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 1926 Waltham Chased Art Deco Pocket Watch Sub
$9.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 5h 43m |
| MEN'S VINTAGE STYLE MANUAL WIND POCKET WATCH WITH FOB
$75.00 
Time Left: 6h 13m |
| Zenith Vintage Wristwatch Antique Pocket Watch Warranty
$750.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 6h 53m |
| Vintage Vetta Cronometre (chronometer) pocket watch.
$24.98 (2 Bids) Time Left: 22h 27m |
| VINTAGE E. HOWARD 14K WHITE GOLD 17J POCKET WATCH C1921
$365.00
Time Left: 1d 6h 22m |
| NEW VINTAGE ELEGANT QUARTZ MENS LADY CHAIN POCKET WATCH
$10.99
Time Left: 1d 6h 33m |
| VINTAGE 800 SILVER N POCKET WATCH 4U2FIX
$94.99
Time Left: 2d 26m |
| RARE VINTAGE 16SZ LONGINES POCKET WATCH RUNS
$199.99
Time Left: 2d 26m |
| VINTAGE RARE KEYWIND POCKET WATCH 4U2FIX
$94.99
Time Left: 2d 1h 40m |
| VINTAGE WALTHAM POCKET WATCH NICE !! RUNNING LOOK !!
$9.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 2d 4h 5m |
| VINTAGE WALTHAM POCKET WATCH 1884? !! RUNNING LOOK !!
$9.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 2d 4h 13m |
| VINTAGE ABRA POCKET WATCH 15 JEWEL !! RUNNING LOOK !!
$9.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 2d 4h 22m |
| VINTAGE MENS ELGIN NAT'L POCKET WATCH SILVER 1850-1903
$13.16 (2 Bids) Time Left: 2d 4h 26m |
| VINTAGE ILLINOIS POCKET WATCH 17 JEWEL NICE RUNNING !!
$9.99 (1 Bids) Time Left: 2d 4h 36m |
| VINTAGE ILLINOIS POCKET WATCH 17 JEWEL NICE RUNNING !!
$9.99 (1 Bids) Time Left: 2d 5h 1m |
| VINTAGE ILLINOIS POCKET WATCH 15 JEWEL NICE RUNNING !!
$9.99 (1 Bids) Time Left: 2d 5h 8m |
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