Antique Pocket Watch Values

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of antique pocket watch values. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from gold, yellow gold and 18k gold — can elevate any look. Our collection, which features older pieces for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century, has proven very popular over the years. Pieces in our collection of antique pocket watch values made by Victorian jewelers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — are very popular. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but American Waltham Watch Co., Angelus and Longines produced popular versions that are worth a look. Many pieces in our collection are stylish for most occasions, but ruby versions, from our inventory of 6, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look, day or night. Today, if you’re looking for bead antique pocket watch values and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes cabochon and round cut alternatives. There aren’t many items for women in our collection of antique pocket watch values, as most of the options available are for men.

On average, antique pocket watch values at 1stDibs sell for $5,181, while they’re typically $1,060 on the low end and $84,750 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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.