One of the more unique hobbies some individuals have today is collecting antique pocket watches. Whether for their nostalgia or their simple beauty, these vintage timepieces have come a long way since their invention in the 16th century, though the earliest models may not have been as close in appearance to the images of pocket watches people often have etched in their minds.

In the early 16th century, clock makers devised a process to use springs instead of weight to operate their timepieces. This switch allowed them to significantly condense the size of the pieces that allowed personal timepieces to … Read the rest