Precious clock in an amethyst cross returns to Vienna – a work of art!

Precious clock in an amethyst cross returns to Vienna – a work of art!

A significant return to the Vienna Museum was celebrated on June 18, 2025. The valuable watch in the amethyst cross, which was lost in the Second World War, was brought back to the watch museum by the British watch collector Simon Bull. This clock, a masterpiece by the clockmaker Christoph Schöner, was made in 1681 as a wedding gift for his wife Anna Barbara Greiner. It combines the noble material silver, which stands for purity, and amethyst, which symbolizes eternal hope and promise, and measures 59 millimeters in length, 34 millimeters in width and 22 millimeters in depth.

The clock from the collection of the Austrian writer Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach is a highlight of the Vienna Watch Museum. In 1870, this treasure was added to Ebner-Eschenbach's private collection and, after her death in 1916, was given the inventory number U 322 in the Watch Museum. As kurier.at reports, the clock turned out to be an important part of the collection, which was moved away during the Second World War but was considered lost after the war.

Rediscovery and return

The watch's story took a surprising turn in 2023 when Simon Bull acquired it and investigated its origins. Confirming that it came from Ebner-Eschenbach's collection, he traveled to Vienna to return the watch to the Watch Museum. City Councilor for Culture Veronica Kaup-Hasler described the return as an “unexpected happy ending”. This not only illustrates the cultural value of the clock, but also the importance of returning lost art treasures.

The clock in the amethyst cross has an exceptional workmanship: the case is made of fire-gilt brass and is glazed with amethyst on both the front and back. The dial is made of matt silver. This attention to detail and Christoph Schöner's craftsmanship underline the historical value of this exhibit.

A legacy worth preserving

A large part of the collection of the Watch Museum in Vienna comes from the private collections of Rudolf Kaftan and Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, from which a large number of remarkable pieces emerge. The clock in the amethyst cross is not only a collector's item, but also a symbol of the rich cultural heritage preserved in Vienna.

The clock is now on display in the Clock Museum (1010 Vienna, Schulhof 2) and can be viewed by interested visitors. The return of the clock represents not only an important moment for the museum, but also for Vienna's cultural history as a whole. As ots.at highlights, the rediscovery of such artifacts remains essential to keeping the region's history and cultural heritage alive.