Time Keepers

[stanwellman]

There has been so many treads regarding accessories for men, from hats to straight razors, ties and cuff links, but I do not recall one regarding watches. Why not? It is probably one of the most important accessories in everyday life and yet it seems to have not been mentioned... . I bring it up because I recently discovered that due to heath reasons I am no longer supposed to wear a heavy wrist watch as it has a negative effect on my hands. Major bummer since my favourite watch is a Citizen Skyhawk Atomic, a radio controlled (for accuracy) Eco drive chronograph on a stainless steel bracelet. It is a very nice and practical watch, but weighs a ton. Since discovering the problem I have switched to another Citizen, a diver’s watch, smaller and a lot lighter, on a nice leather strap. But the change also brought back the thought of a good quality pocket watch. I have always been fascinated with pocket watches, it is an item high on my “to get” list and now the thought of getting it became a matter of practicality as well as desire.

Having arrived at the conclusion that getting a pocket watch is now a matter of practical necessity for me, I have been doing a lot of research into the world of pocket watches and so far have more questions than I can find answers. Every time I think I found an answer, there are more questions hidden within it.. .

So, the question I am asking is this: amongst all the things we collect, how many people here have/collect pocket watches? What is your preference: hunter or open face? American? Swiss? Key or stem wind? Modern or antique? What are your personal preferences based on?

I am hoping that your answers will shed more light on the issue and add to my information base so that I am able to make a more informed decision when selecting one.

Thank you

 

[latbomber]

I have a single pocket watch, its a generic quartz one given to me by my uncle for my birthday with my initials engraved in it. My actual daily timepiece is my Kopriso Nixie watch :D

 

[warren]

I have a bit of a collection, mostly SSR stuff. Nothing too spectacular. My son-in-law collects more seriously than I do and is pretty well split between antique railroad and antique hunter for pocket watches.
I'm going to point you to www.boomertime.com/OPrimaryThumbnailPages/Pocketp1.html for a nice selection of watches and a good deal of information.

 

[condorlover1]

I use the wind up in the back pocket watch with some chain movement spring. Comes with a watch chain. It sort of worked for my great grandfather who was a carpenter, joiner and undertaker so I guess it works for me!

 

[ravkesef]

I have two pocket watches and I love wearing them. The problem is that so few of the outfits I wear these days have a watch pocket. Occasionally I will attach them to a belt loop and carry them in my right front trouser pocket, but then they bang against the other stuff I carry there.

 

[sfsteves]

I've got a wonderful antique pocket watch that works as well as it did the day it was new ... originally, it belonged to my great-grandfather, then after his death, to my grandfather ... it came into my possession after my grandfather died and I wore it a number of times when I had the occasion to wear a suit which had a vest ...
For daily use, I had a Seiko chronograph which I quite liked and it too kept time very well ... sadly, I broke the Seiko at work back when work was in a heavy duty industrial environment ...
Well, long story short (if it's not already too late for that), I didn't replace the Seiko and with little occasion to wear a 3-piece suit it wasn't long before I grew accustomed to being without a watch ... one of my sons gave me a really nice watch for my birthday one year and I wore it each time I knew I was going to be in his company, but even though it was a sleek, slim timepiece, it felt awkward and clunky, so I went without it the Ivory Soap percentage of the time ...
And, since it wasn't long before cell phones came into general use, I've not thought about a watch in more than a dozen years ... going without a watch for an extended period, I developed a far better innate sense of time and with precise time being displayed on my phone and clocks that not only worked, but worked accurately in my cars for easy reference, I didn't miss the watch at all ...
I'll confess that I'm an admirer of great looking watches and I've seen quite a few that I'd love to own, but I know damn well what would happen if I were to buy one ... I'd wear it a few times with pleasure, but before long, it too would feel awkward and clunky so I resist the temptation to spend the sort of $$ that a watch of the type I admire would cost ... my heirloom pocket watch deserved a better fate than to sit idly in my dresser drawer but there's insufficient reason to buy it a costly roommate ...

