Waltham Open Face
Antique 1880s American Victorian Pocket Watches
10k Gold
Vintage 1930s Swiss Pocket Watches
Antique 1890s American Pocket Watches
Early 20th Century American Belle Époque Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Pocket Watches
Antique 1890s North American Art Nouveau Pocket Watches
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Pocket Watches
Mid-20th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Antique Early 19th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Vintage 1910s Pocket Watches
Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
Brass
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pocket Watches
White Gold
Mid-20th Century American Wrist Watches
Antique 1880s Central American Victorian Pocket Watches
18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1920s Swiss Pocket Watches
Vintage 1910s American Art Deco Pocket Watches
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Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s American Wrist Watches
Gold Plate
Antique Early 1900s American Pocket Watches
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1920s British George V Pocket Watches
Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Antique 1880s Swiss Pocket Watches
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pocket Watches
Vintage 1940s American Artisan Pocket Watches
Antique Early 1900s English Art Deco Wrist Watches
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold
Vintage 1910s Swiss Pocket Watches
Vintage 1910s Swiss Pocket Watches
Vintage 1920s Swiss Pocket Watches
Waltham Open Face For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Waltham Open Face?
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 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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