A Late Victorian Gold Plated Watch Chain
Before the invention of the wrist watch, all watches would have been pocket watches, as the name implies, it would have been kept in the breast pocket. Then came the neeed to keep your watch safe from pick pockets, and so came about the watch chain. The watch chain, originally called the watch guard, was invented in the early 19th century, this would have been a short chain attatching your watch to your clothes via a t-bar and clip. As we get into the Victorian era these chains became longer and more elaborate and were a very popular piece of gentleman's jewellery, often hung with fobs, seals, coin holders and vesta cases.
This is a lovely quality, gold plated watch chain, with a decorated chain link, it is a double length chain, this can be unhooked to allow the wearer to have it as a long chain. It has a t-bar at one end, and a swivel dog hook at the other to attatch to the pocket watch.
In Very Good Condition.
Dimensions: 56cm long when open to one chain.