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Antique Silver Engine Turned Case Key-Wind Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 46mm diameter silver key-wind pocket watch is in good working condition and it is ticking and running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with light tiny surface ma...
Category

Antique 1880s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Key-Winding Pocket Watch Signed Charles Reeves, Hereford
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 47mm diameter antique key- wound pocket watch is in good working condition and it is ticking well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with small and light surface marks ...
Category

Antique 1870s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

The Waterbury Watch Co. Antique Hand-Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 42mm diameter hand winding pocket watch is in good working condition and it is ticking nicely. It is recently been serviced. Visible signs of ageing and wear with lig...
Category

Vintage 1910s American Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Base Metal Silver Plated Goliath 8-Days Stem Winding Pocket
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful heavy 59mm case diameter antique hand winding 8 day pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well (it keeps a good time). Visible signs of ageing an...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate, Base Metal

Antique Silver Plate Manual Winding Cyclists Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique hand winding pocket watch is in good working condition and it is recently been serviced. And it is running well (It keeps a good time). It has a beautiful subj...
Category

Antique 1880s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate, Base Metal

Antique Silver Hand-Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 46mm diameter hand winding silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it is ticking well. It is a pin set time setting. Visible signs of ageing and w...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Key Winding Pocket Watch Signed H. E. Peck London
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 51mm diameter (excluding crown) key winding silver Pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with light scratc...
Category

Antique 1880s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Hand Winding Pin Setting Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 46mm diameter ( excluding crown) antique hand winding silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it runs well(it keeps a good time). Visible signs of ageing ...
Category

Antique 1880s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Antique Silver Half Hunter Stem, Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 50mm keyless hand-winding Silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it is ticking well. It is recently been serviced and keeps a good time. Visible ...
Category

Vintage 1910s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Antique Engine Turned Case Silver Key-Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 51mm diameter (excluding crown) Silver Pocket watch is in good working condition and it is ticking nicely. It is recently been serviced and it runs well. Visib...
Category

Antique 1880s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Smiths Sport Timer 1/10 TH Jewelled Stop Watch Handheld Fitness Sports
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 58mm diameter vintage hand winding stopwatch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with minor cracks on the edge of the...
Category

Vintage 1980s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Early English Silver Pair Cased Verge Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
19th century silver pair cased verge pocket watch, the fusee movement signed Henry Fogden, Chichester, no. 4109, with pierced engraved balance cock, flat steel balance and Bosley typ...
Category

Antique 1840s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Rare and Early English Silver Pair of Cased Verge Fusee Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
Early 19th century silver pair cased verge pocket watch, London 1821, the fusee movement signed Sam'l Tooke, Market Place, Lynn, no. 326626, the gilt movement with pierced balance co...
Category

Antique 1820s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Early Victorian Silver Pair of Cased Verge Pocket Watch, London, circa 1840
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique silver pair cased verge pocket watch is in good working condition and it ticking well. However due it age, i cannot guarantee its time accuracy. It runs faster...
Category

Antique 1840s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Key Winding Pocket
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 48mm diameter hand winding silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well (It keeps a good time). Visible signs of ageing and wear wit...
Category

Antique 1880s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Plated Hand Winding Doxa Goliath Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique bigger size 70mm diameter hand winding silver plated pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well (It keeps a good time). It is fully engra...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Silver Plated Steam Train Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful vintage battery operated 50mm diameter silver plated pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Please study the images carefully as form part o...
Category

2010s German Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Silver Hand Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 48mm diameter hand winding (keyless) silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well(It keeps a good time). Visible signs of ageing an...
Category

Antique 1880s French Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Pin Set Hand Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 48mm diameter hand winding pocket watch is working and it keeps a good time. Visible signs of ageing and wear with light marks and dents on the watch case as ...
Category

Antique 1880s French Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Plated Key Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 49mm diameter key winding pocket watch is in good working condition and it is ticking well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with some scratches on the watch c...
Category

Antique 1880s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Silver Key Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique key winding 52mm diameter silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with light scratches on the...
Category

Antique 1870s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Engined Turn Cased Key Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful and very fine 43mm diameter antique mechanical silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with tiny and...
Category

Antique 1880s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Plated Goliath Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 64mm diameter (excluding the crown) Hand winding silver plated pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and we...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Vintage Silver Plated Mechanical Dress Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful vintage 42mm diameter hand winding dress watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with light marks on the glass and ...
Category

Vintage 1930s Russian Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Silver Plated Centre Seconds Chronograph Lever Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
Silver plated centre second chronograph lever pocket watch, plain unsigned movement with gilt three arm balance and regulator, stop/work lever at the two position, the dial with Roma...
Category

