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Pocket Watches

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Pocket Watches For Sale
Antique 9 Carat Solid Gold Half Hunter Pocket Watch
Located in London, GB
A substantial 9 carat solid gold half hunter pocket watch by Marvin Watch Company, Switzerland. Fully hallmarked Birmingham, 1912. With a gold winding cr...
Category

1910s Swiss Edwardian Vintage Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold

Antique 14k Gold Pendant Watch, Enamel Putti & Diamonds, Switzerland, C. 1870
Located in Chatham, CA
Antique Swiss 14K yellow gold pendant watch - elaborate double hunter case with hand tooling to the front and back - hand painted enamels of putti playin...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Neoclassical Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Remontoir Cylindre 10 Rubis Woman's Swiss Pocket Watch 14 Carat Gold Diamonds
Located in Vienna, AT
Remontoir Cylindre 10 Rubis Woman's Pocket Watch with three lids. Made of 14 ct slight red gold, with eight diamonds (= 0,40 ct in total) decorating...
Category

Early 1900s Swiss Art Nouveau Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold

IWC Schaffhausen 18 Karat Gold Pocket Watch
By IWC
Located in Stamford, CT
Vintage International Watch Co. Schaffhausen 48mm pocket watch, never engraved. circa 1925-1930 Length: 62.54mm Width: 48mm Case thickness: 8.79mm Crystal: Acrylic Dial: Gold Inside Case: 803264 Outside Case: 778838 IWC Schaffhausen
Category

Early 20th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Patek Philippe Pocket Watch with Arabic Numerals in 18k Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Antique Patek Philippe Ref. 258729 white face pocket watch in 18K yellow gold. Featuring a mechanical hand winding movement, Arabic numeral hour...
Category

1930s Art Deco Vintage Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Antique Chronograph & Quarter Repeater Pocket Watch Hunter 14 Karat Gold
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique Chronograph & Quarter Repeater Pocket Watch Hunter 14 Karat Gold. Pocket watch can be wound and works. Including certificate of...
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Pocket Watches

John Cashmore Yellow Gold Half Quarter Repeater Keyless Lever Pocket Watch C1893
Located in London, GB
A John Cashmore 18ct yellow gold, half quarter repeater keyless lever half hunter pocket watch, C1893. Dial: The white enamel Roman numeral dial with subsidiary seconds dial outer minute track signed John Cashmore London. The original blued steel double spade hands with original blued steel seconds hand. Case: The heavy 18ct yellow gold half hunter case with blue inlaid enamel...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Peter Desmarais St. Martins Court Leister Square Rose Gold Pocket Watch
Located in London, GB
Peter Desmarais, St Martins Court, Leister Square. An 18K rose gold pair case, key wind cylinder pocket watch, London, C1803. Dial: A beautiful original ful...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Rose Gold

Elgin Open-Face 14 Karat Gold Antique Pocket Watch Gr 364 12S 15J 1910
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Beautiful Antique Elgin Pocket Watch w/ White Dial Including Cobalt Blue Hands & Dedicated Second Dial 14k Yellow Gold Case w/ Intricate Han...
Category

Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches

Materials

14k Gold

Hampden Gold Filled Ladies Pendant Pocket Watch
Located in Dallas, TX
Hampden Gold Filled Ladies Pendant Pocket Watch - Manual winding. Gold filled; ornate engraving ( 33mm ). White dial with Arabic numerals. Pre-owned with custom box. Will be serviced...
Category

20th Century American Pocket Watches

Ebel Ladies Pocket Jewelry Watch Pendant, Enhancer, 18 Karat Gold
By Ebel
Located in Berlin, DE
Charming Ebel ladies watch as pendant, 18k gold. Case made of solid 18k yellow gold. Sapphire crystal. Crown with sapphire cabochon. Mechanical han...
Category

20th Century German Pocket Watches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe Waltham Railroad 18K Yellow Gold Manual-Wind Pocket Watch
Located in Aventura, FL
Patek Phillipe 18K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch Manual-wind movement, Guillaume balance, 18k yellow gold case, White enamel dial with black Breguet nume...
Category

