Repairing them can become a full-time hobby in and of itself, just like building model airplanes or railroads. Pocket watches are tiny, complex machines that use gears, wheels, levers, and springs to move the hands in precise increments. Many steampunk pocket watches are also skeleton watches, thus combining several designs into one. Steampunk: Steampunk is a variation of the traditional style, but due to the popularity of all things steampunk, it has developed its own category. The inner workings weren’t normally visible, and the face and hands could be any color or combination of colors, usually with Roman numerals. Traditional: A traditional gentleman’s watch from the 1800s was silver or gold, with stylized engraving on the back and front cover. Today, some manufacturers create pocket watches that are neither distinctly male or female in design or appearance. It wasn’t until later that men began using them in large numbers. Unisex: Pocket watches were originally considered accouterments for women. Any watch that meets these standards is considered a railroad or conductor’s watch, regardless of any other variations. Those standards stipulated that all watches must be open-faced, be a size 16 (movement size of 1.7 inches) or size 18 (movement size of 1.766 inches), have a minimum of 17 jewels (used as bearings for the gears), and be adjusted to work in temperatures of 34☏ to 100☏, among other qualities. As a result of the resulting investigation and outcry, the railroads created mandatory standards for pocket watches to be used on the railroad. It was caused because the conductor’s watch was slow.

Railroad: The railroad or conductor’s watch was the result of a famous train wreck that took place in April 1891. Although the inner workings are visible, they are not accessible. Some have glass or some other transparent material on the back or in part of the face of the watch. Skeleton: A skeleton pocket watch is one in which the inner workings (gears, springs, levers, and ratchets) are visible. Pocket watches come in several basic designs, each of which has a nearly infinite number of variations to it. When you wear a pocket watch, you’re continuing a noble tradition that started with royalty over 340 years ago. It was Charles II of England, in 1675, who popularized the new way of carrying a watch in a pocket instead of on a pendant chain. It’s almost impossible to wear or use a pocket watch without becoming immersed in their rich and varied history. The early models were bulky, egg-shaped, and worn around the neck as a pendant, but the invention of screws in 1550 enabled them to be flattened into the disc-shaped watches we know today. German inventor Peter Henlein invented the first watch in 1505. Historical: Pocket watches have a centuries-long history. A pocket watch says you’re a step above hoi polloi and willing to strike out on your own regardless of what the rest of the mob thinks or does. But when you pull out a pocket watch, pop it open to read the time, and close it to slip it back in your pocket, everyone is going to notice. Anyone can cast a discreet glance at a wristwatch or pull a smartphone out of their pocket to check the time or the stock market. Stylish: Wearing a pocket watch establishes your style apart from the rest of the crowd. If you’re attending a black-tie event, a tastefully understated pocket watch on a chain will let everyone know you’re doing more than simply putting in an appearance. The hurly-burly rush of the modern world was yet to come, and timepieces were worn as much for their appearance as for their functionality. There are plenty of reasons why you might want to add a pocket watch to your timepiece collection.Įlegant: Pocket watches hearken back to an earlier, more refined time when life moved at a slower pace and elegance was king. Key considerations Why buy a pocket watch? A watch that says “adjusted” means it has been calibrated in up to nine different positions to ensure optimal accuracy.