A Lost Time Piece?

China: Archaeologists excavating a Ming dynasty tomb have called in experts after being baffled by a discovery of a watch ring with 'Swiss' engraved on the back.

The archaeologists are currently working a documentary with two Shangsi journalists, and are puzzled as to the origins of the timepiece. It is thought that the site had not been disturbed since its creation four centuries ago.

Watches, before their inexpensive miniaturization in the 20th century, were mostly pocket watches, which often had covers and were carried in a pocket and attached to a watch chain or watch fob. Watches evolved in the 1600s from spring powered clocks, which first appeared in the 1400s.

The Ming Dynasty, or Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644.

"When we tried to remove the soil wrapped around the coffin, a piece of rock suddenly dropped off and hit the ground with a metallic sound," said Jiang Yanyu, a former curator of the Guangxi Autonomous Region Museum.

"We picked up the object, and found it was a ring. After removing the covering soil and examining it further, we were shocked to see it was a watch."

The dig is currently suspended and awaiting experts to arrive from Beijing to help them unravel the mystery. The clock's arms last displayed 10:06 AM.