1990s American Modernist Pocket Watches

Materials

Yellow Gold

Omega Art Deco Vintage Steel cased Pocket Watch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa late 1930s Omega Pocket Watch, 44 M.M. Diameter X 7 M.M. thick 3 Piece Omega signed Stainless Steel case. 15 Jewel Mechanical, Manual wind Nickle lever movement. Original, near mint Silver Satin dial with raised mirrored...
Category

1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Pocket Watches

Materials

Steel

SWATCH SPECIAL GK340 Watch With Shoulder Strap 2001
Located in Milano, IT
Swatch Watch Shoulder Bag Over Shoulder Bag Zipper Purse NOS Vintage 2001 GK350 Neon Yellow Crossbody Handbag Hipster Retro Gent Originals. Quart...
Category

Early 2000s Swiss Modern Pocket Watches

Russian Imperial Presentation Jewelled Platinum and Gold Pendant Watch
Located in Braintree, GB
Russian Imperial presentation jewelled platinum and gold pendant watch Made by Moser & Co Made in St. Petersburg, 1908-1917 The circular brooch cen...
Category

Early 1900s Russian Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Platinum

Antique Rare Rolex Prince 9CT Gold Keyless Lever Pocket Watch, C1930s
Located in London, GB
Rolex Prince. A very rare 9ct yellow gold dress pocket watch C1930s Dial: The excellent silver rare bow tie dial with Arabic twelve and black enamel batons, outer minute track and separate seconds dial with bow tie dial in the seconds dial. A rare combination indeed, complimented by original matching blued steel hands and seconds hand. Case: The Rhombus designed 9ct yellow gold case with a plain polished back. The case fully signed Rolex ,numbered and Swiss hallmarked. Movement: The Rhombus keyless lever movement is of exceptional high quality Nickel finished fully jewelled, signed Rolex with Rolex Patent Cap protecting escapement. One of the best pocket watch movements produced by Rolex. This is indeed a rare pocket watch...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold

Rare SWATCH SCUBA 200 Very Wet 1991, original packaging never opened
Located in Milano, IT
Rare water-resistant watch, packaged in a jar from the Scuba Collection 200 of 1991. The watch is labeled as the "Medusa" style, depicted in the reference photo. Model SDS100. In the...
Category

1990s Swiss Modern Pocket Watches

Solid Gold Ladies Stewart Dawson &Co Antique Pocket Watch
Located in MELBOURNE, VIC
Elegant Stewart Dawson & Co 14 carat Solid Gold Open Face Ladies Pocket Watch . Late 19th - early 20th century, marked 14C to inner back cover and serial number #75128. Featuring a g...
Category

Early 20th Century Australian Art Nouveau Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold

Presentation Indian Penny / Gold Quartz Watch Fob from President Teddy Roosevelt
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine Presidential presentation gold quartz watch fob with an Indian head penny. Presented by President Teddy Roosevelt to a US Navy Captain D...
Category

Early 20th Century American Edwardian Pocket Watches

Materials

Quartz, Gold, 14k Gold, Copper

Antique Tavannes Watch Company Silver Keyless Open Face Enamel Pocket Watch
Located in London, GB
Tavannes Watch Company. A silver keyless lever, open face enamel pocket watch, C1920s. Dial: A silver dial with Roman numerals, outer minute track and ...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Wachenheimer Bros. American Art Deco Sterling Silver Guilloche Enamel Cufflinks
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of American Art Deco cufflinks. In sterling silver. With red or crimson guilloche enamel centers with double ring black enamel borders. By Wachenheimer Brothers, Inc. ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pocket Watches

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Verge Crown Wheel Key Winding 18K Yellow Gold Ornate Pocket Watch
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Verge Crown Wheel Key Winding 18K Yellow Gold Ornate Pocket Watch Approx. 48 mm in diameter, 18 mm thick Stamped SH JW with English Gold Hallmarks inside the case. Date mark of F with square box around it. 61.3 dwt / 95.4g The verge (or crown wheel) escapement is the earliest known type of mechanical escapement, the mechanism in a mechanical clock that controls its rate by allowing the gear train to advance at regular intervals or 'ticks'. Its origin is unknown. Verge escapements were used from the late 13th century until the mid 19th century in clocks and pocketwatches. The name verge comes from the Latin virga, meaning stick or rod.[1] Its invention is important in the history of technology, because it made possible the development of all-mechanical clocks. This caused a shift from measuring time by continuous processes, such as the flow of liquid in water clocks...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Patek Philippe Gold Lapel Watch Pocket
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Rare Patek Philippe lapel/pocket watch that would be definitely a conversational piece. It was created in Switzerland in the 1900s. Made of 18 karat (stamped) yellow gold. The movement is original Patek Philippe manual...
Category

