The best way to determine the value of your pocket watch is to take note of its serial number of the movement. This information is usually found where the gears on your pocket watch are located. You can also tell the age, quality and grade of you watch if you do a Serial Number Lookup. There are several websites online that have a record of the serial numbers of pocket watches that were manufacturer during the earlier days. You may also utilize information from a library where you can find old books about pocket watches. Once you have determined the quality and age of your watch then it will be easier for you to determine its appraisal.

Making sure that your pocket watch is in good working condition can increase its market value. If you need to have them repaired it’s best to contact a watch specialist who knows how to fix antique watches. This is rare but in any case you can at least try to check if the watch can still be fixed. Some pocket watch parts are still available even online. You can check out the websites that sell pocket watch parts and see if they have the parts that you need for your pocket watch to work.

A good watchmaker or specialist is essential in the successful repair of your antique watch. But before you get carried away once you spot a good one make sure to ask what types of watches they work on. It’s best to find someone who works well with pocket watches since some work on high end watches like Rolex but this is not what you should be looking for. Even if the watchmaker is miles away from your home, you definitely want a good watchmaker rather than someone who lives near but is not really good in fixing pocket watches. Before you know it your pocket watch is fixed superbly and it’s all up to you whether you want to sell it or not.

A steampunk pocket watch is a sublime engraved timepiece that was first produced in the 19^th century. These pocket watches were customized and were styled along with engraved initials or designed with a family crest. These timepieces are really stylish and unique. For the ladies, these are worn as necklaces.

Steampunk pocket watches are mainly built from gold and silver. On the other hand, there are also those that are created with a cyberpunk aesthetic. These types are mainly designed with a heavy brushed aluminum. In addition to this, there are also watches that are styled around with the use of wealthy brass or bronze.

One of the most popular steam punk pocket watches today would be those that are styled with their clock gears exposed. This type of steampunk pocket watch is a popular choice among persons who love dressing up as steampunk adventurers and airship pirates. This type of steampunk pocket watch makes use of their gears and clockwork as a design motif.

Steam punk watches can be worn in different ways. You can try to experiment with this timepiece. You can literally wear these pocket watches in different places. Let’s take for example, women’s steampunk pocket watches are best worn around the neck. On the other hand, these can also be attached on a delicate chain along with a couple of keys.

For the gentlemen, these pocket watches can be placed discreetly in a pocket. This can also be attached with a pocket watch chain. On the other hand, if you are always on the go, you can choose to string this around your wrist.

Other styles of steampunk pocket watches include those that are designed with a deer or crossed arrows at the back. This style of steampunk pocket watches work great for those that love putting on bounty hunter attires. Another style would be those that are designed with wings. These watches best suit girl aviators.

Steampunk pocket watches are indeed unique accessories that will help you stand out among the crowd. So, if you plan on looking different then, these timepieces will work great for you.

Elgin pocket watches are true classical timepieces that were produced back in the middle of the 19^th century during which the Civil Struggle was slowly dying down and when the Industrial Revolution of America was getting started. During that time, Elgin pocket watches have been recognized as symbols of that era. These pocket watches became very popular since they served as one of the forerunners of timepieces that were massively produced because they were no longer crafted manually.

These timepieces reflected the philosophy of the Elgin Company. They were created through the use of mechanized, repeated processes, strict quality control, and standardized and parts that were interchangeable. Elgin pocket watches are considered as one of the most sought antique timepieces today.

Now, let’s take a look at some of your choices if you opt to go for Elgin pocket watches. First would be the #IK6A Elgin Antique Gold Pocket Watch Filled With Diamonds Size 15. This timepiece is made with a yellow gold case that has been lavished with diamonds. The gem stones that have been used for this are of 15 high grade.

The case is plain polished with really elaborate engraved initials on its front cover and has been attached with 3 diamonds on the back. This is a hunter case type. The clock movement for this is a mechanical hand wind and its clock dial is made with white porcelain, which truly looks elegant. In addition to this, the clock dial has Arabic numerals along with five minute markers that show one small light hairline.

