Colour neo-traditional tattoo of an open pocket watch with a beaded chain above a red rose with green leaves on a forearm, with a black and grey version and a rose close-up beside it.

Enlarged with AI from a smaller original

Pocket watch and red rose on forearm

Neo-trad · Forearm · Colour · Photo

A pocket watch with a beaded chain hangs above a large red rose with green leaves, shown on a limb. The watch face has Roman numerals and red accents, and the rose has bold dark outlines with smooth shading. The collage also includes a black and grey version of the same design and a close-up of the rose, set against a teal and dark background.

Neo-trad Realism Forearm Pocket watch Clock Rose Chain Bead Leaves Roman numeral

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A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

The rain had been coming sideways across the market since seven, so by eleven only the stubborn were still trading. I was wrapping a tray of loose cufflinks when Dev Kowalski's lad came skidding under my awning, soaked to the collar, holding a pocket watch in both hands as if it might bolt. The beaded chain hung from his fingers and dripped onto my wet boots.

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The crystal was cracked across the VI and the hands had stopped at ten to four. My nan always said that was the hour people were likeliest to drop things, and I never knew whether she meant it kindly. I sat him on an upturned crate, eased the case open with my thumbnail and found the movement still ticking, faint as a moth against glass. Someone had kept it wound for a long time.

'It was my grandad's,' the boy said, watching me through the loupe. 'He used to check it outside the bakery every Saturday. Then he stopped coming, and Mum said bring it to the man with the bench, because he can fix anything.' I didn't tell him that wasn't quite true. I told him the little red stones at each hour were all still in their settings, which is more than I can say for most of the watches that come through my hands.

I replaced the crystal, set the hands by the church clock showing faintly through the drizzle, and gave it back. He held the chain up to the light, the beads swinging, and asked if it was right now. 'Near enough,' I said. Outside the rain kept on, and the watch went on with it.