Antique Timepiece Drop Spindle No.251 - Circa 1900 Swiss Hand Painted Enamel Watch Dial - Free Shipping (US)

Antique Timepiece Drop Spindle No.250: One-of-a-Kind and a Rare Find - Circa 1900 Switzerland - Hand Painted Porcelain enamel Pocket Watch Dial

WEIGHT: 1.7 ounce (51 grams), WHORL: 2.25 (57mm) dia., SHAFT: - Smaller .105 (2.6mm) dia. Steel Shaft x 8.4" (21.3cm) long in Metallic Enchanted Lilac

Made from 92 Individual Pieces - featuring a rare find with this circa 1900 Swiss porcelain enamel pocket watch dial with delicate hand painted floral features and a two tone (light rose and white) background that survived beyond its gold case being scrapped for its metals value. The dial has been adorned with a period correct balance wheel and drive wheels over the second hand recess - then coated in two thick layers of epoxy resin and mounted to a 2.25" x 1/8" acrylic disc with a recessed groove on the back-side for an antique brass plated alloy ring (for rim weight), a vintage brass clock gear, and my favorite sun and moon print that's protected by a thick layer of epoxy resin. The spindle whorl is finished off with a crystal spacer, gold plated and stainless steel findings, and 72 Swarovski and Preciosa Czech crystal rhinestones. The shaft is made from high carbon (spring) steel with a heat forged hook that has a 2-part powder coat paint (in black gold) finish applied for a beautiful look and feel. All components are assembled with an industrial 2-part epoxy glue.

This is a medium to heavy weight drop spindle with good rim weight and a very well balanced spin - perfect for spinning long staple, coarser fibers, and art yarn, as well as plying fine singles.

SWISS MADE WATCHES: The Swiss became dominant watchmakers following the religious upheavals of the early 16th century when wars forced civilians to become refugees and flee across the European continent. Some of these refugees moved to Switzerland, especially Geneva and took their watchmaking expertise with them. Of note, French Huguenots fled persecution in France and brought with them their watchmaking knowledge and a ban on gold jewelry in the city of Geneva, Switzerland drove the goldsmiths and jewelers to turn to watchmaking as an alternative instead of escaping the city.  Unlike gold jewelry, watches were not banned and resulted in a lucrative market for the jewelers. The Swiss watch industry greatly expanded from these circumstances and thus the Swiss industry was born.

A wide variety of Swiss (analog watch – Circa 1600 - 1950) watch movements were made from the ornately hand carved and pierced gilt brass movements to less decorated and utilitarian brass and nickel plated alloy movements. Dials were also made in a very wide variety of designs - including fancy silver and gold alloys with ornate carvings, full color/hand painted polychrome works of art on porcelain enamel, common white and colored porcelain enamel dials with hand painted and silkscreen printed numerals and markings, and more basic plated base metal dials.

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- Hand crafted in Tucson, AZ, by John Galen Gudenkauf (owner/artist) with US and Global Materials.