Open Face Pocket Watches
20th Century Pocket Watches
Antique 1860s British Victorian Pocket Watches
Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1930s Swiss Pocket Watches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Pocket Watches
Vintage 1920s Swiss Pocket Watches
20th Century Pocket Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Swiss Artisan Pocket Watches
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown High Victorian Pocket Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Swiss Pocket Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Swiss Early Victorian Pocket Watches
Vintage 1920s Swiss Pocket Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Pocket Watches
Antique 19th Century Pocket Watches
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
20th Century Pocket Watches
Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Pocket Watches
Diamond, Platinum
20th Century Swiss Pocket Watches
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1980s Artisan Pocket Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Nouveau Pocket Watches
Vintage 1920s Swiss Pocket Watches
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1830s Swiss Pocket Watches
Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
20th Century Pocket Watches
Antique 1850s Swiss Pocket Watches
Vintage 1910s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled, White Gold
Antique 19th Century American Modern Pocket Watches
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold
Vintage 1920s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
Vintage 1910s American Art Nouveau Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
20th Century American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1920s American Modern Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Antique Early 1900s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Nouveau Pocket Watches
21st Century and Contemporary Pocket Watches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Pocket Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Swiss Modern Pocket Watches
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1910s Swiss Pocket Watches
Vintage 1920s American Art Nouveau Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Antique 1830s Swiss Neoclassical Pocket Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Antique 1830s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
20th Century American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Antique Early 19th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Swiss Pocket Watches
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
Steel
Vintage 1910s American Modern Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1910s American Modern Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1920s American Art Nouveau Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Antique 1880s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pocket Watches
White Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British High Victorian Pocket Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Antique 1880s Swiss Victorian Pocket Watches
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1910s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
21st Century and Contemporary Pocket Watches
Silver
Antique Late 19th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Vintage 1920s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
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Open Face Pocket Watches For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Open Face Pocket Watches?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To open an Illinois pocket watch, take it to a watch repair shop or a jeweler. Experts advise against attempting to open pocket watches on your own because doing so without the proper tools can damage the timepieces. On 1stDibs, find a range of Illinois pocket watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To 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, 2022How 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 ExpertApril 5, 2022To open a Waltham pocket watch, seek the help of an experienced watch repairer. Opening a pocket watch on your own could end up damaging the timepiece. A professional has the tools necessary to perform the task safely. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Waltham pocket watches.
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