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.
Antique Vintage Small Pocket Watch Movement
$9.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 7h 11m |
| VINTAGE "LONGINES POCKETWATCH" PERFECT DIAL
$29.99 (1 Bids) Time Left: 1d 1h 34m |
| VINTAGE "LONGINES POCKETWATCH" PERFECT DIAL, TWO COVERS
$45.00 (4 Bids) Time Left: 1d 2h 4m |
| Vintage Men's 11 Wrist Watches 1 Elgin Pocket Watch
$11.50 (2 Bids) Time Left: 1d 2h 25m |
| Vintage large WWII MILITARY ELGIN pocket watch ... NR
$26.55 (3 Bids) Time Left: 1d 3h 49m |
| Vintage large WWII MILITARY ELGIN pocket watch ... NR
$22.51 (2 Bids) Time Left: 1d 4h 19m |
| Vintage Gotham Ollendorf Pocket Watch!
$49.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 1d 7h 25m |
| Vintage 1901 Waltham Size 16 Pocket Watch!
$49.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 1d 7h 25m |
| Vintage 1926 Elgin Size 16 Pocket Watch!
$59.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 1d 7h 25m |
| LOT Vintage Watch Pocket Bulova Elgin Seiko Timex Band
$9.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 2d 3h 7m |
| Vintage Antique Old HELVETIA SWISS Pocket Fob Watch 5
$9.99 (2 Bids) Time Left: 2d 5h 4m |
| Vintage Clinton Pocket Watch
$100.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 2d 5h 35m |
| Hamilton Pocket Watch 956 VINTAGE...Nice Condition!
$500.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 2d 5h 41m |
| vintage mens pocket watch lot CHAIN BOX papers 1894 ad
$14.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 2d 6h 16m |
| RARE VINTAGE 18k SOLID YELLOW GOLD POCKET WATCH NR !
$599.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 2d 12h 7m |
| RARE VINTAGE 18k SOLID YELLOW GOLD POCKET WATCH NR !
$499.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 2d 12h 45m |
This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 8.
All of the watch and clock listings on this page are sourced through eBay, which offers you outstanding buyer protection and security. If you are registered with eBay already, clicking on any listing that interests you will take you directly to eBay, where you can bid on or buy the item. If you aren't yet registered with eBay, you will be able to set up your free account during the checkout process.
