Pair cased .
What's a Pair-Cased Pocket Watch?
No, it doesn't mean the watch comes as a pair!
A pair-cased pocket watch is simply a watch with two cases. The inner case holds and protects the movement, while the outer case acts as a removable protective cover.
Why go to all that trouble?
Because in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, life was hard on pocket watches. They were carried in pockets alongside coins, keys and anything else that happened to be there. The outer case took the knocks, scratches and dents, while the inner case kept the delicate movement safe.
Think of it as the eighteenth-century equivalent of putting a modern smartphone inside a protective case.
Many outer cases were beautifully decorated, made from silver, gold, tortoiseshell or shagreen, while the inner case remained more practical. Over the years, outer cases often wore out or were replaced, so finding a watch that still has its original pair of cases is always a bonus for collectors.
Sometimes, the best things really do come in pairs.
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