The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-12-08
DAINTY WATCHES.
Some Fascinating Articles Turned Out by
Geneva Manufacturers.

Some Fascinating Articles Turned Out by
Geneva Manufacturers.
A special correspondent of the Boston
Herald, writing from Geneva about one OF
it's celebrated matchmaking establish
ments, says;
On the lower floor Of the building there
are special consultation rooIAs, anu Ihere
is an elegant and rich decorated salon,
where among palms and ferns and fine
bronzes and marbles are shown, fresh
from the designer, rich and rare and prac
teal combinations OF precious stones and
most beautiful work in gold and silver
and enamel. Since jeweled pendent
watches, with pins, have ruled in popular
favor, side by side with them have ap
peared here brooches and earrings and
even rings designed to accompany the
watches, some in quantity beautiful re
productions of ancient works of art. Others
in graceful modern combinations
In the Grand Sala at Geneva there is
special cabinet which contains treasure
trove" of watches of all ages since watch
making began. There are watches the size
of $50 gold piece, incrusted with gradu
ated pearls and other gems, and 80 flat
that the wonder is how the works could
be made to fit them. There are watches
30 round that they might be cloak buttons,
with tiny little faces an eighth to quar-
ter of an inch across, but the works OF these
watches lie near the middle and the diam
eter there is little less than an inch. There
are watches that are actually "turnip"
shaped (hence the hoyden name Of the
watch) that weigh quite one pound and
q half, or even two pounds, and that
strike so loudly as to startle one not aware
of their immediate vicinity; these are rel
les of the days when Matchmaking was
only first out of its infancy.
There are watches with an outer case Of
oxidized silver or yellow gold in beautiful
repousse work, this case coming off like
shell and revealing an exquisite inner
watch decorated with Vatican or Louis
Quinze enamel paintings. There ure
papal jubilee watches, showing the Vati
can medal of the jubilee year, with thepor
trait and motto Of the pope In repousse on
the inverse sides. There are St. George
medal watches, made in the same way,
and there are the wonderful chronographs
and repeaters and "split second" md
striking watches of which have told you,
with another watch-one Of the most
curious Of all-that is really two watches,
each with it's own face, one for gaming
and minute timing, the other the usual
time marking watch.
The most truly practical watches for
ladies are about an inch in diameter.
People have often wondered why "a tiny
watch of perhaps three-fourths of IN inch
diameter should cost as much rs and
sometimes more than one twice its size. 1t
is because its works may be made of only
the finest material, and being 80 very
minute may be handled by only the most
expert of expert workmen, while it Is an
absolute necessity that the best movement
be used II the watch shall be durable
and therefore economic.
The balance wheels of ancient watches
are beautifully engraved and Enthusiastically
edged; it is quite fad among the ladies
travelling on this side to have them set us
brooches or sleeve buttons or clasps. !
have seen q necklace and bracelet thus
formed, and made extremely graceful by
the introduction of modern balance wheels
The ivory paints and enamelings OF
Henner's beautiful "Fabiola," 1.-THE Dis
covery Of America by Columbus" the
American republic watch, surmounted by
a golden eagle and covered half with a
blue field diamond, starred, and half by
dainty stripes of red and white enamel;
the "Louis XIV Marquise;" the "Astron.
omical Loves" busy with the telescopes
among the clouds; the dainty Vatican
scenes, pearl surrounded and the star ar
rangements of rubies and diamonds, are
among the very newest and most beautiful
Of watch designs.