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1850s Pocket Watch

Bonnet 18kt. Solid Gold Open Faced Pocket Watch with Engine Turned Dial 1850's
Bonnet 18kt. Solid Gold Open Faced Pocket Watch with Engine Turned Dial 1850's

Bonnet 18kt. Solid Gold Open Faced Pocket Watch with Engine Turned Dial 1850's

Located in Long Beach, CA

FACTORY / HOUSE: Bonnet STYLE / REFERENCE: Open Faced Pocket Watch METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt. Yellow Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1850 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Diameter 39mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Key W...

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Antique 1850s Swiss Pocket Watches

James Bonnet 18 Karat Yellow Gold Keywind Hunters Case Pocket Watch, circa 1850s
James Bonnet 18 Karat Yellow Gold Keywind Hunters Case Pocket Watch, circa 1850s

James Bonnet 18 Karat Yellow Gold Keywind Hunters Case Pocket Watch, circa 1850s

Located in Long Beach, CA

FACTORY / HOUSE: James Bonnet STYLE / REFERENCE: Hunters Case Pocket Watch METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt. Yellow Gold CIRCA: 1850's DIMENSIONS: Diameter 44mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Winding / ...

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Antique Mid-19th Century Swiss Wrist Watches

Recent Sales

Tobias 18Kt Gold Key Wind Pocket Watch with Engraved Case and Dial, circa 1850s
Tobias 18Kt Gold Key Wind Pocket Watch with Engraved Case and Dial, circa 1850s

Tobias 18Kt Gold Key Wind Pocket Watch with Engraved Case and Dial, circa 1850s

Located in Long Beach, CA

Tobias STYLE / REFERENCE: Key winding Pocket Watch / Open Faced METAL / MATERIAL: 18kt Yellow Gold CIRCA: 1850's DIMENSIONS: 49mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: 13 Jewels / Lever Escapement DI...

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Antique Mid-19th Century British Pocket Watches

Breitling Laederick Gold Enamel Victorian Pocket Watch 1850s
Breitling Laederick Gold Enamel Victorian Pocket Watch 1850s

Breitling Laederick Gold Enamel Victorian Pocket Watch 1850s

Located in Frederick, MD

·Item: Breitling Laederick Beautiful 1850s Enamel Pocket Watch ·Era: Victorian / 1850s ·Composition: 18k Gold Marked / Tested ·Condition: Watch features beautiful enamel front and...

Category

Antique 1850s Swiss High Victorian Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Longines Ernest Francillon Yellow Gold Enamel Key Wind Pocket Watch circa 1850s
Longines Ernest Francillon Yellow Gold Enamel Key Wind Pocket Watch circa 1850s

Longines Ernest Francillon Yellow Gold Enamel Key Wind Pocket Watch circa 1850s

Located in Frederick, MD

·Item: Ernest Francillon of Longines 1800s Key Wind Beautiful Enamel Pocket Watch ·Era: Victorian / 1850s ·Composition: 18k Gold Marked / Tested ·Condition: Watch is not running.

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Antique 1850s Unknown High Victorian Pocket Watches

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18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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FACTORY / HOUSE: Bautte & Co. STYLE / REFERENCE: Open Faced Pendant Watch METAL / MATERIAL: 18kt Yellow Gold CIRCA: 1850's DIMENSIONS: Diameter 32mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Wind...

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Rare 14ct Gold Pocket Watch by August Ericsson, St Petersburg, circa 1890
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Rare pocket watch signed Bornand Genève, crafted in 14kt gold around the late 19th century. It features a manual wind movement with Breguet hairspring, 17 jewels, and remontoir syste...

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Courvoisier Geneve Circa 1830 18Kt Yellow Gold Enamel Pocket Watch
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Located in Firenze, IT

SHIPPING POLICY: No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). 18Kt yellow gold case. No. 2381. C...

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Located in New York, NY

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This elegant pocket watch is a classic and timeless piece. The watch face is 33mm in diameter, with beautiful dial, roman numbers crafted in 18ct yellow gold, hand engraved, in full ...

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1850s Pocket Watch For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the 1850s pocket watch you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Enamel. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic 1850s pocket watch over the years, but those made by Patek Philippe are often thought to be among the most beautiful. Take a look at a 1850s pocket watch featuring Pearl from our inventory today to add the perfect touch to your look. Today, if you’re looking for an antique cushion cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes alternatives. If you’re browsing our inventory for a 1850s pocket watch, you’ll find that many are available today for men, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and women.

How Much is a 1850s Pocket Watch?

The price for a 1850s pocket watch starts at $1,469 and tops out at $22,544 with these watches, on average, selling for $3,800.

Finding the Right Pocket-watches for You

Can you pull off a vintage pocket watch? Of course you can. With a suit and a waistcoat, a pocket watch can be a refreshing alternative to a wristwatch.

The earliest pocket watches were luxury items, and, owing to cost, they weren’t commonplace until the 19th century. Artfully crafted pocket watches were a symbol of wealth, and manufacturers such as Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe became known for theirs. (Today, they’re among the most sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.)

At the onset, pocket watches resembled small round table clocks, and pulling your small round table clock — perhaps of the silver variety — out of your breast pocket in front of someone else demonstrated unequivocally that you cared about punctuality. For collectors, pocket watches are big, and that means a larger canvas provided for functions without crowding the dial. For example, the Marius Lecoultre pocket watch — made circa 1890 — does everything but uncork your wine.

In the late 1800s, the open-face pocket watch became a staple on the American railroad. It was a requirement for railway workers to wear a pocket watch, as the timepieces were responsible for keeping conductors on schedule. This was a boon to the watchmaking industry, with companies like Hamilton, the Elgin National Watch Company and the Waltham Watch Company producing high-grade and workingman’s watches.

