Antique Pocket Watchs and
Vintage Pocket Watches
Up until the last part of the 17th century there were no truly personal, portable timepieces. However, with the development of the balance spring, or hairspring, watches that could count minutes as well as hours became feasible. Plain and sturdy English watches were the norm. Pocket watches were not even produced in the United States until 1809, and broader manufacturing did not happen until the 1850s.
Cases were designed to protect pocket watch movements, but were often very ornamental as well. Some early pocket watches had two cases, which gave more protection to the movements. These were called pair-cases watches. Enameled watch cases were produced in Switzerland and were especially popular in the late 18th century. Novelty watches became fashionable in the 19th century and brought together the art of the jeweler and the craftsmanship of the watchmaker. More affordable, and more common, were open-face watches, with no cover over the glass, made of gold or silver.
Prior to the Civil War, most watches were wound with a key. In the 1860s keyless winding became more common. From the mid-nineteenth century until the 1950s, the Chicago and Boston areas were centers for the mass production of American mass-produced watches.
Railroad watches developed as a result of a series of terrible railroad accidents. Engineers and conductors required highly accurate timepieces. At the same time, they had to be inexpensive enough for engineers and conductors. The railroad watch was the result, what has been called "an affordable triumph of accuracy." By the late 19th century railroad watches had become popular with the general public, their accuracy being a key selling point. Waltham and Elgin were among the biggest and best manufacturers.
If you'd like to see appraisals of old pocket watches on Antiques Roadshow, click here.
If you'd like to see appraisals of old pocket watches on Antiques Roadshow, click here.
Vintage Non-Working Open Face Sterling Pendant Pocket Watch Complete Goldplated
$16.49 (3 Bids) Time Left: 28m |
| New Mens Classical Stylish Vintage Silver Case Man endant Quartz Pocket Watch UK
$17.36 (0 Bids) Time Left: 1h 14m |
| IWC L. Schwartz 14k Yellow Gold Vintage Pocket Watch
$1,795.00 
Time Left: 3h 10m |
| lot of 24 vintage wrist watches casio quartz seiko pocket watch.NR
$20.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 3h 58m |
| Gold Filled Ornately Engraved Vintage Manual Wind Stowa Pocket Watch ~ 25mm
$12.93 (4 Bids) Time Left: 4h 57m |
| Nixon "Vintage" Watch "The Pocket Rocket 2" Pocket watch. Black and Red Face
$39.99 (1 Bids) Time Left: 5h 18m |
| VINTAGE POCKET WATCH E. HOWARD 12s O F RARE 21-JEWEL MVT ADJ 5-POS. THIN GF CASE
$160.00 $177.00
Time Left: 9h 1m |
| Vintage WALTHAM pocket watch movement
$60.00 $120.00
Time Left: 17h 13m |
| Vintage AMERICAN WALTHAM pocket watch movement
$40.00 $80.00
Time Left: 17h 14m |
| Vintage pocket watch movement
$40.00 $80.00
Time Left: 17h 14m |
| Vintage pocket watch movement
$85.00 $120.00
Time Left: 17h 14m |
| VERY RARE VINTAGE SOVIET "MOLNIJA" POCKET WATCH "ORDER OF VICTORY" USSR
$10.49 (2 Bids) Time Left: 18h 8m |
| UK New Vintage Fob Silver Stainles Steel Quartz Chain Pendant Pocket Watch Gift
$15.78 (0 Bids) Time Left: 22h 22m |
| Vintage MOERIS pocket watch - silver 900 - hunter
$180.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 22h 29m |
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