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 POCKET WATCH -waltham
$250.00 
Time Left: 2h 4m |
| VINTAGE SILVER 800 F.E.ROSKOPF SWISS POCKET WATCH
$188.50 (12 Bids) Time Left: 4h 18m |
| VINTAGE SWISS J. MAIRE CONVERSION WRIST POCKET WATCH
$9.99 (1 Bids) Time Left: 6h 59m |
| VINTAGE 1916 ELGIN CONVERSION WRIST POCKET WATCH
$9.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 7h |
| Omega Antique & Vintage Pocket Watch - Runs Great!
$229.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 7h 27m |
| Vintage ~ Swiss Landau Mechanical Pocketwatch #19nv-Run
$24.99
Time Left: 9h 26m |
| RARE VINTAGE SEIKO, SEIKOSHA PRECISION POCKET WATCH 15J
$80.99 (7 Bids) Time Left: 10h 22m |
| VINTAGE SWISS MADE LEONIDAS STOP POCKET WATCH
$39.95
Time Left: 10h 56m |
| Elegant Vintage LANCO triangular GOLD pocket watch RARE
$99.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 15h 2m |
| New 18K Gold Plated Beautiful Vintage Pocket Watch
$14.99 $29.99
Time Left: 1d 7h 18m |
| Vintage Omega pocket watch (mecanic)
$289.00
Time Left: 1d 8h 3m |
| Vintage Elgin Railroad pocket watch
$29.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 1d 10h 50m |
| Vintage Waltham gold pocket watch
$29.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 1d 11h 13m |
| Vintage Hampden gold 17 jewels pocket watch
$29.99 (0 Bids) Time Left: 1d 11h 33m |
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