There are some gold pocket watches out there that are simply plated or leafed. These are cheaper versions and should not be confused with the solid gold pocket watch. Solid gold will not chip off, revealing a non-golden layer below and will last for a very long time, even a century or more, if well-maintained!

Before the 16th century, the idea that of a portable timepiece was absolutely ludicrous to most people. Few people had personal clocks, let alone a clock they carried with them. Clocks were huge and heavy and often only housed in large buildings such as cathedrals. Suddenly a breakthrough occurred and clocks became small and lightweight, able to be carried in one’s pocket. The pocket watch was born.

By the end of the sixteenth century, pocket watches were all the rage; a luxury item everyone wanted. By the 17th century, they were so popular that many a watchmaker had gone into making these new pocket style watches. The first pocket watches were made of steel by blacksmiths and locksmiths. In the 17th century, watchmakers started adding gems and diamonds, and of course, solid gold.

There are many beautiful gold pocket watches to choose from. Among them is the Elgin 18K Solid Gold Antique Pocket Watch. This little beauty is a size 18 with 11 jewels, circa 1884. She’ll run you about $3,500 in mint condition. The Gustave Sachs Antique 18K Solid Gold Pocket Watch, which is a size 18 with 21 jewels, circa 1880, will set you back about $2,1000. There are many others on the market and prices range from about $500 on the low end to $5,000 or more, depending on the age and condition of the watch. Of course, the gold plays a big role in the price as well as whether or not it carries the antique or vintage title.

If you’re in the market for a nice gold pocket watch, whether it be new or antique, there’s something out there for everyone, guaranteed!

During this era, raillroading was spreading from coast ot coast and throughout America heralding the industrial revolution in this country. Most railroaders carried the famous Hamilton Pocket Watch with them because of its accuracy and dependability.

The Hamilton was a working man’s watch. It was not inexpensive, but it had a class and prestige of its own. As the years passed and its influence grew, the Hamilton Watch Company began adding intricate carvings to their pocket watches. This move made these watches even more sought after; in fact, some people mentioned their Hamilton Pocket Watch in their wills. They would leave their favorite watch to a favorite son or nephew, but rarely to a daughter or neice. The pocket watch was considered a man’s watch and not delicate enough for a woman.

Hamilton Pocket Watches continued to be made in the United States up into the 1950′s, but by then pocket watches had gone out of vogue with the American public. During the booming growth following World War II, people were more interested in style and looks, and they liked the convenience and ease of use of wrist watches. American watch makers started to cut corners to compete with each other and began importing Swiss works to put in their pocket watches which were not selling as good as wrist watches.

From the early 1920′s until the 1950′s the Hamilton Watch Company was a well known and highly respected name in watchmaking because of their style, design, and use of precious metals like gold in their watches. In 1969, the last Hamilton Pocket Watch was made, and by then even Hamilton was using Swiss works in its pocket watches.

Motorcycle enthusiasts have known for years that there’s just something about a Harley Davidson that sets it apart. Other motorcycles are faster, others are more lavish, but when someone owns a Harley, they own something important. Owning a Harley isn’t so much about buying a motorcycle as it is becoming a part of a culture.

One example of such a watch is offered by the Franklin Mint. The Franklin Mint Harley Davidson Pocket Watch comes in a number of different styles, such as the Edge with a gold background, the Combustion with a red background, the Cyclone with a blue background, and the Voltage with a green background. These watches sell for $75 a piece.

For those who are trying to pay homage to a specific type of Harley, the Franklin Mint offers a series called Legends of Freedom, honoring three historic models of motorcycle – the 1949 Panhead, the 1936 Knucklehead, and the 1990 Fat Boy. These watches retail for $65 a piece.

Bulova is another company that sells the Harley Davidson Pocket Watch. These watches tend to be a little more expensive, priced around $100 or more. For example, the pocket watch with Harley’s 100th anniversary logo/keepsake had a MSRP of $195. However, for any Harley fan, something huge like a 100th anniversary only comes once and pocket watches can be an excellent gift. The 100th anniversary watch also happened to have a belt loop clip and chain so you could wear or attach the watch to your belt. Definitely a classy look. Of another Bulova model Harley pocket watch, a reviewer on a popular retail website wrote “my husband was thrilled: much more thrilled that I expected.”

Ebay is also a really great place to look for Harley davidson pocket watches. At a check during the writing of this article there were a slew of search results with varying Harley logos and emblems; most were priced affordably between $50 and $150. One harley davidson pocket watch holder was only $9.99. That’s certainly a great price for a perfect watch accessory.

There a number of other manufacturers for those looking for a Harley Davidson pocket watch. For $45, pocket watches are available that embody the spirit of driving a Harley, such as “Raw Power” and “Ride Like Fire.”

