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Antique Pocket Watches

Pocket watches were developed before miniaturization permitted the manufacture of watches small enough to wear on the wrist. In the 16th century, the earliest portable timepieces small enough to be carried on the person were too big for pockets, too, and were worn on a chain around the neck. It was not until the 17th century that watches were made small enough to fit easily in the pocket.

In the latter part of the 19th century, the growth of railroads contributed to the more widespread use of pocket watches. Trainmen needed to know the time in order to switch tracks properly to avoid trainwrecks. In fact, a famous train wreck in Ohio in 1891 happened because a watch belonging to one of the engineers had stopped for 4 minutes. By 1893, standards were developed for pocket watches used by railroad men; pocket watches meeting this standard were known as railroad-grade pocket watches. Among other requirements, railroad-grade pocket watches had to keep time accurately to within 3 seconds a week.

Even after the introduction of wristwatches, pocket watches predominated. Wristwatches were originally thought to be appropriate for ladies, but not manly enough for gentlemen. During the first World War, however, military officers realized that a watch on the wrist was more readily accessible than one in the pocket, and the transition to wristwatches for men began. Pocket watches continued to be widely used in railroading, but gradually lost favor among the general population.
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14K Gold Elgin Hunting Case w Diamond Pocket Watch 1895 14K Gold Elgin Hunting Case w Diamond Pocket Watch 1895

14K Gold Elgin Hunting Case w Diamond Pocket Watch 1895

Gold Filled Chain & Slide Included - Runs - 0 Size NR
Current bid: $255.00
 $5.00 $260.00
 1 hr
46 mins 20 secs
LARGE Antique Elgin Yellow Gold gf Pkt Watch - Runs LARGE Antique Elgin Yellow Gold gf Pkt Watch - Runs

LARGE Antique Elgin Yellow Gold gf Pkt Watch - Runs

-100 Yrs Old - Nice Condition - Satisfaction Guaranteed
Current bid: $71.00
 $1.50 $72.50
 4 hrs
28 mins 53 secs
perfect working early 1900 leather cased pocketwatch perfect working early 1900 leather cased pocketwatch

perfect working early 1900 leather cased pocketwatch

Current bid: $37.50
 $4.95 $42.45
 4 hrs
53 mins 53 secs
RARE ANTIQUE ENAMEL STERLING/BRASS SWISS POCKET WATCH RARE ANTIQUE ENAMEL STERLING/BRASS SWISS POCKET WATCH Free Shipping

RARE ANTIQUE ENAMEL STERLING/BRASS SWISS POCKET WATCH

CHAIN.OFFICER? WW1? 2 SWITZERLAND FLAG FOBS. .
Buy it now: $2,500.00 Free $2,500.00
 19 hrs
52 mins 15 secs
Antique HH Taylor ELIN Dueber Coin Silver Pocket Watch Antique HH Taylor ELIN Dueber Coin Silver Pocket Watch

Antique HH Taylor ELIN Dueber Coin Silver Pocket Watch

Current bid: $41.00
 $7.95 $48.95
 21 hrs
36 mins 34 secs
ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER POCKET WATCH HOLDER STAND 1903 ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER POCKET WATCH HOLDER STAND 1903

ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER POCKET WATCH HOLDER STAND 1903

Buy it now: $265.00 $8.00 $273.00
 1 day 3 hrs
16 mins 39 secs
awesome huge gold pocketwatch fob or pendant 5 pearls awesome huge gold pocketwatch fob or pendant 5 pearls

awesome huge gold pocketwatch fob or pendant 5 pearls

Current bid: $49.99
 $3.00 $52.99
 1 day 4 hrs
41 mins 25 secs
victorian hair pocketwatch fob chain awesome neat rare! victorian hair pocketwatch fob chain awesome neat rare!

victorian hair pocketwatch fob chain awesome neat rare!