 

[riskybusiness]

I stopped wearing a wrist watch due to a nickel allergy. Most stainless steel (like 316) contain 2-3% nickel, some types of stainless as high as 10%. I get a rash on my wrist under the watch case. So, I've started carying a pocket watch.
I own a French key wind from 1899 and yes, while there is a very high aesthetic quality, I do not recommend carying a key-wind with you. The keys are fumbly, you have to keep track of them, you have to open the watch every day to wind it up. It can be a hassle. Instead, just look for a 'normal' stem winding watch.
I carry a Longines Grand Prix with me. There were many different styles produced in the early 1900s. You can check Longines serial numbers online to get an exact date on your watch. I find these go for 300-500 pounds online for the silver case, and 3-to-4 times more for gold cases. If you're going to use a pocket watch as your daily carry, go for the silver case. You won't cry when it gets a ding or a scratch.
Example of an early 1900's Longines Grand Prix:



The watch is easily identifiable by the group of medals stamped inside the case.
For about the same price (400 quid) you can buy a modern Longines pocket watch. Yes Sir! They still make 'em:

http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/collections/longines-watches/subcat-pocket-watches

 

[sablebrush52]

If I need to know the time, I check my cell phone. If that isn't available, my internal clock is usually pretty good to within 5 minutes of the correct time.

I love pocket watches, but really have no use for one.

 

[theboz]

I got this instead of a class ring when I graduated from college.

 

[fadingdaylight]

I have a nice pocket watch I received as a gift from my mom years ago. I rarely wear it, and everytime I pull it out, I change the battery, wear it once or twice, then put it away again. By the time I come back to it, it is dead. I love the idea, and the classic style, but it really is not practical for me, especially in the military.
Like Sablebrush said, I generally just check my cell.

 

[eastwoodaudio]

I don't carry it, but I have Waltham from 1896 that was my great great grandfather's, handed down through the men in our family.

I've carried it on special occasions, like weddings, but I couldn't live with myself if something happened to it, so I bought this:

Which replaced my Movado that somehow grew legs and walked away when a certain family member was living with me... :x

 

[voorhees]

I like watches, just don't need another hobby. I'd be.. :crazy:
Here is my current piece.

 

[shutterbugg]

I was a rabid watch collector until the cost of routine servicing began to mount up to a ridiculous level. I sold most of my collection, luckily the price of Swiss timepieces has skyrocketed in recent years so I didn't lose anything. I still have a couple Rolexes, half a dozen Omegas, a couple Tags, a Panerai, and a few dozen quartz watches of various brands...and several pocket watches. Those I never had any inclination to wear. If I need to take something out of my pocket to check the time, may as well be my iphone.

 

[gmwolford]

I can't wear a wristwatch due to arthritis anymore. So , I have opted for a cheap pocketwatch that I (and my grandson) love. Since I mostly wear jeans I always have a watch poker to put it in, too. I tried the check-the-phone thing but my wife said it was rude to do in church … and I can check the pocketwatch without raising her ire or anyone noticing it. 8)

 

[phred]

I haven't owned a wristwatch in nearly 20 years - got out of the habit when I started getting desk jobs and had a computer (and eventually a cell phone, iPod, smartphone, PDA, etc.) that told me what time it was.
After I started building my steampunk wardrobe, however, I started acquiring pocketwatches. Cheap ones so far, but I may spring for a good one at some point in the future.

 

[ravenwolf]

I've always wanted a pocketwatch. Are there any particular online resources I can use to read up on them?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

After resizing wristwatch bands all day, polishing everyone else's pocketwatches, removing dents, fixing bents, stems, and having to tell people that no, their watch isn't worth nearly what they thought it would be worth all day long, I find that I have little urge to actually wear one. Besides, I wake up to a rooster and go to bed by my pipe, in between is just work, work, work. I haven't really needed one.

 

[derfargin]

I've always wanted a pocketwatch. Are there any particular online resources I can use to read up on them?

google is a great place to start.

 

[freakiefrog]

I have a Raymond Weil my brother gave me after his first tour in Iraq. But my daily watches are Citizens and one Tag. My grandfather told me once that men wear a wrist watch and boys ask for the time.

 

[fishingandpipes]

My problem with watches is this.
Most I see, I don't like the looks of. Then I finally find one I like, go "neat!", realize it costs $3,000 and then throw my computer out of the window.
http://www.tsovet.com/ has some up my alley on the lower end of the price spectrum, but my Timex does just fine and I'm not convinced Tsovet offers much more than aesthetic value.
If you like American made, Shinola has a neat looking $1,000 pocket watch.