Pocket watches were the primary timekeeping device for centuries, with origins dating back to the 16th century. In the early days, pocket watches were large and cumbersome, and only the wealthy elite could afford them. However, over time, advances in technology made them smaller and more accessible to the masses.

The earliest pocket watches were made with a simple mechanism consisting of a mainspring, an escapement, and a balance wheel. The mainspring provided power to the watch, while the escapement regulated the movement of the watch hands, and the balance wheel ensured accuracy. These watches were usually worn around the neck or carried in a pocket, and they were often adorned with elaborate designs and engravings.

In the 18th century, the pocket watch became more popular, and many watchmakers began to experiment with new designs and mechanisms. One of the most significant developments was the introduction of the lever escapement, more...

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An antique open face pocket watch, white dial signed R.B.…

An antique open face pocket watch, white dial signed R.B. Orchard railway square Sydney made in France, large Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, stem wind plate movement with push pin at 1 o'clock, gilt metal, case size 50 mm, not working.

Illinois Watch Co. Sangamo special a 14ct gold filled openface…

Illinois Watch Co. Sangamo Special 14ct Gold Filled Watch

Illinois Watch Co. Sangamo special a 14ct gold filled openface Railroad grade watch. Dial: white enamel, bold Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued steel railway spade hands. Movement: 23-jewel 16-size damascened divided 3/4 plate movement signed…

Elgin Veritas a gold filled Openfaced Railroad grade watch with…

Elgin Veritas Gold Filled Railroad Watch with Winding Indicator

Elgin Veritas a gold filled Openfaced Railroad grade watch with Winding Indicator. Dial: white enamel, large Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, forty hour winding indicator, blued steel railway spade hands. Movement: damascened 23-jewel bridge pattern…

Illinois Watch Co. Springfield Ill. A gold filled openface…

Illinois Watch Co. Gold Filled Railroad Grade Pocket Watch

Illinois Watch Co. Springfield Ill. A gold filled openface Railroad grade watch. Dial: white enamel, large Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, steel railway spade hands. Movement: 18-size full plate with gold settings signed a. Lincoln ,. No. 2211106.…

Illinois Watch Co. Springfield Bunn special a gold filled…

Illinois Watch Co. Springfield Bunn Special Gold Filled Watch

Illinois Watch Co. Springfield Bunn special a gold filled openface Railroad grade watch. Dial: white enamel, bold Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued steel railway spade hands. Movement: 23-jewel 16-size damascened divided 3/4 plate no. 5474338.…

E. Howard Watch Co. Boston series 0 a gold filled openface…

E. Howard Watch Co. Boston Series 0 Gold Filled Watch

E. Howard Watch Co. Boston series 0 a gold filled openface Railroad grade watch. Dial: white enamel, large Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued steel spade hands. Movement: 23-jewel nickel-finished lever movement, no. 1158606. Case: plain polished…

Illinois Watch Co. Springfield 60-Hour Bunn special no 107 a…

Illinois Watch Co. Springfield 60-Hour Bunn Special Gold Filled

Illinois Watch Co. Springfield 60-Hour Bunn special no 107 a 14ct gold filled openface Railroad grade watch. Dial: white enamel, bold Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued steel railway spade hands. Movement: 21-jewel 16-size damascened divided 3/4…

Ball Watch Co. Cleveland O. Official Rr standard a gold filled…

Ball Watch Co. Cleveland O. Official Rr Standard Gold Watch

Ball Watch Co. Cleveland O. Official Rr standard a gold filled openface Railroad grade watch. Dial: white enamel, large Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued steel railway spade hands. Movement: 21-jewel 16-size concentric damascened nickel divided…

Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster, pa. Model 950 a 10ct gold filled…

Hamilton Model 950 Railroad Grade 10ct Gold Filled Pocket Watch

Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster, pa. Model 950 a 10ct gold filled openface Railroad grade watch. Dial: white enamel, bold Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued steel railway spade hands. Movement: damascened 23-jewel bridge pattern with gold settings,…

Ball Watch Co. Cleveland O. A 14ct gold filled openface…

Ball Watch Co. 14ct Gold Filled Railroad Grade Pocket Watch

Ball Watch Co. Cleveland O. A 14ct gold filled openface Railroad grade watch. Dial: white enamel, bold Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued hands. Movement: 23-jewel 16-size concentric damascened nickel divided 3/4 plate movement, no B801347. Case:…

