These watches were about 8 centimetres (less than 3inches) in diameter.The movement (workings) were of iron and the case was of gilt or silver.
This is a late Tudor watch when lids became hinged and decorated. It was also pierced to show the numbers on the dial.
There was no glass on a watch at this time.
There was often only a stubby hour hand, although this example has a minute hand as well.
The time is shown on a 24 hour dial. The hour hand rotated once in 12 hours. Then the watch needed rewinding. The dial is marked I to XII and the numbers 13 to 24 are written in Arabic underneath.
Little raised knobs at the hour points enabled the time to be felt in the dark.