The Antique Pocket Watch

By: Tiraton Athiwat

Collectors have been vying for antique pocket watches the world
over. The earliest time keepers were originally designed large
and square and they date back to the early 16th century. They
were originally only owned by the true aristocracy as it was a
genuine status symbol of authority and wealth. They were simply
out of the reach of the common populace. Clocks had originally
been used with weights and were quite large. The pocket watch
was made possible by the introduction of springs instead of the
weights in clocks, and this enabled time keepers to be worn with
the use of a chain on the body. They were more portable but they
were still considerably larger than the watches of today. This
was also around the same time that precision became more and
more important to the watch makers. It is rare, but some of the
early models of the pocket watches even came with an alarm.

100 years later, the design and the craftsmanship that went into
the making of each individual watch made an instant artist of
the watchmaker. The cases that were introduced to protect the
delicate workings were made slimmer and the corners were rounded
which softened the square and boxy look of the first pocket
watches. Ornate designs were used and the watchmakers began to
personally sign the dial. This is a tradition that is still
followed by watchmakers in the modern world.

Another 100 years saw the introduction of precious gems in the
making of the watches, particularly diamonds, which were used in
the bearings in the mechanisms. There are two types of pocket
watches, the first are open-faced and know as Savonette's, or
'hunter cases'. The chain we know of as a 'fob chain' and it was
attached to a jacket lapel, a belt loop or a waistcoat. The
delicate movements of the hands were smoothed by the use of oil,
and by the second half of this century, the second hand was
introduced, which further ensured the precision of time telling.

By the 19th century, the pocket watch really came into its own.
The American Railroad Association came together and established
a set of standards for the quality and precision of these
watches for the sake of safety. After a tragic train accident in
1891, the standards were implemented. After 1893, pocket watches
that followed these stringent requirements were known as
railroad grade pocket watches. Well respected watchmakers, such
as Ulysse Nardin, Minerva, Heuer, IWC and many others, started
at this time and became well established. This was also the time
that the crown winder was introduced.

This was later followed by the introduction of certificates
which were issued for the best designs, but the popularity of
the pocket watch began to fade with the introduction of the
wrist watch in the 20th century, which were introduced after the
First World War. The antique pocket watch has become a true
collector's item today. Anyone looking for a special gift that
is out of the ordinary, a silver pocket watch fits the bill.
They are elegant, distinctive and charming.

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

You can find out where to buy low price but high quality antique pocket watches at www.oldpocketwatches.net

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