Elgin Watch Co. A gold filled Openfaced Railroad grade watch…

Elgin Gold Filled Railroad Grade Watch with Winding Indicator

Elgin Watch Co. A gold filled Openfaced Railroad grade watch with Winding Indicator. Dial: white enamel, bold Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, forty hour winding indicator, blued steel railway spade hands. Movement: damascened 21-jewel bridge pattern…

An 18ct yellow gold Split-Chronograph Stopwatch, Stauffer, Son…

18ct Yellow Gold Split-Chronograph Stopwatch by Stauffer, Son & Co

An 18ct yellow gold Split-Chronograph Stopwatch, Stauffer, Son & Co. Circa 1927. 56.5 mm round case in 18ct yellow gold openfaced with hinged caseback with internal movement dispay crystal winding stem and fob loop at 12 o'clock. Hallmarked as 18ct with…

A gold plated railway stem wind pocket watch with a woven hair…

Gold Plated Waltham Pocket Watch with Hair Fob (1900)

A gold plated railway stem wind pocket watch with a woven hair fob by Waltham USA circa 1900, the face 50 mm diameter

A Hamilton Gct 24 hour pocket watch, USA, circa 1940, 22 jewel,…

Hamilton 24 Hour Railway Pocket Watch, 1940

A Hamilton Gct 24 hour pocket watch, USA, circa 1940, 22 jewel, railway qaulity, nickle-plated case, screw back screw bezel with a 24 hour dial, 51 mm diameter

An 18-carat gold Elgin pocket watch, USA, circa 1880, 21 jewel,…

1880 Elgin 18k Gold Pocket Watch with Hunter Case

An 18-carat gold Elgin pocket watch, USA, circa 1880, 21 jewel, crownwind lever set, full plate high grade, double back, railroad quality, a jewel to the centre wheel, enamel dial with Roman numerals, in a hunter case, 53 mm diameter

A Longines Cfr railway open faced pocket watch, circa 1900,…

Longines Railway Pocket Watch, 1900

A Longines Cfr railway open faced pocket watch, circa 1900, nickel plated case, 15 jewel movement, enamel dial with Arabic numerals, 24-hour markings, plain blue steel hands, 51 mm diameter

NSW government railway pocket watch with a working when tested…

NSW Railway Pocket Watch by Rotherams London

NSW government railway pocket watch with a working when tested stem wind mechanism. Engraved to the reverse 5193. Approx width 58 mm. Mechanism marked 217738 Rotherams London

Railway and timekeeper hunter pocket watch in silver case by N…

N Hill & Son Railway Pocket Watch in Silver Case

Railway and timekeeper hunter pocket watch in silver case by N hill & Son, London, 5.5 cm diameter

A Railway time keeper hunter pocket watch, key wind movement,…

Railway Time Keeper Hunter Pocket Watch with 18ct Gold Chain

A Railway time keeper hunter pocket watch, key wind movement, circular white enamel dial with Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds dial at six, 9ct gold engine turned case with engraved shield to the lid, maker 'M.J Tobias of Liverpool', 50 mm diameter,…

A Guards lever open face pocket watch, white dial with large…

Orchard's Ltd Pocket Watch with Swiss Movement

A Guards lever open face pocket watch, white dial with large Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued hands, dial marked Orchard's Ltd Railway square Sydney, on a Swiss 7 jewel plate movement, screw down back, not working.

A good gold plated American 'Hamilton' Railway special pocket…

1920s Hamilton Railway Special Gold Plated Pocket Watch

A good gold plated American 'Hamilton' Railway special pocket watch, in stylish 1920's design with star 10k gold filled case. Hamilton 992B 21 jewel lever movement, with temp and pos adjustment and micrometer numbered C.503117. Diameter 51 mm.

A large engraved silver hunter cased 'Railway' pocket watch,…

Engraved Silver Hunter Cased Railway Pocket Watch 1856

A large engraved silver hunter cased 'Railway' pocket watch, hallmarked London 1856 with fusee and chain drive lever movement by RB Stevenson, Liverpool, N.10291. Minor hairlines. Diameter 60 mm.

A Hamilton Railway open face pocket watch. Crown wind movement,…

Hamilton Railway Pocket Watch, Enamel Dial, 17 Jewels

A Hamilton Railway open face pocket watch. Crown wind movement, crown set, circular enamel dial with bold Arabic numerals, seventeen jewels, subsidiary dial at six, signed case, dial and movement, gold filled case, diameter 50 mm

Elgin railway pocket watch c.1930, top wind manual movement,…

Elgin Railway Pocket Watch with Locomotive Scene

Elgin railway pocket watch c.1930, top wind manual movement, with subsidiary second hand dial white metal case with engraved pictorial locomotive scene verso. Diameter 48 mm