Current bid: $30.99
 $4.95 $35.94
 1 day 4 hrs
41 mins 46 secs
united dairy workers local union milk pocketwatch fob united dairy workers local union milk pocketwatch fob

united dairy workers local union milk pocketwatch fob

Current bid: $9.99
 $3.00 $12.99
 1 day 6 hrs
11 mins 55 secs
RARE MAUCHLINE POCKET WATCH HOLDER FRYESBURG, MAINE NR RARE MAUCHLINE POCKET WATCH HOLDER FRYESBURG, MAINE NR

RARE MAUCHLINE POCKET WATCH HOLDER FRYESBURG, MAINE NR

  • Details »
  • Buy It Now for $79.99 »
  • Seller: pembroke167 
  • Feedback: 8,368 / 100.0%
  • Shipping Type: Flat Rate
  • Shipping Cost: $6.00
  • Item Location: Wayne, PA, USA ZIP 19087
 Buy it now: $79.99 $6.00 $85.99
 1 day 16 hrs
6 mins 28 secs
1911 Gold Filled Elgin Pocket Watch 17 Jewels 1911 Gold Filled Elgin Pocket Watch 17 Jewels

1911 Gold Filled Elgin Pocket Watch 17 Jewels

Current bid: $9.99
 Based on Zip $9.99
Plus shipping
 1 day 19 hrs
18 mins 25 secs
Antique Pocket Watch Antique Pocket Watch

Antique Pocket Watch

Current bid: $500.00
 $3.00 $503.00
 1 day 19 hrs
25 mins 13 secs
TWO ANTIQUE HANDCRAVED SHELL CAMEOS TWO ANTIQUE HANDCRAVED SHELL CAMEOS

TWO ANTIQUE HANDCRAVED SHELL CAMEOS

Current bid: $9.99
 $5.00 $14.99
 1 day 20 hrs
14 mins 16 secs
1900 Waltham Pocket Watch 17J PS Bartlett Model 1883 GF 1900 Waltham Pocket Watch 17J PS Bartlett Model 1883 GF

1900 Waltham Pocket Watch 17J PS Bartlett Model 1883 GF

Current bid: $22.09
 Based on Zip $22.09
Plus shipping
 2 days 3 hrs
24 mins 51 secs
American Waltham Ellery Dueber Silverine Pocket Watch American Waltham Ellery Dueber Silverine Pocket Watch

American Waltham Ellery Dueber Silverine Pocket Watch

Current bid: $18.26
 $5.00 $23.26
 2 days 3 hrs
45 mins 21 secs
Elgin Pocket Watch Philadelphia Watch Case 16 Size Elgin Pocket Watch Philadelphia Watch Case 16 Size

Elgin Pocket Watch Philadelphia Watch Case 16 Size

Current bid: $15.50
 $5.00 $20.50
 2 days 3 hrs
58 mins 36 secs
RARE Old Antique Gold Case Running Pocket watch Early RARE Old Antique Gold Case Running Pocket watch Early

RARE Old Antique Gold Case Running Pocket watch Early

Buy it now: $9,999.50 Based on Zip $9,999.50
Plus shipping
 2 days 21 hrs
23 mins 35 secs
19th C. FRENCH PALAIS ROYALE POCKET WATCH DISPLAY 19th C. FRENCH PALAIS ROYALE POCKET WATCH DISPLAY

19th C. FRENCH PALAIS ROYALE POCKET WATCH DISPLAY

  • Details »
  • Buy It Now for $379.99 »
  • Seller: antiquesandmooresales 
  • Feedback: 2,273 / 99.5%
  • Shipping Type: Flat Rate
  • Shipping Cost: $10.95
  • Item Location: Arlington, TX, USA ZIP 76013
 Buy it now: $379.99 $10.95 $390.94
 3 days 1 hr
29 mins 4 secs
SEGUNDO MONDO ROBERTS SWISS POCKET WATCH;DIALS AS IS SEGUNDO MONDO ROBERTS SWISS POCKET WATCH;DIALS AS IS

