History of the Pocket Watch

The earliest pocket watches were so expensive that only the wealthy could afford to own them, and as they were unreliable and notoriously inaccurate, one has to wonder why anyone wanted them!  The first watches were designed to be hung around the neck, and only sort of told the time, as these watches had only an hour hand.  Sometime around 1675, however, technology improved with the development of the balance spring assembly by Dutch inventor, Christian Huygens. These improved watches also included a minute hand.

The waistcoat as a men’s fashion accessory helped move the watch from around the neck to the vest pocket, and the pocket watch was born.

Improved technology and manufacturing brought prices down.  The  wealthy still owned the most beautiful watches made by the likes of Cartier and Patek Phillippe fabricated in gold, silver, and platinum, embellished with enamel ( a process in which a paste of  powdered glass is fused onto a metal base such as gold) and diamonds or other precious gems.  By the late 19^th Century, pocket watches were universal, and available to suit a wide range of budgets.

History of the Wrist Watch

In the early 20^th Century, watches worn on the wrist were introduced, but few consumers took to them.  It took the U.S. Military to change that; early in WWI, standard army issue included a Waterbury’s midget pocket watch that had been modified to be attached to a band worn around the wrist, and by 1920, seventy-five percent of all watches sold were wrist watches.

Pocket Watch Values

Today, pocket watch value is based on quality as opposed to age.  Collectors want examples in lavish materials by famous makers, and prefer European examples to American ones.  Top dollar goes to watches with multiple functions such as watches with chronographs, repeaters, and alarms, and watches that are in good working order with all original parts and undamaged cases and dials.  In adiition to famous makers, collectors love watches with provenance that proves they once belonged to someone famous.  Regardless of age, common, mass produced pocket watches in base metals sell for a few dollars, or go unsold on eBay.

My wife has a watch that was left by her grandmother.  It is an IWC 18k Ladies Watch from the early 1940's.  Tha watch is in perfect condition and it still works.  It weighs about 33 grams including the works.  Anyone have an idea of its worth??