Another good option that you can choose to go for if you wish to get yourself both a timepiece and a piece of history would be the #AU14 Elgin Solid Gold Antique Pocket Watch Size 18 With 11 Jewels Key Wind Hunter Case Circa 1884. This is a large Elgin pocket watch that has been manufactured from 18 carats of solid gold. This is a size 18.

This is truly an antique timepiece as to the reason that it is already 124 years old in existence. The clock movement used on this is a mechanical wind gilt. On the other hand, the case is a Green Gold Hunter type that has been lavished with 11 jewels.

So, if you’re looking for a nice pocket watch to put on, Elgin pocket watches should be your number one choice.

Fusee Watch Buying

There are fusee pocket watches that are ornate in style though much of the earlier or antiques did not have the same effort exerted in design as the engineering became the focal points of the watches. But lately, the more recently produced fusee watches have more detail. These are just a few of the varying degree of craftsmanship and the improvements made by the watch makers.

These works of art are generally pricier than the newer and battery operated pocket watches. Expect to find fusee watch prices to start from a few hundred dollars and the more intricate ones and the antiques to cost around a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

To get at good idea of the prices of pocket watches here are figures from watchmakers of different regions:

American watch making companies- these include famous companies like Ingersoll, Colibri and Waltham. Their watch prices range anywhere from $30 dollars to almost $600 dollars.

British pocket watch companies- British Elgin, British Railways, Omega, British Elegance these pocket watch making companies offer some of the most reasonably priced pocket watches. The prices can range from $50 up to $800 and boasts of precision engineering that only the Swiss can surpass.

Swiss pocket watch companies- these are at the top of their class and henceforth, also command steep prices for their product. It is almost guaranteed that the watches are made to be accurate and precise I their time keeping. Patek Phillipe, Jean Pierre Swiss, Swiss Army are among those worth mentioning. Prices for these watches start from a $300 up to the thousands though there are cheaper watches available too. Average prices are around $1200 for them.

What do I need to lookout for or expect when I have one picked out?

The first thing to look for before making a final decision is to obviously check if the watch is working.

Second, to check for flaws like nicks on the watch face (if open faced), to see if the covers on a hunter’s case watch is closed tightly and there is no need to put in extra effort to securely close the watch. To check if the key used to wind the watch is of perfect fit.

Third, it is of the utmost importance that you will at least have basic knowledge of how to open the case of the watch in order for you to set the time and wind the spring. The source or provider may be able to help you with that and you may ask him for quick instructions upon purchasing. Otherwise, instructions via the internet may be found and are just as helpful.

A genuine fusee watch holds a high value. Those who know of its importance will always ask for papers regarding its authenticity. You should do the same for insurance purposes and it would even be wise to have them appraised to get an idea of its true value.

The pocket watch of this secret society is distinctly known by the many signs and symbols that are known to be part of their rituals. Among these popular signs is the compass and square that both form a diamond with either the letter “G” in the middle or the “all-seeing” eye. Some other symbols that may also signify affiliation with the freemason society are the plumb, trowel and level.

Most Common Masonic Pocket Watches

There are at least a few types of pocket watches but the most common are the ones with a circular watch in shape and it may have the freemason symbol engraved in its cover or the back of the watch case. There is also the triangular pocket watch for this organization and may have complementing pocket watch fobs. The Dudley Masonic pocket watch is one of the most wanted among all of these models of pocket watches as this watch was made by William Wallace Dudley, who is himself a freemason. There are many other brands that offer and make freemason watches, notable brands include Elgin, Minerva and even some Swiss watchmakers.

Where To Buy

A great way to get a hold of these watches is to look for them online. Often times, they may have the watches on display or you may look for them in online catalogues. There are even some who auction off their pocket watches and these can be bought at bargain prices (depends on how hard you haggle!). Another great way to procure them is to go hunting for them among antique shops as you may not know what you might find and may even be surprised by the treasures you discover. In any case, these watches have been worn by men who have made history and it would be wise to keep that in mind once you have gotten your Masonic pocket watch.