Early 1900s Swiss Victorian Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ladies Rado Diastar Swiss Watch Round Case Scratch Resistant Fully Serviced
By RADO
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Ladies Rado Diastar Swiss watch with a 23mm round case that's scratch-resistant and water sealed. The case is made out of stainless steel with a black fac...
Category

1990s Swiss Modern Pocket Watches

Materials

Stainless Steel

Gucci Vintage Table Or Travel Clock
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Gucci vintage table to travel alarm clock. Gold metal and red leather, minor wear throughout. Comes with velvet pouch.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pocket Watches

Antique Flower Basket Blue Enamel Sterling Pendant Watch Necklace By Becker
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Antique pendant watch featuring a powder blue guilloche enameled case and a flower basket decoration in the center. The outside of the sterling...
Category

Early 20th Century German Pocket Watches

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

18 Karat Gold, Tiffany & Co Enamelled Pendant Watch on Chain
Located in Brisbane, QLD
This Art Nouveau pendant watch on chain was made for Tiffany & Co for retail in the United States. The watch hangs from a yellow gold filled curb link chain that has a swivel type cl...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Gold-filled, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Longines Vintage Steel Chronograph Pocket Watch with Original Box and Papers
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1930 Longines Chronograph Pocket Watch, 51 M.M. Stainless Steel 3 Piece case with inside dust cover, 17 Jewel Caliber LXW nickle lever movem...
Category

1930s Swiss Vintage Pocket Watches

Materials

Steel

Waltham Pocket Watch Ref. 337299 Waltham Riverside in 14k Yellow Gold
Located in Surfside, FL
Waltham Riverside open faced pocket watch 19 jewels, gold dial and heavy spade hands in 14k yellow gold. Manual w/ subseconds. 45mm. Circa 1915. Fine...
Category

1910s Vintage Pocket Watches

Materials

Yellow Gold

Gents Hamilton Watch Co. Pocket Watch in 14k Yellow Gold, Manual W/ Subseconds
Located in Surfside, FL
Gents Hamilton Watch Co. pocket watch in 14k yellow gold. Manual w/ subseconds. Size of the case: 56mm Fine Pre-owned Hamilton Watch. Certified pre...
Category

20th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

Yellow Gold

South Bend Gold Filled Ladies Pendant Pocket Watch
Located in Dallas, TX
South Bend Gold Filled Ladies Pendant Pocket Watch - Manual winding. Gold filled; ornate engraving ( 35 mm ). White dial with Arabic numerals. Pre-owned wit...
Category

20th Century American Pocket Watches

Honnore Lieutaud of Marseille Georgian 18 Karat Gold Diamond Pocket Watch
Located in Narberth, PA
A rare and exquisite mixed metals diamond pocket watch made by Honnoré Lieutaud of Marseille, France during the Georgian (ca1780) era. This vibrant 18kt gold verge quarter repeater t...
Category

1780s French Georgian Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold

Rare Vintage Ebel Gold Plated Pocket Watch
By Ebel
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare Vintage Ebel Gold Plated Pocket watch Material: Gold Plated Case: Diameter 36.4 mm x Thickness 9.5 mm, gold plated Dial: Goldish dial...
Category

1950s Artisan Vintage Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold Plate

Patek Philippe Pocket Watch 726
Located in Surfside, FL
Patek Philippe pocket watch in 18k yellow gold. Manual w/ subseconds. 45 mm case size. Comes with a 14k chain with gold nugget on t...
Category

20th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

Yellow Gold

Moricand & Degrange 18Kt. Yellow Gold and Enamel Open Faced Pocket Watch 1840's
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Moricand & Degrance, Geneve STYLE / REFERENCE: Open Faced Pocket Watch METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt. Yellow Gold & Enamel CIRCA / YEAR: 1830's / 40's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Diameter 42mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Key Winding / Verge Fuzee DIAL / HANDS: Breguet Engine Turned with Kiln Fired Enameled Numbers WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This beautiful hand made watch dates from the 1830's or 40's. The watch was made in Geneva, Switzerland by one of the finest team of craftsmen's in the entire country at the time. The workmanship is of the highest quality. The case work is chased and repousse...
Category