SEGUNDO MONDO ROBERTS SWISS POCKET WATCH;DIALS AS IS

Current bid: $9.99
 $4.00 $13.99
 3 days 3 hrs
48 mins
LARGE 1890 Elgin BW Raymond Pocket Watch - Runs Great LARGE 1890 Elgin BW Raymond Pocket Watch - Runs Great

LARGE 1890 Elgin BW Raymond Pocket Watch - Runs Great

Very Nice Condition- Lo Ship'g- Satisfaction Guaranteed
Current bid: $30.00
 $1.50 $31.50
 3 days 3 hrs
49 mins 26 secs
ELGIN POCKET WATCH;STAG & BIRD DEC. CASE;OLD AS IS ELGIN POCKET WATCH;STAG & BIRD DEC. CASE;OLD AS IS

ELGIN POCKET WATCH;STAG & BIRD DEC. CASE;OLD AS IS

Current bid: $9.99
 $4.00 $13.99
 3 days 3 hrs
57 mins 39 secs
GIANT Antique 8 DAY 15 JEWEL POCKET WATCH CLOCK #28! GIANT Antique 8 DAY 15 JEWEL POCKET WATCH CLOCK #28!

GIANT Antique 8 DAY 15 JEWEL POCKET WATCH CLOCK #28!

Current bid: $11.00
 $14.95 $25.95
 3 days 4 hrs
39 mins 39 secs
RARE Sterling Silver POCKET WATCH Hard Case Holder RARE Sterling Silver POCKET WATCH Hard Case Holder

RARE Sterling Silver POCKET WATCH Hard Case Holder

Buy it now: $99.99 Based on Zip $99.99
Plus shipping
 3 days 5 hrs
19 mins 48 secs
Antique Art & Craft Pocket Watch Stand Holder Case Box Antique Art & Craft Pocket Watch Stand Holder Case Box

Antique Art & Craft Pocket Watch Stand Holder Case Box

Current bid: $11.49
 $9.95 $21.44
 3 days 6 hrs
34 mins 59 secs
OLD ELGIN 1911 7 JEWELS GOLD POCKET WATCH GRADE 320 OLD ELGIN 1911 7 JEWELS GOLD POCKET WATCH GRADE 320

OLD ELGIN 1911 7 JEWELS GOLD POCKET WATCH GRADE 320

Current bid: $74.99
 Based on Zip $74.99
Plus shipping
 3 days 16 hrs
14 mins 56 secs
Rare Hamilton Ships Chronometer Model 22 All original Rare Hamilton Ships Chronometer Model 22 All original Rare Hamilton Ships Chronometer Model 22 All original

Rare Hamilton Ships Chronometer Model 22 All original

Current bid: $1,540.00
Buy it now: $1,800.00
 Free $1,540.00
 3 days 20 hrs
59 mins 49 secs
T. Mason Silver Berometer 5 Dame St. Dublin Ireland. T. Mason Silver Berometer 5 Dame St. Dublin Ireland.

T. Mason Silver Berometer 5 Dame St. Dublin Ireland.

Current bid: $66.00
 $8.00 $74.00
 3 days 23 hrs
45 mins 1 sec
Victorian Silver Pocket Watch Collapsible Cup Victorian Silver Pocket Watch Collapsible Cup

Victorian Silver Pocket Watch Collapsible Cup

Current bid: $9.99
 Based on Zip $9.99
Plus shipping
 4 days 3 hrs
26 mins 16 secs
14K Gold English M.I. Tobias Pocket Watch w/ Key 48mm 14K Gold English M.I. Tobias Pocket Watch w/ Key 48mm

14K Gold English M.I. Tobias Pocket Watch w/ Key 48mm

Current bid: $76.00
 $5.00 $81.00
 4 days 3 hrs
38 mins 56 secs
Antique Brass Montilier Pocket Watch 'The Chief' OLD!! Antique Brass Montilier Pocket Watch 'The Chief' OLD!!

Antique Brass Montilier Pocket Watch 'The Chief' OLD!!

Current bid: $35.00
 $5.50 $40.50
 4 days 3 hrs
47 mins 47 secs
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