This new pocket watch had a “quick-beat” train, compensated balance and a top plate which had two sections. A letter “N” was stamped on the movements as a tribute to the company and its inventors. After enjoying great success with his watches, Howard then introduced the Stem-Wind movement, this was the first of its kind and they were made at a furious pace as demand for them ran until the 1900′s. This watch had enamel dials and had the name of the company (E. Howard & Co., Boston) inscribed on it. Though the factory never made their own watch cases, in 1902 they assigned the rights to use Edward Howard’s name to the watch case making company which was the Keystone Watch Case co.

These Howard pocket watch and all of their accessories can be bought from countless online sites and even auction houses that carry antiques. Many designs of Howard hunter pocket watches are available and prices may range from those that are newly manufactured which can cost a few hundred dollars to the genuine antiques that fetch almost a thousand dollars at the beginning of the bid alone.

Buying A Howard Pocket Watch

Some tips to look out for in knowing when you truly have a genuine Howard pocket watch in the palm of your hand, is to look for the letter “N” in the watch movements. These watches were generally made between the decades of 1958 to 1930 although they may continue to be made up to this day, just under different names or company brands. Look for the serial number and the make sure that these are engraved in the pocket watch. To further help you in buying a Howard pocket watch, many guide books are available and it would be better to go online and look up your pocket watch in the company catalogue.

Always remember that these are not just pocket watches but also precious pieces of jewelry and are of high value. Most owners or sellers of these would be more than willing to provide certificates of authenticity to ensure quality. If they should refuse or make an excuse in handing you a certificate then this should serve as a warning and caution should be taken.

Swiss watches have then been an important accessory for men and women alike and they were not only used as time pieces but were considered precious jewelries themselves. They can often catch the attention of onlookers and many marvel at their innate elegance. Precision and accuracy became their main priority over cost and this has allowed them to make the brilliant pieces that are sometimes encrusted with gems and other precious metals. These non abrasive and highly stable materials made the business of time keeping accurate and they were often only about a minute off. Other means to make telling the time standardized was by adding adjustments and invention on how the clocks movements were made.

There are generally 4 ways on which to wind a pocket watch:

1. The key wind or key set movement, which would entail a key to wind the watch and to also set the time accordingly. The back of the watch case would be opened and the key would be used to set the hands via the setting arbor.

2. Crown wind or crown set movements, the crown is placed at the 3 o’ clock side of the watch and this would be gently pulled out to set the time. This method of setting the time is used by almost all types of watches even up to the present day.

3. Crown wind or pin set or nail set movement, a pin would be used to set the time by depressing it and then releasing it when the time has been properly set. It was also known as the nail set because often times, a finger nail would be used to set the time.

4. Crown wind or lever set movement; this became a staple for all who worked in the railroad company as they made predicting the schedule for the arrival of trains accurate. A lever would be pulled out which made setting the time by using the crown wind possible. After the time is set, the lever would be put back. This was preferred as the lever made it almost impossible to accidentally reset the time.

Even up to this very day, a Swiss pocket watch is not only a time piece to last the ages but is also essentially a beautiful work of art. They take pride in declaring that almost all of their watches are handmade and of the best quality of materials. Swiss watches are seen all over the world and can be purchased at reasonable prices.

As the production increased they were able to develop reliable and precise watches that did not cost as much as the more sophisticated Swiss watches of their time. Robert Hawley Ingersoll and his brother Charles established this company in 1892 and they first started out by selling low-cost items to the immigrants living in New York. They first sold watches when it was introduced by the Waterbury clock company to the things they were selling.

They later on developed high quality watches through a revolutionary method of mass producing pocket watches by way of an assembly line, because these watches did not have any precious jewels inside them, they were reasonably priced at $1 each! These were known later on as the “Yankee” watch or the “dollar watch”. After a successful run in the US, the brothers ventured across the Atlantic and introduced the “Crown” pocket watch in London which was sold for 5 shillings; this was almost equal to one dollar at the time.

