The first pocket watches were invented in the 16th century, and at that time, all pocket watches were key-wound. The first keys were simple, T-shaped pieces of metal, but over time, they became more ornate and decorative.

In the 19th century, a new type of pocket watch was invented that did not require a key to wind. These watches, called stem-wind watches, had a small stem that projected from the case and could be used to wind and set the time. As a result, the demand for key-winding keys declined, and they are now considered to be antiques, and are collectable.

There are many different types of antique pocket watch winding keys. Some of the most common types include:

•    T-bar keys: These are the most common type of antique pocket watch winding key. They have a T-shaped end that fits into the more...

57 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Victorian silver cruciform watch key size 29 x 12 mm

Victorian Silver Cruciform Watch Key, Size 29 x 12 mm

Victorian silver cruciform watch key size 29 x 12 mm

Victorian yellow gold cornucopia watch key set with a citrine…

Victorian Yellow Gold Cornucopia Watch Key with Citrine, 9ct

Victorian yellow gold cornucopia watch key set with a citrine internal flaw can be seen, weight 2.29 grams, length 42 mm, tests as 9ct

Early Victorian rose gold & agate watch key set with bloodstone…

Victorian rose gold watch key set with bloodstone & carnelian

Early Victorian rose gold & agate watch key set with bloodstone & carnelian, weight 2 grams

Rococo turquoise & yellow gold watch key unmarked, length 32 mm,…

Rococo Turquoise & Gold Watch Key, Unmarked, 32mm, Minor Chips

Rococo turquoise & yellow gold watch key unmarked, length 32 mm, minor chips to the cabs, weighted

Antique novelty

Antique novelty "key" watch key gilt metal some balding, length 38.5 mm

Wolf, watch winder, brand new, unused watch winder, and…

Wolf, watch winder, brand new, unused watch winder, and jewellery box in pristine condition, 19 cm x 22 cm

An antique rolled gold watch key, Chased decoration set with…

An antique rolled gold watch key, Chased decoration set with bloodstone and carnelian, suspended from a later 9ct gold swivel clip.

Victorian amethyst set yellow gold watch key also set with…

Victorian amethyst set yellow gold watch key also set with chalcedony, size 35 mm Length, tests as gold in parts

Watch winder, with two winding motors and power cord to charge…

Watch winder, with two winding motors and power cord to charge the batteries. Has speed function and left and right direction function.

A BillStone watch winder, for four watches, with touch screen…

BillStone Touch Screen Watch Winder for 4 Watches

A BillStone watch winder, for four watches, with touch screen control in a wood grain case, with charger, 29 cm high, 25 cm wide, 15 cm deep

Victorian yellow gold watch key set with carnelian glass,…

Victorian Carnelian Glass Watch Key with Gold Body

Victorian yellow gold watch key set with carnelian glass, length 38 mm, bruising to the gold body, (hollow)

A wolf cub black watch winder cabinet, in box with papers

Black Wolf Cub Watch Winder Cabinet with Papers and Box

A wolf cub black watch winder cabinet, in box with papers

A 19th century gold fancy poodle mounted watch key, the dog in…

18ct Gold Poodle Watch Key with Swivelling Ring End

A 19th century gold fancy poodle mounted watch key, the dog in French cut with swivelling ring end. Testing as 18ct.

A Georgian gold cased seal fob watch key, set with a monogram…

Georgian Carnelian Seal Fob Watch Key with Monogram

A Georgian gold cased seal fob watch key, set with a monogram incised carnelian, size 17 x 10.5 mm.