Antique 1880s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Hand Winding Full Hunter Silver Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
Silver (0.875) lever hunter pocket watch, the movement with balance cock inscribed 'PAT APP. FOR', compensated balance and regulator, the dial signed Marx & Co. with Arabic numerals,...
Category

Vintage 1910s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Silver Dennison Case RONE Dress Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 48mm diameter watch is in good working condition and it is running. Visible signs of ageing and wear with tiny and light marks on the dial surface and watch case as sh...
Category

Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Plated Alarm Pocket Watch Signed Junghans
By Junghans Uhren GmbH
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 51mm diameter hand winding alarm pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. the alarm functioning well. Visible signs of ageing and wear...
Category

Antique Early 1900s German Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Big Silver Key Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful heavy antique 56mm diameter (Excluding the crown) pocket watch is working and running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with light surface marks on the glass and ...
Category

Antique 1880s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Full Hunter Hand Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 51mm diameter hand winding silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it is ticking well. Minute hand and the loop(metal ring) are missing as shown. ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Set in 18K White Gold, Natural Aquamarine, Rubellite Diamonds Cocktail Ring
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 51mm diameter key-winding silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. The minute hand is missing as shown. Visible signs of ageing...
Category

Antique 1870s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver American Watch Co. Waltham Mass Key-Winding Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique 57mm diameter key-winding silver pocket watch is in good working order and it is running well (it keeps a good time). Visible signs of ageing and wear with sma...
Category

Antique 1890s American Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Diameter Hand Winding Trench Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 31mm diameter(excluding crown) antique silver trench watch is in good working condition and it is running well(it keeps a good time) Visible signs of ageing and wear w...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Wrist Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Mechanical Pin Set Trench Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This Beautiful 35mm diameter(excluding winder) mechanical silver trench watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with tiny and ligh...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Wrist Watches

Materials

Silver

Belle Epoque Enamelled Silver Carriage / Pendulette Quarter Repeater Clock
Located in Antwerp, BE
Belle Epoque Grottendieck Bruxelles Enamelled Silver Carriage / Pendulette Clock in Very Nice Working Condition With Quarter Repetition Movement: mechanical with manual winding Fu...
Category

Early 20th Century Belle Époque Pocket Watches

Materials

Enamel, Silver

Glashütte Uhrenfabrik Union Silver Pocket Watch, Case by Dürrstein Co.
Located in Berlin, DE
Case by Dürrstein & Co. Case number and movement number are not identical. Glass damaged. Watch can be wound and works. Accuracy not tested.
Category

20th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Glass Ball Pocket Watch with Matching Silver Glass Chatelaine
Located in Carlisle, GB
Rare Antique Silver glass ball pocket watch with matching Silver Glass chatelaine. This beautiful piece is in good working condition and it is ticking well. Visible signs of agein...
Category

Antique 1870s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Early Verge Fusee Repousse Silver Pocket Watch by Thomas Lambford, London
Located in Carlisle, GB
Early Verge Fusee Repousse Silver Pocket Watch By Thomas Lambford, London c.1768. This 51mm diameter pocket watch is not working. I'm selling it for repair or restoration. Please ...
Category

Antique 1760s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Rare Antique Silver Pocket / Stop Watch Signed John Johnson Preston
Located in Carlisle, GB
Rare Antique Silver Pocket / Stop Watch Signed John Johnson Preston. This beautiful 52mm silver pocket watch is in good working condition and is running well. Visible signs of agei...
Category

Antique 1880s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Early and Rare Chinese Duplex Silver Key-Wind Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This Early and Extremely Rare Chinese Duplex Key-wind Pocket Watch is working and it is ticking well but I cannot guarantee its time accuracy. With its Jerking seconds (not sweep sec...
Category

Antique 1880s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Silver Cased Swiss Lever Chronograph Centre Seconds Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
A good quality chronograph timer pocket watch in a silver case. An enamel dial with black Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial. A central seconds hand and a further dial whi...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Antique Victorian Period Dimier Freres Cie Silver Enamel Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 38mm diameter (excluding crown) key winding silver pocket / fob watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with tiny a...
Category

Antique 1880s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Antique Pavé Set Rose-Cut Diamond Pendant Geneva Ball Watch
Located in Firenze, IT
The white enamel dial with blue and red Arabic numerals, bezel wind and hand setting, the rose cut diamonds set in spiralling lines, with rose-cut diamond pendant line. Mechanical mo...
Category

Antique 1880s Swiss Victorian Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian period Silver Key winding Pocket watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful 40mm diameter key winding silver pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with tiny and light marks on the wa...
Category

Antique 1880s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Rare Vintage 1930s Fortis Autorist Self Winding Watch by John Harwood
Located in Carlisle, GB
The Autorist wristwatch, an earlier invention by Harwood, relied upon the movement of the wrist, causing the strap to pull against a pivoted retainer, in turn connected to a lever wi...
Category