As they gained success overseas, sadly however, their American factory was later closed down during the great depression. The London based factory was later purchased by Waterbury and then became a wholly British enterprise. The United States Company of Waterbury was later renamed as the United States Time Company in 1944 and is now known as the Timex Group USA.

Other watches that this company has developed were the Reliance and Night design pocket watches. The Reliance was a watch that had 7 jewels that catered to the more sophisticated tastes of their British customers and was understandably sold for more than a dollar, they actually the start of a line of more elegantly produced pocket watches. And the night design watch which had a luminous dial which remained visible at night or dark times. these became quickly popular and helped keep the company afloat for a good deal of time. They were among the first of their kind and helped Ingersoll stamp their name around the world.

Though they are among the best when it comes to pocket watches, other companies also offer the same competitive quality and are almost priced the same way. Longines and Swiss made watches are among the few who have also produced reliable pocket watches. Not all companies that sell wristwatches sell pocket watches as well.

I tried scouring the web for a “true” digital pocket watch – but most are clip-style digital watches without pocket watch chains. Amazon.com has a pretty good selection of digital clip watches, but some have poor reviews (granted, only one or two reviews – so take that with a grain of salt.). Amazon lists a bunch of Colibri digital pocket watches, but the reviews aren’t too exciting.

Duluth Trading Company has their “GuardDog II” watch that looks VERY similar to a pocket watch, but with no chain/fob. This clips to your belt and flips down to reveal the time. Duluth mentions that it has an alarm, chime, stop watch, and host of other features. It looks very handy and fairly rugged. The only drawback – a little pricy at $79.95. They do, however, have a “no bull” return/guarantee policy – so that is definitely comforting. The GuardDog II has pretty good reviews with one reviewer calling it “bullet-proof”. As of this writing, out of 52 reviews, the average review was 4/5 stars. They also sell their Improved GuardDog (not II) watch for $59.

We’ll update this page as we find more digital pocket watches to discuss! Feel free to share your comments below.

Vintage pocket watches should never be mistaken for an old or antique pocket watch. Vintage watches are made to look old and carry the flair of the era they represent. They are detailed and made to the exact specifications of that time but are quite reasonably priced versus an antique. They are also easier to find as the market for them is vast. The advantage of getting one of these is that you can not only use them for display but to also use for the purpose they were intended for. Plus, should they need repair, pocket watch parts are easier to find.

To know the exact make and model of your watch, you can get a jeweler to gently tap off the back cover of the clock face. Here you will find the serial number inscribed and even the date it was made. To be even more precise in the dating of your watch, a guide book or online research can be made to further give you authentication and confirmation.

Some historical era’s that made pocket watches popular are during the civil and world wars when they were often used by officers in the forefront of battle. Others may be those used by men who watched over the railroad and used them to more or less predict when a train would come. Distinct stamps and seals can be seen in genuine articles that were made during these times and they can hardly ever be missed. They add significant value to the watch and you can later sell them as antiques doubling even tripling the initial price you got them for.

Though the value of a vintage watch will never be as much as those of a genuine antique, they are nonetheless almost as expensive. The metal casing which houses the clock itself can truly make the difference in the appraisal of the watch. Those which are gold or silver plated may fetch a hefty price but those made of solid gold will certainly up the ante a lot. These are etched either inside or outside of the watch and these should be among the first things to look for when buying one.

Of course, it does not need to be said that the condition of the pocket watch will always play a big factor in determining whether it is worth buying. Some may need just a few minor repairs but some may not be salvageable any more.

For those who are truly passionate about their watches, a vintage pocket watch can be bought at numerous online sites that offer them. And you can just take your pick from the catalogues that they have in house. It would be certainly wise to buy them from the makers themselves as they can offer warranties and certificates of authenticity should you wish it so. Others may hire antique dealers to do the hunting for them but his will cost a fee for the job itself.