Victorian garnet & seed pearl set gold watch key length 30 mm,…

Victorian Garnet & Seed Pearl Gold Watch Key, Cased

Victorian garnet & seed pearl set gold watch key length 30 mm, will be cased

Hardstone watch key, detailed with a shield-shaped carnelian in…

Carnelian Hardstone Watch Key with Gold Lining

Hardstone watch key, detailed with a shield-shaped carnelian in a decorative gold lined surround, measuring 50 mm x 17 mm, 7.6 grams

Early 19th century large watch key fob. Set with agate and…

Agate and Carnelian Watch Fob, 19th Century

Early 19th century large watch key fob. Set with agate and carnelian height 7 cm

Antique watch key brooch, length 42 mm

Antique Watch Key Brooch - 42mm Length

Antique watch key brooch, length 42 mm

Good cased automatic watch winder facility for winding 4…

4-Watch Automatic Winder with Instruction Sheet

Good cased automatic watch winder facility for winding 4 watches. Including instruction sheet.

An 18ct gold watch key, engraved decoration with a citrine seal…

18ct Gold Watch Key with Citrine Seal

An 18ct gold watch key, engraved decoration with a citrine seal to the end, suspension ring. 5 cm.

A Dutch gold watch key, set with two decorative hair panels,…

Dutch Gold Watch Key with Hair Panels, 19th Century

A Dutch gold watch key, set with two decorative hair panels, hinged top and bottom. 19th century. Provenance: Sotheby's 1989, the collection of Dr Trevor Hyde, Sydney, acquired from the above

Antique fob spinner and watch key, width 30 mm & 43 mm each

Antique Fob Spinner and Watch Key Set

Antique fob spinner and watch key, width 30 mm & 43 mm each

An unusual early 19th century lozenge shaped watch key, set…

Lozenge-shaped paste-set watch key, 19th century

An unusual early 19th century lozenge shaped watch key, set with paste with beaded silver edge. Circa 1800.

An early 19th century gold watch key, one side with miniature…

Gold Watch Key with Miniature Porcelain Portrait

An early 19th century gold watch key, one side with miniature portrait on porcelain of a woman in classical costume.

A fine early 19th century watch key, with two oval panels one…

Antique Watch Key with Classical and Child Scenes

A fine early 19th century watch key, with two oval panels one decorated with a classical scene of two doves in a landscape the other of a child in a landscape. Circa 1800.

A rare early 19th century watch key, set with two oval micro…

Micro Mosaic Vatican Watch Key, 1800

A rare early 19th century watch key, set with two oval micro mosaic panels depicting views of Vatican city. Circa 1800.

An 18ct gold watch key and ball fob, the key with bloodstone…

18ct Gold Watch Key and Bloodstone Fob

An 18ct gold watch key and ball fob, the key with bloodstone shield. 8gm.

Antique silver fob spinner and spinner watch key both are set…

Birmingham Antique Spinner Fob and Watch Key Set

Antique silver fob spinner and spinner watch key both are set with carnelian and bloodstone and marked for Birmingham the spinner dated 1888,

A silver and gold plated watch key fob, with enamelled…

Enamelled Mother of Pearl Watch Fob, 1810

A silver and gold plated watch key fob, with enamelled decoration, with a mother of pearl and gold plated watch fob. English circa 1810.

An ornate rolled gold and amethyst watch key fob, English circa…

1840 English Amethyst Watch Key Fob in Rolled Gold

An ornate rolled gold and amethyst watch key fob, English circa 1840.

A gold and cabochon carnelian oval watch key fob, English circa…

Carnelian Oval Watch Key Fob, English 1800

A gold and cabochon carnelian oval watch key fob, English circa 1800.

A gold and crystal double-sided watch key with a portrait of…

Double-sided Charles II watch key with gold and crystal

A gold and crystal double-sided watch key with a portrait of Charles II on one side, a crest on the other side. English circa 1780.

Gold watch key fob, carnelian oval centre with intaglio seal…

English Carnelian Intaglio Gold Watch Fob, 1810

Gold watch key fob, carnelian oval centre with intaglio seal and crest. English circa 1810.

An interesting gold and carnelian watch key fob, English circa…

1790 English Gold and Carnelian Watch Key Fob

An interesting gold and carnelian watch key fob, English circa 1790.

