Pocket Watch Guide

The humble pocket watch chain, very much misunderstood in its value, and formerly not only the helper in the keeper of time’s arsenal but a device of security.

The pocket watch chain may date previous to the 16th Century somewhere along the timeline. But its popularity at least along with the obvious fob watch or fob protection face leaped in the 16th Century.

The symbol of status, that was undoubtedly the main focal piece of the actual watch itself, or maybe not depending on your view. It was not detracted in its keeper’s value until at least World War I, when the wrist watch took off with what could only be described as the future of boring watch straps!

How time is the very essence of what a pocket watch and its chain is all about, yet plays a hand of fate with more modern devices and consigns the chain to history. Although a recent trend with the Steampunk starved the decline as fashion statements made the timepiece and its shackle an icon in the genre. What is a Steampunk? Don’t ask, look it up!

For many years the use of the pocket watch chain with said dangling open fobbed watch face, had a practical use in alternative medicine and entertainment. Stemming copycat experiments among children and adults alike, who has not tried to hypnotize a family member or friend with a fob watch?

The very serious practice of hypnosis has long been associated with the timepiece in hypnotherapy, and thus again became legendary in its own right.

For many including Officers and Gentlemen the device flowing left to right, right to left, inside pocket even out or maybe at the waist was seen as a necessity. So too did many a nurse, who can forget Matron dashing from bed to bed with a watch dangling from her uniform.

“Why is your watch chained upside-down Matron?” She would be asked.

To which would be the reply: “So I can read the time of course dear!”