In closing, Harley Davidson pocket watch is very easy to find, and is an affordable, yet classy way to express your admiration for this uniquely American product. Part mode of transportation, part work of art, and part bold declaration of your own independence, being a Harley owner is about dedication, and these pocket watches are a bold, stylish way to announce to the world that you are part of the culture.

The event occured on April 18, 1891, as two trains approached each other in Kipton, Ohio. On a passenger train, the pocket watch of an engineer stopped working for four minutes. As a result of this mixup the train was running late. Another train – a mail freighter – was heading in the same direction on another side of town. The trains missed their usual rendezvous point and wrecked near the edge of town, killing eight people including both conductors.

This event spurred great change among the rail community. A jeweler and watchmaker specializing in pocket watches, Mr. W.C. Ball was a significant voice during the time and knew timekeeping well. He knew what it took to keep a watch on time – and prevent another railroad collision as a result of something as small as a pocket watch – and he was thus appointed to the chief inspector to railroad timekeeping.

As part of his new duties, Ball quickly enacted rules and regulations for all railroad pocket watches. All railroad workers were now required to have with them at all times a pocket watch which was up to American Railway Association regulations.

These watches must have been:

• Open-faced pocket watches;
• Keeping time to within 30 seconds;
• A size of no less than 16 and no more than 18; and
• Have a minimum of 17 jewels.

If a worker did not keep his pocket watch up to code, and in acceptable condition, he faced harsh discipline. In fact, railroad workers were subject to routine but unannounced pocket watch inspections to ensure the safety of train travel.

Do you want to buy a railroad pocket watch? There were several companies who made watches which matched railway regulations. Specifically, Waltham model number 1883 is a size 18 watch. Waltham Watch Co. was a very prominent watch maker during the 1800′s and provided watches to hundreds of rail workers – and to regular citizens as well. Their models “riverside maximus” and the “vanguard” were some of the popular ones. An authentic Waltham antique pocket watch can sell for prices ranging from $100 to $1,000 depending on the age and condition.

Before you buy, it is recommended to consult with a watchmaker or jeweler to make sure that your future purchase is an authentic one!

Depending on the parts or brand of the pocket watch that may need repair, a myriad of prices may come into play. For the genuine parts it may cost a few dollars or about a hundred and labor costs would almost be the same. Because of this, learning to make minor repairs yourself will ease the burden of having to pay a great deal of money for something even you can do. To get started the most basic tools to have involving pocket watch repair are bow openers, case openers, watch hammer, set of winding keys, head vision tool, long nosed pliers, magnifying glass, watch hand remover and watch hand setting tool. Many books give a detailed account on how to gently take apart and put back all watch parts. As for the pocket watch parts themselves like center wheels, hairspring/balance spring, ratchet wheel and fuse, these can all be found online. It would be easier to order them this way as you may have a one of a kind piece and not a single jewelry store in your area may have the parts available.

Before getting too excited and quickly diving into your own pocket watch, try buying a cheap kind and practice on that for a few days. Learn how the machine works as almost all pocket watches operate on the same principle and it would be better that you break the cheaper version than your precious family heirloom. Once you have the hang of it, then you can slowly dissect your pocket watch and be sure to carefully take note of all parts as they are removed. It would even be better if you label a section of your work table according to the parts so as not to lose them and they would be arranged in order.

Leaving your pocket watch in a drawer, on a shelf, or somewhere unprotected can expose to a manner of dangers – from dust to a friend or family member’s accident bump. We all know that one accidental bump and fall of a pocket watch can lead to costly repairs and irreversible scratches.

My favorite pocket watch stand is one by The Franklin Mint – called the “10-Point Buck Pocket Watch Stand”. It features a beautiful white tail buck deer standing in a nature scene, with 24k gold accents. The artist has a 10-point pocket watch that he wanted to showcase, so he built the stand for it. Pocket watch enthusiasts can purchase their own for $37.00.

Pocket watch stands can vary from those mentioned above, to a wood stand with a glass dome enclosure, to a simple metal arch. If you are into sports, some sports teams offer branded pocket watches with their own accompanying pocket watch stand.

A best way to shop for a pocket watch stand is to consult a watchmaker. Ask them if they offer stands and what their prices are. You can get a general idea of the makes and models available to you which will help you narrow down your tastes. Many shops will offer a price match guarantee, so you can keep your business with the same shop, maintaining a great relationship while getting the best deal possible.

If you are looking for something truly unique; something that “stands apart from the crowd”, there are companies out there who make custom pocket watch stands – out of pewter, gold, wood, brass, and similar materials. A custom design and build will have a more costly price but will definitely add some nostalgia and meaning to your pocket watch stand.

Whatever you decide to do – know that there’s always a pocket watch and pocket watch stand out there for you! Keep on ticking!