By the 1930s, wristwatches comprised the bulk of watch manufacturing in America, superseding the pocket watch. Suddenly, if you wanted to know the time, you merely glanced at your wrist. But given their vintage charm and our general appetite for good design, pocket watches are a piece of statement-making jewelry and today can prove complementary to your formal attire in a manner that is stylish and unconventional.

Let time take its course — browse a vast selection of antique and vintage pocket watches available on 1stDibs designed by legendary brands such as IWC, Cartier and more.

Questions About 1850s Pocket Watch

  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, pocket watches peaked in popularity in the 1800s. The first pocket watch was created in Germany in 1510, but was originally too large for a pocket. In the 1600s, the design began to get more compact, but for a long time pocket watches were a rarity and a symbol of wealth. Shop an array of antique pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A pocket watch pocket is called by a number of names. You will sometimes see people refer to it simply as a watch pocket. Other names include a coin pocket or a fob pocket. Find a variety of antique pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A fusee pocket watch — named for the French word fusée — is an antique type of watch with a crescent pulley and a curved groove around it that is wound with a cord or chain. The chain is attached to the mainspring barrel. Find a range of vintage fusee pocket watches on 1stDibs today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021
    The best pocket watch is a matter of preference. The earliest pocket watches were luxury items, and, owing to cost, they weren’t commonplace until the 19th century. Artfully crafted pocket watches were a symbol of wealth. Brands like Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet are internationally renowned makers of pocket watches. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A pocket watch fob refers to the chain or ribbon to which a pocket watch is attached. Its purpose was to make the watch more readily accessible to the wearer. You’ll find a variety of pocket watch fobs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    How you store pocket watches is largely a matter of personal preference. Generally, you should keep them in a storage container designed specifically for stowing delicate items, such as a velvet-lined jewelry box, a watch box or on a watch stand. Shop a variety of antique and vintage pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The way to speed up your pocket watch depends on the specific model of timepiece that you have. To avoid damage, take it to a watch repair shop with experience repairing pocket watches to make adjustments. You'll find a selection of pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    A hunter pocket watch is a pocket watch with a metal case that has a spring hinged lid to cover the watch face and protect it from damage.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 22, 2024
    The most highly sought-after pocket watch will vary over time as trends in collecting do come and go. However, some pocket watches remain consistently popular among collectors. These timepieces include dress watches, such as those crafted by Elgin, Audemars Piguet and Patek Phillippe; railroad pocket watches produced by makers like Illinois and Hamilton; and military timepieces manufactured by Rolex and Omega. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    Full hunter pocket watches are a popular choice for those nostalgic for timepieces of years past. The solid outer case of this type of watch, which often features intricate designs, needs to be opened in order to reveal the watch’s face. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A pocket watch chain is called a fob, or watch fob. They can be made in a variety of materials, but most often appear in a metal that matches the case of the watch itself. Shop a collection of antique watch fobs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A key-wind pocket watch is a type of portable timepiece produced from the early 19th century through the middle of the 19th century. It features a mechanism that requires regular winding with a device called a winding key. Shop a range of key-wind pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021
    A pocket watch with 17 jewels is called a fully jeweled watch. For the mechanical movement, it uses jewel bearings from the center wheel pivot to the balance wheel. On 1stDibs, you can find a variety of antique and vintage pocket watch options.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    A minute repeater pocket watch comes with a repeater that chimes the time by pushing a button. They come with three different chimes; the hours have a low chime, minute by a high chime, and quarter hours by a sequence of two chimes. Shop a range of antique and vintage pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    Like its hunter-case cousin, the half-hunter pocket watch features a protective lid or case that protects the face of the watch. The distinction is that the case front has a viewing window that allows the owner to check the time without having to open the pocket watch lid. The hours are frequently inscribed in blue enamel on the exterior lid itself, making it possible to tell the time without opening the case. Shop a range of vintage half-hunter pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Pocket watches come in a variety of sizes but the most popular sizes for women are 0s, 6s and 8s. Measuring pocket watches is a bit confusing and to make it easier a 0s is1.166”, a 6s is 1.367” and 8s is 1.433”. So it’s fairly safe to say that an average size for a woman’s pocket watch is between 1 and 1.5 inches. Find vintage and contemporary pocket watches from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Rolex made pocket watches from 1905 through to the 1970s. The last pocket watch released was a small, ultra-formal 18 karat piece. Own a piece of history by shopping a selection of Rolex pocket watches from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To open a Hamilton pocket watch, take it to a reputable watch repair shop. Experts advise against opening antique pocket watches on your own because special tools are necessary to avoid damaging the timepieces. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Hamilton pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    How to open a Howard pocket watch depends on its design. However, experts recommend that you don't attempt to open one yourself. Instead, take the piece to a watch repair center that has experience servicing pocket watches. Doing so will help you avoid damaging the timepiece. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Howard pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To know if your pocket watch is valuable, consult a licensed appraiser. Choose one with experience appraising antique and vintage timepieces. Having your pocket watch evaluated by a knowledgeable professional is the only way to be certain of its value. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique and vintage pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024
    To change a battery in a pocket watch, you must first remove the watch back. Depending on the type of watch, you may need a specially designed tool or a precision screwdriver to accomplish this task. Once you have the back removed, you may need to remove parts to access the battery and perform the replacement. Because there is so much variability in timepiece design and you could potentially damage your watch when removing the back and other parts, experts recommend having an experienced watch repairer replace the battery. On 1stDibs, explore a collection of pocket watches.