Recommend me a pocketwatch

[pistonheadforum]

Hello,

I'd like to channel my inner Fred Dibah and get a decent mechanical pocketwatch.

I've always liked the craftsmanship in them and think they are nice things from a tactile point of view.

Can anybody recommend me a brand or supplier? I think I want I full hunter (fully closed case?) but don't really know which ones are any good and I'm guessing old antique fairs are the place to go?

Are there any online sellers that sell new ones that can be recommended. I don't want to pay more than £200-£300 and ideally not gold. Extra bonus if it does something special in terns of alarms/repeaters etc.

Thanks in advance.

[pistonheadforum]

Oops and can't change the title which is typod!

[six wheels]

I wanted (needed?) a pocket watch for a wedding last year.

I’d thought about setting a similar budget to yours but was concerned if not use the watch frequently enough to justify the cost.

In the end I went for an Ingersoll watch and bought a couple of chains - one for a waistcoat and another for a belt.

The watch isn’t a hunter style as was my preference. This is it:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1134955707/ingerso...

It’s cheap, obviously, but also really nice. There’s something very tactile about it and I enjoyed wearing it. That said, it’s been in the drawer since late December.

I guess I’m suggesting that if you’re just dipping your toe, maybe give it a try at a lower price point or second hand?

[pistonheadforum]

six wheels said:

I wanted (needed?) a pocket watch for a wedding last year.

I’d thought about setting a similar budget to yours but was concerned if not use the watch frequently enough to justify the cost.

In the end I went for an Ingersoll watch and bought a couple of chains - one for a waistcoat and another for a belt.

The watch isn’t a hunter style as was my preference. This is it:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1134955707/ingerso...

It’s cheap, obviously, but also really nice. There’s something very tactile about it and I enjoyed wearing it. That said, it’s been in the drawer since late December.

I guess I’m suggesting that if you’re just dipping your toe, maybe give it a try at a lower price point or second hand?

Thanks - that's good advice and I was thinking about that.

I just didn't want to spend on something that had plastic for glass and spun round faster than my electric meter! How does your do in timekeeping?

I was looking at this sort of thing:

https://www.pocketwatch.co.uk/product/woodford-chr...

https://www.pocketwatch.co.uk/product/rapport-chro...

I've never heard of these brands, but then again I've never looked at this stuff before.

[pistonheadforum]

Is 17 jewels any good? Some online guides say 21 jewels is the standard for railroad days when they started getting accurate.

[six wheels]

pistonheadforum said:

Thanks - that's good advice and I was thinking about that.

I just didn't want to spend on something that had plastic for glass and spun round faster than my electric meter! How does your do in timekeeping?

I was looking at this sort of thing:

https://www.pocketwatch.co.uk/product/woodford-chr...

https://www.pocketwatch.co.uk/product/rapport-chro...

I've never heard of these brands, but then again I've never looked at this stuff before.

I’d missed your reply here, sorry.

Mine keeps time “okay”. It’s a manual wind rather than automatic - and it’s lovely to wind the watch.

My brother let me borrow his hunter style. I found the case release a bit annoying but YMMV of course.

I hope you find something!

[Scrump]

pistonheadforum said:

Oops and can't change the title which is typod!

Title looks okay to me!

[pistonheadforum]

Scrump said:

Title looks okay to me!

I think I will just take a punt and order something online.

I am going in eyes open to the accuracy and downsides to a modern pocketwatch.

As I won't be able to handle them before purchase I've been looking in more detail at any photos to see if they can be regulated? Is this something they all can do? I've had good sucess in the past tuning mechanical watches myself by adjusting through trial and error.

This is the bit I think I can adjust?



Thanks in advance.

[pistonheadforum]

So ... having looked at some of the modern pocketwatches they really are junk.

I think it might be round the brick-a-brack stores and antiques fairs trying to get something from when the built them to last.

[The Dictator]

I have also skirted around looking for a pocket watch, I also want a full hunter.

I had come to the same conclusion as you that a lot of the modern stuff is junk, but a lot of the older stuff is also a bit of a lottery for other reasons.

If you end up buying, please do update this thread.

[pistonheadforum]

Will do.

I have always had a mechanical watch because I liked the idea of having a mechanical marvel on my wrist. For the past few years have had a fitness/smartwatch and would now miss the step count and other heath related information hence the desire to have something mechanical in a pocketwatch.

[944 Man]

Id buy used and get it serviced (and don't allow your leg to be lifted there: it is a £50 job more than a £500 job, irrespective of make).

[pistonheadforum]

What does adjusted for temperature mean and is it worth having on an older watch?

Do the 7 jewel older watches keep reasonably accurate time?

Thanks in advance.

[pistonheadforum]

Do 7 jewel watches wear out worse/faster than higher jewel levels?

[sospan]

I have a couple of Waltham pocket watches. One was my grandad’s and is gold 1930 half hunter. Works well. A replacement from his original with an Albert chain with gold pendants ( one dated 1915).
Second is also Waltham full hunter dated 1902 15 jewels. Quite ornate case with a small (diamond?) in the front centre. Engraved with recipient’s name. Works well. No chain. No crystal ( glass) though.
I occasionally wear my grandad’s on special occasions and a waistcoat worn.
I am looking to value the ornate one and possibly sell.
Any decent sites to get a value?
Chrono24 have a Waltham pocket list but values vary a lot.

[pistonheadforum]

[pistonheadforum]

Picked this up for the cost of a tank of fuel (small tank!).

Keeps pretty decent time (a few minutes fast per day so far).

Not sure if okay to use everyday or if they wear out? Some stuff about not being fully jeweled means they can wear but don't know if that's a real concern or not? Any experts able to comment?

A nice thing and interesting that it dates to 1906 - how the world was different in that time does cause my head to wobble.

[Timer]

944 Man said:

Id buy used and get it serviced (and don't allow your leg to be lifted there: it is a £50 job more than a £500 job, irrespective of make).

This is Fantastic news. If you can point me in the direction of this £50 service I’ll have loads for him/her. I’ll pay them double if they like…

[gregs656]

pistonheadforum said:

Picked this up for the cost of a tank of fuel (small tank!).

Keeps pretty decent time (a few minutes fast per day so far).

Not sure if okay to use everyday or if they wear out? Some stuff about not being fully jeweled means they can wear but don't know if that's a real concern or not? Any experts able to comment?

A nice thing and interesting that it dates to 1906 - how the world was different in that time does cause my head to wobble.

The biggest risk to it is probably shock from being dropped. Even if the pivots did wear they could be repaired or even replaced with jewelled pivots.

Looks very cool to me anyway.

[944 Man]

Timer said:

This is Fantastic news. If you can point me in the direction of this £50 service I’ll have loads for him/her. I’ll pay them double if they like…

If you want to try to look clever, then find it for yourself.