1830s Swiss Antique Pocket Watches

Vacheron Constantin NOS Open Face Deck Watch in Silver
Located in London, GB
A rare and untouched exquisite oversized 60mm deck watch in silver by Vacheron & Constantin. The silver Arabic dial features an up and down power reserve di...
Category

20th Century Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Gubelin 14Kt. Multi Colored Art Deco Ladies Pendant Watch circa 1930's by Movado
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Movado for Gubelin STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Pendant Watch Referenc 42143 METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt. Solid Three Colored Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1930's DIMENSIONS / SIZ...
Category

1930s Swiss Vintage Pocket Watches

Antique French 18k Gold 3.25ctw Rose Cut Diamond Covered Pocket Watch Pendant
Located in Montclair, NJ
Here we have an absolutely gorgeous, antique, French-made pocket watch pendant featuring a solid 18k rose gold case that's completely covered with old rose cut diamonds that are pave...
Category

1870s French Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Antique Elgin 14 Karat Yellow Gold Pocket Watch
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique Elgin 14 Karat Yellow Gold Pocket Watch. This beautiful antique Elgin pocket watch circa 1895 is a true collectible. The hunting ca...
Category

Early 19th Century American Victorian Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

14k Gold

Elgin Full Hunter Gold Filled Pocket Watch 11 Jewels 1888 Gr: 102
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Beautiful Antique Elgin Pocket Watch w/ White Dial Including Cobalt Blue Hands & Dedicated Second Dial Gold Filled Case w/ Intricate Hand-Etched Pastoral Design on Front and Reverse,...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Pocket Watches

Antique Longines Pocket Watch 14 Karat Gold Arabic Enamel Dial, Hunter
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique, heavy Longines Pocket Watch 14 Karat Gold Arabic Enamel Dial. Pocket watch can be wound and works. Small hairline crack at five o'clock...
Category

20th Century Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Longines Dolce Vita Tank Watch, Quartz, Model 7753, Stainless Steel, Like
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Longines Dolce Vita Tank Watch, Quartz, Champagne/Peach Face, Stainless Steel, Swiss-Made. Like New Condition. Beautiful Champagne/Peach Face. Wate...
Category

1990s Swiss Modern Pocket Watches

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

Vintage Longines Rare Art Deco Slim Keyless Lever Pocket Watch 18ct White Gold
Located in London, GB
A rare Longines Art Deco slim keyless lever 44mm pocket watch in 18ct white gold, C1920s. Dial: The beautiful two tone cream and silver dial signed Longines with black Arabic numerals, chemin de fer chapter ring subsidiary seconds register at six o'clock with original blued steel Fleur-de-Lys hands. Case: The Rare 18ct white gold case with verso snap on case back, lozenge shaped monogrammed cartouche on the polished case back which is fully hallmarked and numbered. Movement: The Very High quality nickel finished fully jewelled movement with gold train, micrometer regulation fully signed Longines and numbered. This is a very fine and Rare example of an Art Deco Slim pocket watch...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold, White Gold

Elgin Multi Colored Box Hinged Gold Pocket Watch
Located in Dallas, TX
Elgin Multi Colored Box Hinged Gold Pocket Watch - Manual winding. Multi colored yellow gold case (48mm) with a stag on the back side . White dial with skinny Roman numerals; subdia...
Category

20th Century American Pocket Watches

Hampden 14K Yellow Gold Manual Hand Wind Elegant Unisex Pocket Watch
Located in New York, NY
This pre-owned Hampden is a beautiful Unisex timepiece that is powered by mechanical (hand-winding) movement which is cased in a yellow gold case. It has a round shape face, small ...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Pocket Watches

Alpina 14K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch
Located in Dallas, TX
Alpina 14K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch - Manual winding . 14K yellow gold ( 53 mm ) . Champagne dial with Breguet numerals; subdial at 6 o'clock. Pre-owned with custom box .
Category

20th Century Swiss Pocket Watches

1.00ctw Diamond Watch in 14K White Gold
Located in Chicago, IL
This unique watch showcases small round cut brilliant diamonds that total up to 1.00carats and set in 14K White Gold.
Category