Vintage 1930s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Silver

Rare Antique Swinging Pendulum Silver Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
A very beautifully swiss made silver pocket watch. This late 19th century swiss silver pocket watch has a swift second hand and a mock pendulum aperture with a lovely hand painted en...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Small Vintage Silver Travel Clock
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful Art Deco period engine turned silver case travel clock is working and it is ticking well. The Dial is a bit tired as shown. Please study the images carefully as form ...
Category

Vintage 1930s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Rare Silver and Tortoise Shell Pair Cased Verge Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful antique pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Visible signs of ageing and wear with some worn on the tortoise shell cases shown. Watch size...
Category

Antique 1860s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Rare Black Enamel and Silver Cased Movado Chronometre Ermeto Travel Clock
By Movado
Located in Carlisle, GB
Black Enamel And Silver Movado Chronometre Ermeto Travel Clock. This rare charming travel clock is in good working condition. Visible signs of ageing and wear wiht some visible chi...
Category

Vintage 1920s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Rare Early Verge Fusee London Maker Half Hunter Silver Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
Rare Early Verge Fusee Silver Half Hunter Cased London Maker Pocket Watch. This watch is in good working condition and is ticking well. But I cannot guarantee the time accuracy. Som...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver

Antique Mechanical Silver Plated Stop Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This pre-owned 52mm diameter watch case mechanical stop watch is in good working condition. Visible signs of wearing with light marks on the glass and on the watch case. Some dents o...
Category

Vintage 1920s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Silver Plated Stop Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This pre-owned 50mm diameter watch case mechanical stop watch is in good working condition. Visible signs of wearing with light marks on the glass and on the watch case. Please study...
Category

Vintage 1920s British Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Movado Pocket Watch Vermeil Gold over 0.935 Silver Manual
By Movado
Located in Surfside, FL
"Baby Ermetto" Movado watch in vermeil (gold over 0.935 silver). Circa 1950. Manual. Fine Pre-owned Movado Watch. Certified preowned Vintage Movado pocket watch watch. This Movado w...
Category

Vintage 1950s Pocket Watches

Materials

Vermeil, Silver

Jaeger LeCoultre Pendant Pocket Watch Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Silver Dial
By Jaeger-LeCoultre
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A 39 mm vintage pendant pocket watch by Jaeger LeCoultre, crafted from 18k yellow gold. Featuring a silver dial with applied hour markers, a fixed 18k yellow gold bezel, plastic gla...
Category

20th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Silver Plated Steam Train Pocket Watch
Located in Carlisle, GB
This beautiful vintage battery operated 50mm diameter silver plated pocket watch is in good working condition and it is running well. Please study the images carefully as form part o...
Category

2010s German Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver Plate

Victorian French 2 Carat Rose Cut Diamond Star Pocket Watch
Located in Narberth, PA
An absolutely exquisite diamond pocket watch from the Victorian (1880s) era! French in origin, this exceptional piece is crafted in 18kt gold and sterling silver, creating a subtle m...
Category

Antique 1880s French Victorian Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Vintage Art Nouveau 4- Panel Relief Soldier Design Sterling Silver Watch Fob
Located in St. Louis Park, MN
This vintage Art Nouveau watch fob features four Sterling Silver panels which each have a relief of a soldier's head. There is no stamp. Fob length measures approximately 6" long...
Category

Antique 19th Century Art Nouveau Pocket Watches

Materials

Sterling Silver

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Silver Pocket Watches For Sale on 1stDibs

Find an expansive variety of silver pocket watches available on 1stDibs. Our selection of items includes 602 vintage examples as well as 10 contemporary versions. Our collection, which features older pieces for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century, has proven very popular over the years. Our collection of silver pocket watches includes designs that are universally popular, but Victorian and Art Deco styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Omega, Movado and Vacheron Constantin each produced beautiful examples of these items that are worth considering. Browse our collection of 17 diamond versions today to add the perfect touch to your look. Today, if you’re looking for rose cut silver pocket watches and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes round cut and cabochon alternatives. Most of our silver pocket watches for sale are for men, but there are 390 pieces available to browse for women.

How Much are Silver Pocket Watches?

Prices for silver pocket watches can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $90 and can go as high as $166,000, while silver pocket watches, on average, fetch $3,480.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Pocket Watches for You

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.