A 14ct gold watch key, cross design on handle. Weight 1.9g

14ct Gold Cross Design Watch Key - 1.9g Weight

A 14ct gold watch key, cross design on handle. Weight 1.9g

Victorian yellow gold clad watch key,

Victorian Gold Watch Key

Victorian yellow gold clad watch key,

Antique rose gold swivel watch key,

Antique Rose Gold Swivel Watch Key

Antique rose gold swivel watch key,

Victorian 18ct yellow gold watch key, set with chalcedony

Victorian Chalcedony Gold Watch Key

Victorian 18ct yellow gold watch key, set with chalcedony

A Victorian 15ct. yellow gold cornucopia form watch key,…

Victorian Sardonyx Cornucopia Watch Key

A Victorian 15ct. yellow gold cornucopia form watch key, repeating engraved leafy sprigs, a sardonyx panel inset, old repair.

Three vintage 9ct gold items, a pansy stick pin set with enamel…

Vintage 9ct Gold Pansy Stick Pin, Watch Key, Fob

Three vintage 9ct gold items, a pansy stick pin set with enamel and paste, a watch key, and a part fob set with bloodstone and mother of pearl

Antique muff pistol fob charm / watch key having an engraved…

Engraved Silver Muff Pistol Fob with Box and Cartridge

Antique muff pistol fob charm / watch key having an engraved scroll work silver grip. With original box and one cartridge, movement was working when tested. Approx 3.5 mm

18ct gold watch winder with t-bar attachment unstamped but…

18ct Gold Watch Winder with T-Bar Attachment, Damaged

18ct gold watch winder with t-bar attachment unstamped but tested as 18ct, weight 9.6 grams, damage to one end

9ct gold Victorian watch key and seal

Victorian 9ct Gold Watch Key and Seal

9ct gold Victorian watch key and seal

A gold-filled watch key, banded agate and hardstone inlay.

Gold Watch Key with Agate and Hardstone Inlay

A gold-filled watch key, banded agate and hardstone inlay.

Antique gold plated watch key / fob, with blue stone insert

Antique Gold Watch Key with Blue Stone Insert

Antique gold plated watch key / fob, with blue stone insert

Antique watch key in the form of a pistol,

Pistol-shaped Antique Watch Key

Antique watch key in the form of a pistol,

Victorian stone set silver watch key

Victorian Silver Watch Key with Stone Setting

Victorian stone set silver watch key

Antique watch key wind with bloodstone, approx 4 cm length

Bloodstone Antique Watch Key, 4 cm Length

Antique watch key wind with bloodstone, approx 4 cm length

Collector's gold antique watch key

Antique Gold Watch Key for Collectors

Collector's gold antique watch key

Collector's gold antique watch key with carnelian agate etc

Antique Gold Watch Key with Carnelian Agate

Collector's gold antique watch key with carnelian agate etc

Victorian watch key inset with bloodstone

Bloodstone-Inlaid Victorian Watch Key

Victorian watch key inset with bloodstone

19th century silver Fob watch key in the form of a pistol

Pistol-shaped silver fob watch key from 19th century

19th century silver Fob watch key in the form of a pistol

Victorian watch key with carnelian and bloodstone

Carnelian and Bloodstone Victorian Watch Key

Victorian watch key with carnelian and bloodstone

A late-Victorian gold-cased swivel watch key set with sard and…

Gold-Cased Swivel Watch Key with Sard and Bloodstone

A late-Victorian gold-cased swivel watch key set with sard and bloodstone

Silver cased 'T' bar expandable watch key

Expandable Silver Watch Key with T-bar Casing

Silver cased 'T' bar expandable watch key

Victorian spinner seal and watch key

Victorian Spinner Seal & Watch Key Set

Victorian spinner seal and watch key

A gold ratchet watch key

Golden Ratchet Watch Key

A gold ratchet watch key