Buying the Perfect Pocket Watch: The Definitive Guide

Buying the Perfect Pocket Watch: The Definitive Guide

 

Whether you are a collector of timepieces, or you are simply looking for a classic, old-fashioned look, there is nothing better than a pocket watch to satisfy your needs. Pocket watches have a very long and rich history, and although they are not as mainstream today as they have been in the past, their influence and presence are still very much apparent.

 

The earliest reference to pocket watches dates back to the fifteenth century, though they weren't readily made available to the public until early in the sixteenth century. It was during the sixteenth century that pocket watches quickly become a common accessory for the wealthiest of families in Europe.

Swiss Stainless Steel Pocket Watch

 

By the eighteenth century, pocket watches became more common. They were no longer considered to be luxury items only intended for Europe's wealthy families. Pocket watches didn't make their way to the United States until early in the nineteenth century. It was in the United States that first pocket watch to use standardized parts was manufactured.

 

For roughly the first hundred years, pocket watches only displayed the hour. The watches were also very susceptible to wear and tear due to the lack of protection present for the contacting surfaces. While the minute hand was eventually introduced, pocket watches were generally highly inaccurate due to excessive and unpreventable wear. Improvements were eventually made in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that made pocket watches incredibly accurate.

 

While watches were first hand-made, the standardization of parts and streamlining of manufacturing in the nineteenth century made it possibly for watchmakers to mass-produce pocket watches.

 

Pocket watches became an essential item with the rise of the railroad industry in the nineteenth century. They were used to prevent train wrecks, and to ensure that train schedules ran according to plan. Their role in ensuring that the railroads ran smoothly led to various standards being adopted so as to ensure that pocket watches were well made.

 

As wristwatches became more common, pocket watches declined in popularity following the First World War. While they have made a few small resurgences into the mainstream market, they have not been able to overcome the sheer dominance of wristwatches. With that said, their influence in design and use is more apparent today than ever.

 

Cell phones are widely used today in the same fashion that pocket watches have been used throughout history. Like pocket watches, cell phones are often kept in the pocket, and in some cases, have replaced wristwatches for time-telling purposes.

 

With respect to pocket watches, both new and old, there are two common styles that serve as the base of most manufactured models. These two styles are known as the open-face pocket watch, and the hunter-case pocket watch. Neither style is more common than the other, though hunter-case pocket watches are generally better protected.

 

Open-face watches are typically not as well protected as their hunter-case watch counterparts. They do not have a metal cover than can be used to protect the crystal and watch face. The open-face style generally has its winding stem at twelve o'clock, and a second sub-dial at six o'clock.

 

The hunter-case pocket watch style features a cover made of metal that protects the watch-dial and crystal. The cover helps prevent any kind of damage that may be incurred as a result of dust, debris, and scratches to the dial and crystal. The cover is typically attached through a spring-hinge. Depending on the style of the hunter-case watch, the hinge may be found at the seven o'clock position or twelve o'clock position. The sub-second dial also varies in position between the three o'clock position and the six o'clock position.

 

There are variations of both the open-face watches and hunter-case watches that are also available. These variations are often referred to as the sidewinder and the half-hunter, and are usually hybrids between the two distinct styles.

 

If you are considering buying a pocket watch, there are a few items that you should consider to ensure that you are making the ideal purchase to satisfy your needs. While pocket watches aren't nearly as common as they were a hundred years ago, there are still many designs and models to choose from.

 

The first thing that you should do when searching for a pocket watch is to determine what general style you would best prefer. If you were looking for a watch for everyday use, a hunter-case pocket watch would be the best choice due to its durability. However, for minimal, formal event usage, an open watch may be the best choice due to its more luxurious look. You should also consider as to whether you would prefer your pocket watch to come with a chain for display purposes. Lastly, you'll want to think about whether or not you'd want the pocket watch to be engraved.

 

While pocket watches may not be nearly as common as they once were in the past, they still serve as great collectors items and gifts. The pocket watch is the perfect accessory for a classic and luxurious look for any man.