Break out the ‘ole pocket watch
I got this watch from my grandpa. I know Elgins are a dime a dozen, but they’re still pretty cool. This belonged to my great-great grandpa or his sisters husband. It’s a 7 million serial number Elgin from 1896-1900. But the cool thing is that I set it last night, and it’s right on time!
Do you guys have any old pocket watches laying around? Tell their story in the comments.
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I have a few pocket watches, but unfortunately I don't havere any personal connection to any of them. The oldest one (the silver Waltham) is from 1899, and the newest one is from 1903, and all of them keep good time. That's one of the reasons that I find mechanical watches so appealing - what other 120+ year old product can you name that still serves its original intended function. Hell, I have a Samsung Smart Watch that is already obsolete and it's not even 10 years old.
Nice collection! I agree. That’s why I love them as well. There’s a kind of romanticism about something from a past era that still works
Beautiful watch! I love how the movement is decorated and the lettering.
Just in case you haven't already stumbled onto it, this web site is great for pocket watch info:
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/
I do love pocket watches - for me much of their fascination lies in the movements. They are great to watch in action and put an exhibition caseback in the deep shade.
Here are a few of my favourites:
a Waltham Canadian Pacific Railway watch from c.1902
another Canadian dial Waltham, a Vanguard from c.1907
a Waltham Riverside Maximus from c.1904
a US Navy Hamilton from c.1941
(Sorry the pictures seem to arrange themselves in a random order)
They all keep really good time but sadly no family connection stories. I really wish they could tell their own stories as, with over 400 years of history between them, there’s bound to be several nuggets there.
If you find mechanical wristwatches fascinating, and aren’t fortunate enough to receive an heirloom, then finding one of these with a strong and attractive movement at modest cost (and ideally recently serviced) is well worthwhile. But try not to get sucked down the rabbit hole - one is sufficient!
I have a few pocket watches, but unfortunately I don't havere any personal connection to any of them. The oldest one (the silver Waltham) is from 1899, and the newest one is from 1903, and all of them keep good time. That's one of the reasons that I find mechanical watches so appealing - what other 120+ year old product can you name that still serves its original intended function. Hell, I have a Samsung Smart Watch that is already obsolete and it's not even 10 years old.
A nice set. What’s the movement in the little one and what is the dial like?
A nice set. What’s the movement in the little one and what is the dial like?
Here's a photo of the dial and the movement. Unfortunately the only photo I have of the movement is one that the seller had provided, and I've been unable to open the caseback again to get a better one.
I found a lone Elgin dial a while back (case and movement were long gone), and managed to squeeze it onto a Seiko NH Movement!
Here's a photo of the dial and the movement. Unfortunately the only photo I have of the movement is one that the seller had provided, and I've been unable to open the caseback again to get a better one.
Thank you - That’s a great looking dial and case but I don’t immediately recognise the movement. Judging by the font of the “15 jewels” I would guess it’s a Swiss movement; it was commonplace for Canadian retailers to put together their dials with American cases and Swiss movements.
I have been looking for a decent 0s case as I have a great movement that works perfectly to house. But I have discovered a few of things about these small watches in my quest.
As they are so small, many that have lasted this long have taken a beating.
As they were mainly for the ladies, many of the cases are extremely ornate and feminine and, to a lesser extent, the same goes for the dials.
As they were a jewellery item for the ladies a large number of cases were real gold and so many have been melted down leaving a surplus of movements, few cases including some very expensive very feminine cases.
So look after yours as it’s in great condition and it certainly has a great case and dial.
#pocketwatches are definitely an amazing vibe
I found a lone Elgin dial a while back (case and movement were long gone), and managed to squeeze it onto a Seiko NH Movement!
Beautiful! That's a really awesome mod.
Thank you - That’s a great looking dial and case but I don’t immediately recognise the movement. Judging by the font of the “15 jewels” I would guess it’s a Swiss movement; it was commonplace for Canadian retailers to put together their dials with American cases and Swiss movements.
I have been looking for a decent 0s case as I have a great movement that works perfectly to house. But I have discovered a few of things about these small watches in my quest.
As they are so small, many that have lasted this long have taken a beating.
As they were mainly for the ladies, many of the cases are extremely ornate and feminine and, to a lesser extent, the same goes for the dials.
As they were a jewellery item for the ladies a large number of cases were real gold and so many have been melted down leaving a surplus of movements, few cases including some very expensive very feminine cases.
So look after yours as it’s in great condition and it certainly has a great case and dial.
Thanks so much - I really appreciate the input. I think I'll take this one in to my local watchmaker and see what he can do with it, since it does appear to be in great shape.
Didn’t want to detract from the pocket watch thread while it was running but I noticed you’re “trying to overcome … prejudice of quartz watches” and, coming from a similar perspective, I suggest exploring the early quartz watches (e.g. Seiko early 70s). They are mostly still serviceable and good examples from the 70s can be found relatively inexpensively. (As the late 60s watches were the first quartz watches these can be really pricey.)
This one from 1975 has black onyx indices, a hardened stainless steel case, even the minute markers are applied and it’s running at +/- 10 seconds per year! Certainly it is impressing me all round. I’m not a dress watch guy so these smaller slimmer watches serve that purpose for me - or at least that gives me the excuse. And they have heaps of charm compared with modern quartz watches.
Thanks for the comment! I would like to check out some of those early examples