Pocket watches
Discussion
My wife was considering buying me a pocket watch for Xmas and has asked which one I would like. I'm offshore just now so will be doing it a bit late this year.
I found a few 60's Omega watches but they vary hugely in price so I don't know what they're actually worth. There is also a possibility of it not working well.
I've had a look at a few new ones in local shops but they just feel cheap. I'm also finding it hard to sort the tat from the better ones.
I'd prefer markers rather than numbers (not a common option and I may have to go with the numbers), dark coloured face (again not common), silver colour rather than gold and ideally a hunter case but this is also subject to availability.
Essentially I'd like the Omega seamaster of pocket watches, easy to read and feels like it'll last forever.
So if you were looking for a nice pocket watch would you buy old or new and which one would you get?
Budget is around £300 ish.
I found a few 60's Omega watches but they vary hugely in price so I don't know what they're actually worth. There is also a possibility of it not working well.
I've had a look at a few new ones in local shops but they just feel cheap. I'm also finding it hard to sort the tat from the better ones.
I'd prefer markers rather than numbers (not a common option and I may have to go with the numbers), dark coloured face (again not common), silver colour rather than gold and ideally a hunter case but this is also subject to availability.
Essentially I'd like the Omega seamaster of pocket watches, easy to read and feels like it'll last forever.
So if you were looking for a nice pocket watch would you buy old or new and which one would you get?
Budget is around £300 ish.
Your choice is going to come down to personal taste.
I strongly advise that you steer clear of the Ukranian and Bulgarian pocket watch conversions though. I'm saying this because lots of teh designs have black faces.
They remove the silver/ gold case and melt it.
They give you a nasty new stainless case.
The faces are complete fabrications, are brand new and bear no resemblence to the corect face for the original watch, or any other face ever produces by the maker.
The crowns are machined to alter the shape.
The watch mechanisms often have tenuous links to the claimed manufacturer. For example, a watch badged as Longines may have a movement by another manufacturer who supplied Longines once. You have no proof that the movement was ever anywhere near a Longines watch.
When converted to wristwatches, these really aren't that good. Pocket watches lack the shock protection necessary for a good wristwatch.
And of top of that, people pay hundreds of pounds for these things. Personally, I don't feel that they are worth more than the value of the mech, £20-£40.
I strongly advise that you steer clear of the Ukranian and Bulgarian pocket watch conversions though. I'm saying this because lots of teh designs have black faces.
They remove the silver/ gold case and melt it.
They give you a nasty new stainless case.
The faces are complete fabrications, are brand new and bear no resemblence to the corect face for the original watch, or any other face ever produces by the maker.
The crowns are machined to alter the shape.
The watch mechanisms often have tenuous links to the claimed manufacturer. For example, a watch badged as Longines may have a movement by another manufacturer who supplied Longines once. You have no proof that the movement was ever anywhere near a Longines watch.
When converted to wristwatches, these really aren't that good. Pocket watches lack the shock protection necessary for a good wristwatch.
And of top of that, people pay hundreds of pounds for these things. Personally, I don't feel that they are worth more than the value of the mech, £20-£40.
I have a few pocket watches myself, just as a bit of a collectors whatsit, my great-grandad passed one down to me so that's what started it off.
With that sort of budget I'd be looking at Elgin or Waltham with the highest grade movement you can find.
Omega ones can be had within budget, but i'd be wary about case and movement matching up, often movements are moved to a lower grade case and the old cases melted down and used for something else.
Pocket watch movements are graded (roughly) by the number of 'jewels' they use in their set up; typical ranges from about 7-21 (higher = better, usually). Of course there are exceptions, but try to go for higher. These low grade rubies (the jewels) are used where softer materials would wear away with time.
HTH, PM me if you have any questions.
ETA: Forgot to add, '##J' refers to the number of jewels in the movement, and should be written on the movement somewhere - most of mine are 15J.
Also consider what style you want; hunter, half hunter, open face - and which orientation, and whether hand or key wound. Key wound mech's tend to be on older watches.
With that sort of budget I'd be looking at Elgin or Waltham with the highest grade movement you can find.
Omega ones can be had within budget, but i'd be wary about case and movement matching up, often movements are moved to a lower grade case and the old cases melted down and used for something else.
Pocket watch movements are graded (roughly) by the number of 'jewels' they use in their set up; typical ranges from about 7-21 (higher = better, usually). Of course there are exceptions, but try to go for higher. These low grade rubies (the jewels) are used where softer materials would wear away with time.
HTH, PM me if you have any questions.
ETA: Forgot to add, '##J' refers to the number of jewels in the movement, and should be written on the movement somewhere - most of mine are 15J.
Also consider what style you want; hunter, half hunter, open face - and which orientation, and whether hand or key wound. Key wound mech's tend to be on older watches.