Questions About Silver Pocket Watches
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A pocket watch pocket is called by a number of names. You will sometimes see people refer to it simply as a watch pocket. Other names include a coin pocket or a fob pocket. Find a variety of antique pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The way to speed up your pocket watch depends on the specific model of timepiece that you have. To avoid damage, take it to a watch repair shop with experience repairing pocket watches to make adjustments. You'll find a selection of pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    A hunter pocket watch is a pocket watch with a metal case that has a spring hinged lid to cover the watch face and protect it from damage.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 22, 2024
    The most highly sought-after pocket watch will vary over time as trends in collecting do come and go. However, some pocket watches remain consistently popular among collectors. These timepieces include dress watches, such as those crafted by Elgin, Audemars Piguet and Patek Phillippe; railroad pocket watches produced by makers like Illinois and Hamilton; and military timepieces manufactured by Rolex and Omega. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021
    The best pocket watch is a matter of preference. 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. Brands like Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet are internationally renowned makers of pocket watches. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    How you store pocket watches is largely a matter of personal preference. Generally, you should keep them in a storage container designed specifically for stowing delicate items, such as a velvet-lined jewelry box, a watch box or on a watch stand. Shop a variety of antique and vintage pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A pocket watch fob refers to the chain or ribbon to which a pocket watch is attached. Its purpose was to make the watch more readily accessible to the wearer. You’ll find a variety of pocket watch fobs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A fusee pocket watch — named for the French word fusée — is an antique type of watch with a crescent pulley and a curved groove around it that is wound with a cord or chain. The chain is attached to the mainspring barrel. Find a range of vintage fusee pocket watches on 1stDibs today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, pocket watches peaked in popularity in the 1800s. The first pocket watch was created in Germany in 1510, but was originally too large for a pocket. In the 1600s, the design began to get more compact, but for a long time pocket watches were a rarity and a symbol of wealth. Shop an array of antique pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
    To identify a railroad pocket watch, first determine how you set and wind it. Most pocket watches have winding knobs, but railroad-grade timepieces were all made to be lever-set. To wind and set them, it's necessary to remove the bezel, so if your pocket watch has a winding knob, it's unlikely to be railroad-grade. There were also regulations concerning the numbers. All railroad-grade watches will have large black hour markers in Arabic, not Roman, numerals. Maker's markings may also provide a clue. Some well-known makers of railroad-grade pocket watches include Elgin, Hamilton, Waltham and E. Howard. For an expert opinion on your timepiece, have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer evaluate it. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of railroad pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The easiest way to identify your Elgin pocket watch is to enter the serial number into an authoritative online database. To find the serial number, open the timepiece and look at the inner movement. On 1stDibs, find a selection of expertly vetted Elgin pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To open an Illinois pocket watch, take it to a watch repair shop or a jeweler. Experts advise against attempting to open pocket watches on your own because doing so without the proper tools can damage the timepieces. On 1stDibs, find a range of Illinois pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To use a pocket watch chain, first attach one end to the fob of your watch. Then, tuck the watch into the watch pocket of your jacket. Thread the free end of the chain through your jacket buttonhole. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A watch fob is the name for a pocket watch chain. It's utilized to make the pocket watch more accessible by providing a handle for the user to hold while taking it out of a vest or pant pocket. On 1stDibs, you can find a variety of pocket watch chains.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Yes, pocket watches can be a good investment. However, many factors can influence the value of a pocket watch, including the brand, the style and the mechanism that powers it. Also, how well you maintain and care for the watch impacts what it is worth. You'll find a collection of antique and vintage pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Yes, pocket watches can be worth something. A pocket watch's value depends on its age, rarity, and brand. The watch's brand name is the main factor in determining price.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 22, 2024
    The answer to who makes Elgin pocket watches is a little complicated. In 1968, the Elgin National Watch Company closed and stopped producing its watches. However, the owners opted to license the Elgin name to other companies, allowing them to make their own watches that bear the brand’s name. The license changed hands a few times and, as of 2024, was the property of MZ Berger Inc. This company manufactures and sells Elgin pocket watches and wristwatches in China. These timepieces feature Japanese-made movements and bear little resemblance to the original pocket watches produced by Elgin. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Elgin watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertDecember 17, 2024
    Rockford pocket watches were made in Rockford, Illinois. The company opened in 1874 and produced pocket watches that quickly became known for their elaborate dials. In 1915, the Rockford Watch Company ceased operations due to financial problems. Shop an assortment of Rockford Watch Company pocket watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 24, 2024
    To tell how old your pocket watch is, learn about its maker by conducting online research using trustworthy sources. For each maker, there is a set of characteristics used to date its timepieces. You may need to examine the maker's mark, serial number, model number, movement number, dial features or other aspects. If you run into any difficulty, consider having a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer assist you with the dating process. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of pocket watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024
    Elgin pocket watches are more than 150 years old. The first Elgin pocket watch debuted in 1867, and the Elgin National Watch Co. watchmaker continued to produce them until 1968. At the height of their popularity, Elgin pocket watches accounted for half of all pocket watches sold in the U.S. On 1stDibs, find a range of Elgin watches.