Antique Watch Company
1920s Swiss Antique Watch Company
Steel
Late 19th Century American Antique Watch Company
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
Early 20th Century Swiss Antique Watch Company
Silver, Enamel
1830s Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Nouveau Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1910s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled, White Gold
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1880s Swiss Early Victorian Antique Watch Company
1910s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
Early 1900s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Watch Company
Yellow Gold
15th Century and Earlier American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1890s American Antique Watch Company
1920s Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1910s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
14k Gold
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled, White Gold
1910s American Victorian Antique Watch Company
Sterling Silver, Silver, Enamel
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s American Civil War Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1920s American Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1910s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1910s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1890s Antique Watch Company
1920s Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Steel
1920s Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
14k Gold
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Watch Company
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
White Gold
1920s Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Platinum
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
14k Gold
1910s Swiss Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Antique Watch Company
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1920s American Art Deco Antique Watch Company
Gold-filled
1880s American Antique Watch Company
14k Gold
1880s Antique Watch Company
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Antique Watch Company For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique Watch Company?
Finding the Right Watches for You
Records show that, in Europe, by the 16th century, it was high time for portable clock devices. Right now, perhaps you’re shopping for your own. If so, find a vast range of fashionable and functional antique, vintage and luxury watches on 1stDibs.
While wall-mounted time tellers and grandfather clocks were much more convenient than the sundials of ancient history, watches were becoming crucial for an increasingly connected society whose members learned that the latest advancements in technology meant they could carry devices that kept time to within a minute a day. Tragically, the first pocket watches — albeit an improvement on the accessories that preceded them, which dangled from a chain worn around the neck — didn’t help much as far as accuracy or portability. Focused on style over substance, the upper class frequently carried lavish pieces that ran hours behind.
Eventually, watches migrated from owners’ pockets to their wrists. In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.
Indeed, although exceedingly practical, the watches of today are far from bland. Bulgari’s iconic Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional watches. You’ll always know what time it is because you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from your new accessory.
Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.
When shopping for a watch, it’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.
Find exactly what you’re looking for in an unparalleled collection of antique, vintage and luxury watches on 1stDibs that includes Cartier watches, Rolex watches, Patek Philippe watches and more — we promise it will be worth your time.
- Is Cartier a watch company?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024Yes, Cartier is a watch company. It also produces jewelry, sunglasses and other accessories. For its extraordinary range of bracelets, watches, rings and other adornments, French luxury house Cartier is undeniably one of the best-known and internationally revered jewelers in the world. One of Cartier’s earliest major successes was the Santos de Cartier watch — one of the world's first modern wristwatches for men. (Previously, many people only used pocket watches.) Louis Cartier designed the timepiece in 1904 for his friend, popular Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to be able to check the time more easily while flying. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of Cartier watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024There is no single most prestigious watch company. In fact, many makers produce reliable, innovative timepieces out of fine materials. Some of the leading names in the world of luxury watches include Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, Vacheron Constantin, Richard Mille, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Blancpain, Cartier and Audemars Piguet. Find a wide range of watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024The Rado Watch Company is more than 100 years old. Brothers Ernst, Fritz and Werner Schlup founded the company as Schlup Co. in Lengnau, Switzerland, in 1917. During the 1950s, the brothers introduced the Rado watch brand and subsequently changed the name of their company to correspond with their successful collection. Find a range of Rado watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024Here are some of the oldest British watch companies: Founded in 1846, the Fears Watch Company of Bristol operated continuously until the 1970s, when the quartz crisis led to financial difficulties. The founder's great-great-great grandson relaunched the brand in 2016. Other British brands with long histories include Smiths Watches, established in 1851, and the Rochester Watch Company, which opened in 1900. Shop a wide range of watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024The history of the Record Watch Company traces back to Tramelan, Switzerland, where a group of watchmakers established the company. Their singular goal was to introduce a new type of pocket watch. Called the Sector Watch, the timepiece featured a triangular case and a retrograde display for easy reading. In 