Edited by jkb89 on Friday 20th December 16:53
I'll be avoiding the eastern european section then!
I just want a nice watch, one that feels well made. I'm prepared to move on spec as I haven't seen many with dark faces.
As long as it's clear and not fussy it's fine.
Orientation, I'd pefer the crown at the top as it makes more sence to me, and it's more symetrical.
I'd like covers on both sides (double hunter?) as being able to see the movement easily appeals.
I notice that the makers suggested will be antiques, is this because the better watches were made when they were just watches or are there any current makers that are good too?
I'm not worried about having an older watch as it'll be a special occasions only item.
I just want a nice watch, one that feels well made. I'm prepared to move on spec as I haven't seen many with dark faces.
As long as it's clear and not fussy it's fine.
Orientation, I'd pefer the crown at the top as it makes more sence to me, and it's more symetrical.
I'd like covers on both sides (double hunter?) as being able to see the movement easily appeals.
I notice that the makers suggested will be antiques, is this because the better watches were made when they were just watches or are there any current makers that are good too?
I'm not worried about having an older watch as it'll be a special occasions only item.
mikeveal said:
Your choice is going to come down to personal taste.
I strongly advise that you steer clear of the Ukranian and Bulgarian pocket watch conversions though. I'm saying this because lots of teh designs have black faces.
They remove the silver/ gold case and melt it.
They give you a nasty new stainless case.
The faces are complete fabrications, are brand new and bear no resemblence to the corect face for the original watch, or any other face ever produces by the maker.
The crowns are machined to alter the shape.
The watch mechanisms often have tenuous links to the claimed manufacturer. For example, a watch badged as Longines may have a movement by another manufacturer who supplied Longines once. You have no proof that the movement was ever anywhere near a Longines watch.
When converted to wristwatches, these really aren't that good. Pocket watches lack the shock protection necessary for a good wristwatch.
And of top of that, people pay hundreds of pounds for these things. Personally, I don't feel that they are worth more than the value of the mech, £20-£40.
I would dispute a lot of what you have said here really.I strongly advise that you steer clear of the Ukranian and Bulgarian pocket watch conversions though. I'm saying this because lots of teh designs have black faces.
They remove the silver/ gold case and melt it.
They give you a nasty new stainless case.
The faces are complete fabrications, are brand new and bear no resemblence to the corect face for the original watch, or any other face ever produces by the maker.
The crowns are machined to alter the shape.
The watch mechanisms often have tenuous links to the claimed manufacturer. For example, a watch badged as Longines may have a movement by another manufacturer who supplied Longines once. You have no proof that the movement was ever anywhere near a Longines watch.
When converted to wristwatches, these really aren't that good. Pocket watches lack the shock protection necessary for a good wristwatch.
And of top of that, people pay hundreds of pounds for these things. Personally, I don't feel that they are worth more than the value of the mech, £20-£40.
I do agree there are some people doing just that, but it is not the case that they are all worthless & use cheap, altered or non-original movements.
I have a year 1900 Zenith pocket watch converted to wrist watch, & it has the original silver case, original porcelain dial, movement & swan neck crown.
Sorry the quality isn't very good, it is an old photograph on a rubbish camera.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUNNING-14K-FULL-HUNTER...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTIQUE-ROLLED-GOLD-WALT...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPER-WALTHAM-15J-FULL-H...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WALTHAM-HALF-HUNTER-POCK...
just a few suggestions - you'll struggle to get a black faced silver one imo.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTIQUE-ROLLED-GOLD-WALT...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPER-WALTHAM-15J-FULL-H...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WALTHAM-HALF-HUNTER-POCK...
just a few suggestions - you'll struggle to get a black faced silver one imo.
Right, more ebay and chrono 24 trawling has been done (it sucks shopping for your own xmas present but it means I'll actually get something I like).
Black face is out, they're rare and typically on gold watches.
Hunter case may be out as they seem to be less common too.
Liking the looks of this http://www.chrono24.com/en/omega/pocket-watch-de-v... but not in gold.
And this http://www.chrono24.com/en/zenith/pocket-watch-vin...
And possibly this http://www.chrono24.com/en/longines/pocket-watch-l...
It's the uncluttered faces that I like, I find many of the pocket watches (old or new) to be far to busy.
Black face is out, they're rare and typically on gold watches.
Hunter case may be out as they seem to be less common too.
Liking the looks of this http://www.chrono24.com/en/omega/pocket-watch-de-v... but not in gold.
And this http://www.chrono24.com/en/zenith/pocket-watch-vin...
And possibly this http://www.chrono24.com/en/longines/pocket-watch-l...
It's the uncluttered faces that I like, I find many of the pocket watches (old or new) to be far to busy.
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