2010s American Contemporary Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, Tanzanite, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Excellent Condition 14kt Yellow Gold Omega Pocket Watch, Calibre 163, Gold Dial
Located in Antwerp, BE
In Excellent condition 14kt Yellow Gold Omega Pocket watch, Calibre 163, Gold Dial Calibre: 163 Movement: The movement is signed Omega Swiss,...
Category

20th Century Artisan Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gilt Metal

14 Karat Yellow Gold Filled American Waltham Pocket Watch
Located in Stamford, CT
14 Karat Yellow Gold American Waltham Pocket Watch. Just serviced in fine working condition. Case no. 65463776 Sapphire Dial no. 2001...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pocket Watches

Materials

14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold-filled

Chanel Première Ladies Wristwatch H3258 Yellow Gold Diamonds
Located in Berlin, DE
Chanel Première Ladies Wristwatch Yellow Gold Diamonds Reference: H3258 Material: 18k Yellow Gold Movement: Quartz Measurements: 22 x 16 x 6,2 mm Dial: Black Bracelet: 18k Yellow Go...
Category

2010s French Contemporary Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Waltham Hunter Case Pocket Watch Ref. 1, 472009 in 14k Yellow Gold, White Dial
Located in Surfside, FL
Waltham Hunter Case Pocket watch in 14k. Manual w/ subseconds. 53.3 mm case size. Ref 1,472009. Fine Pre-owned Waltham Watch. Certified preowned Vint...
Category

20th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

Yellow Gold

Juvenia New Old Stock Leather Bound "Book Clock" for a Desk 1930's
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Eterna Watch and Clock Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Desk Clock METAL / MATERIAL: Leather and Gilt CIRCA / YEAR: 1930's DIMENSIO...
Category

1930s Art Deco Vintage Pocket Watches

Vintage Victor Kullberg Yellow Gold Open Face Pocket Watch
Located in London, GB
A Victor Kullberg 18ct yellow gold open face up and down, keyless fusee free sprung helical hair spring pocket watch, C1894. Dial: The beautifully made Wi...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Waltham Pocket Watch 10k Gold Fill Case Arabic Numeral Dial Case
Located in Surfside, FL
Waltham Vangaurd Pocket Watch in 10k gold filled case; 23 Jewel movement with rare 8-position adjustment. Railroad watch circa 1948 in Waltham gold-filled keystone case. Original untouched dial. Size 16. Fine Pre-owned Waltham Watch. Certified preowned Vintage Waltham...
Category

1940s Vintage Pocket Watches

Materials

10k Gold, Gold-filled

Cartier Art Deco Era Travel Clock
Located in New York, NY
This travel clock is triptych shaped. When its doors are opened, the dial appears, which is adorned with hours in black enameled Roman numerals in an oriental style frame. The square...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Vintage Pocket Watch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1920s Patek Philippe Pocket Watch, 45 M.M. X 9 M.M. thick 18K Yellow Gold 3 piece hinged case with Gold inside Dust cover. 18 Jewel mechanical, Manua...
Category

1920s Swiss Vintage Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Rolex Rare Prince Yellow Gold Dress Pocket Watch 8753 C1920
Located in London, GB
Rolex Prince. A very rare 38mm 18ct yellow gold dress pocket watch with a specially made chain by Rolex, C1920. Dial: The excellent cream dial with batons and crown signed Rolex Officially Certified Chronometer with original dagger hands and large subsidiary dial at six o'clock. Case: The Rhombus designed 18ct yellow gold case with a plain satin finished back. The case was never made with a bow only a chain with a clip signed Rolex, designed to be attached to a waste coat or to be put in the breast pocket with the clip attached to the lapel. The case fully signed Rolex ,numbered and Swiss hallmarked. Movement: The rhombus style movement is of exceptional high quality. Nickel finished fully jewelled, signed Rolex with Rolex Patent...
Category

20th Century Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage International Watch Company Yellow Gold Pocket Watch
By IWC
Located in Stamford, CT
Original 1940's IWC open face manual wind solid 14k yellow gold pocket watch Length: 62mm Width: 51.75mm Case thickness: 10.75mm Dial: Gold Inside case: 585 14k IWC 1013226 149 Move...
Category

Early 20th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique and Vintage Pocket Watches for Sale on 1stDibs

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.

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