1916, the company merged with a number of other small Swiss makers to form the Record Dreadnought Watch Co. S.A. During the decades that followed, Record Dreadnought Watch manufactured a wide variety of clocks, watches and other components under several brand names, including Record. Like many watchmakers, Record Dreadnought Watch contributed to the war effort during World War II by manufacturing watches for the British military. In 1949, the company changed its name to Record Watch Co. S.A. Eleven years later, it became the first Swiss watchmaker to earn the approval of the U.S. government for its pocket watches to be used on U.S. railways. A year later, Longines purchased Record, though it continued to produce watches under the Record brand name for 30 years. Today, Longines has a collection that features timepieces inspired by the Record brand. Explore a selection of Record watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 22, 2024No, the Waltham Watch Company does not still exist. The watchmaker went out of business in 1981. However, a subsidiary of the original company, Waltham, SA, does continue to manufacture timepieces. Shop a range of Waltham Watch Company watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 17, 2024The Illinois Watch Company went out of business in 1928. However, the Hamilton Watch Company purchased the brand and continued to manufacture timepieces under the Illinois name for decades after. In 2004, Swatch bought the Hamilton Watch Company and surrendered the Illinois Watch Company brand name. A new group of investors purchased the name in 2009 and began manufacturing timepieces under the brand again. Shop a range of Illinois Watch Company watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No. The USA-based Elgin Watch Company sadly closed its doors in 1968. The rights to the Elgin name were purchased by MZ Berger Inc., which manufactures watches in China and distributes them outside of conventional watch shops. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Elgin watches from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 22, 2024Yes, Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watch company in the world that remains in operation today. It was founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron, the son of a master weaver in Geneva who instilled in his children his belief that working with one’s hands is a noble endeavor. Vacheron took his father’s convictions to heart and opened his watchmaking workshop at the age of 24. The watchmaker made custom watches for royalty and was an innovator in its field. Since becoming known as Vacheron Constantin in 1819 — and later, Vacheron Constantin — the company has enjoyed international acclaim for everything from jewelry watches to provocatively shaped designs. On 1stDibs, explore a wide range of Vacheron Constantin watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024The history of the American Waltham Watch Company started in 1854, when Aaron Lufkin Dennison founded the company in Waltham, Massachusetts. There, it began to manufacture watches with interchangeable parts, a new approach to production that allowed the company to prepare watches much more quickly than its competitors. Still, the company experienced economic hardships during its early years, and Dennison was forced to sell his company to Royal E. Robbins in 1857. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Robbins and his business partners, Henry Asher Robbins and Daniel F. Appleton, capitalized on the military's need for reliable watches by introducing an inexpensive $13 timepiece called the William Ellery. Following the war, the company became a supplier to major railways. After a period of sluggish sales as a result of the Panic of 1907, the American Waltham Watch Company revived the business by expanding its manufacturing into fuses and other essential materials for World War I. By the 1920s, the company was producing wristwatches and continued to do so despite changes in ownership during the 1950s and ’60s. By the 1970s, the company was no longer manufacturing watches but had licensed its name to other watchmakers, a practice that continues to this day. On 1stDibs, find a range of American Waltham Watch Company watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025There are many famous antique glass companies. Some examples include Baccarat, Barovier, Christofle, Emile Galle, Lalique, La Rochere, Mappin Webb, Muller Frères and Moser. To be considered antique, glassware must be at least 100 years old. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of antique glass.
- What makes a watch antique?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 22, 2024What makes a watch antique is its age. A watch must be at least 100 years old to be considered antique. Watches that are 20 to 99 years old are vintage, while newer ones are contemporary. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022An antique fob watch works with the help of a winding mechanism. Turning the winder puts tension on the clockwork gears, allowing them to move. Depending on the watch, you may wind it with a specially designed key or a winding crown located on the stem of the timepiece. You'll find a collection of antique fob watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023At 100 years of age or more, a watch is generally considered an antique. A vintage watch is a timepiece that is at least 20 years old. On 1stDibs, find a large collection of antique, vintage and modern watches.
Read More
The Rolex Datejust Is Celebrating Its 80th Anniversary
The watch has transformed several times over, but it’s still undeniably a classic.
The Rolex Bluesy
This is perhaps the least subtle version of the Submariner.
Rolex Starbucks
If you think this looks like the Rolex Kermit, you're correct.
The Rolex Hulk
This all-green version of the Submariner is much sought-after.
The Rolex Sprite
This model was designed for lefties.
The Rolex Pepsi
This model's other nickname, Pussy Galore, come from a James Bond film.
Patek Philippe’s Calatrava Watch Is an Icon of Understated Elegance
Launched in 1932, the model has become emblematic of quality craftsmanship and timeless design.
Bulgari’s Serpenti Wristwatch Is the Power Piece of the Moment, Again
From Elizabeth Taylor to Zendaya, the Serpenti has been the accessory of choice for generations of it girls.








