fancy?ref=cart


~Cheryl

 

get well , soon !!!

 

Chronic sinusitis here. I don't tend to get sinus headaches, but sinus crap is a misery. Feel better.

 

You deserve a rest, I hope you feel better soon.

 

Ditto.

 

Eh, another one here with a lifetime of allergy and sinus issues - feel for others afflicted. Thanks for the good thoughts (only mentioned it because I really wasn't able to concentrate), the pressure has eased up, and am thankful it didn't end up with infection getting into the roots of my teeth - that's a special kind of pain...

~Cheryl

 

We know, and sometimes it does get that bad.
I am glad you're feeling a bit better, please take good care of yourself.

 

Early and often. When it's chronic and you can't honestly tell if it's sinsuses, teeth, or an evil mix. I get bonus points for being allergic to most antibiotics. (rolleyes)