Pocket Watches - - What wind up modern ones are fairly heavy?

[MTHall720]

I have been looking at a few watches from about 1886 to 1920.
All the really good ones are outside my budget.  Any good modern Retro look wind up pocket watches for not more than  about $150.00?

[St. George]

For that money, you can find good originals.

Look for Elgins and Walthams - they made a lot of them, and very nice working examples can be found for under $100.

You'll have to look in antique shops and on ebay, though - but they're out there in profusion.

Scouts Out!

[MTHall720]

Thanks very much.  That is encouraging.  Will keep looking.

[jimbobborg]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELGIN-POCKET-B-W-RAYMOND-EMBOSSED-RAILROAD-ENGINE-19JWL-RUNS-NO-RESERVE-TCC-/390863150472?pt=Pocket_Watches&hash=item5b01425d88

[MTHall720]

Thanks. I have the ebay one on watch now.

[Hambone Dave]

Modern ones are available from Charles Hubert - Paris. Many online pocket watch vendors carry these.
Both winders or battery quartz movements. Cost $80 on up.

[Gabriel Law]

I bought a Charles Hubert - Paris pocket watch two years ago.  The gold plating has worn so expose what looks like gold but is likely brass, but it still looks fine.  It is not as big or heavy as an antique genuine gold watch, and it loses about 1 1/2 minutes a day.  I wind it every morning and wear it full time.  Bought it from Historical Emporium in California for ~ $80 plus shipping. I like it, but will buy an antique in good working condition when one surfaces.

Gabriel Law

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

I was able to scare up a Swiss key wind pocket watch  (circa 1890s) for less than $100.00.  However, I have sent it to a watch repair guy and it will cost an additional $200.00+ to get it running real nice. 

[1961MJS]

Modern ones are available from Charles Hubert - Paris. Many online pocket watch vendors carry these.
Both winders or battery quartz movements. Cost $80 on up.

Hi

These look reasonably authentic from what little knowledge I have.  I have my grandfather's wind up railroad watch, he was a fireman on the Wabash and retired in 1961.  My guess is that gold colored would be more regular than silver / chrome?  I'd need a chain to wear it correctly.  I do need to get one of these since I feel nekkid without a watch after 45 years of wearing one.  It would also be my guess that a quartz watch would keep better time, and you won't be able to tell it's quartz.

Lots of guesses here, am I close?   

Thanks

[St. George]

The common watch was silver - the less common was gold wash - they cost a little more.

The uncommon was gold.

You don't need a chain - a watch fob on a strap will do just fine.

A quartz movement is 'sudden' and in essence, 'jerks' from tick to tick - a stem wind doesn't.

Scouts Out!

[Marshall John Joseph]

I have had one of these for several years and it runs great and looks great.  It is a wind up and the 12 is at the top/stem.  It has a buy it now of $120.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/121566677708?item=121566677708&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&rmvSB=true

Don't know the seller, just did a quick search.

MJJ

[1961MJS]

The common watch was silver - the less common was gold wash - they cost a little more.

The uncommon was gold.

You don't need a chain - a watch fob on a strap will do just fine.

A quartz movement is 'sudden' and in essence, 'jerks' from tick to tick - a stem wind doesn't.

Scouts Out!

Hi, thank all of you for the comments.  Are the Quartz watches more accurate?  I guess it's not a big enough difference when you're at a SASS match though.  I'll probably get the chain since I'll use it more with a vest than in my pant's watch pocket.  I understand that GOLD and gold washed would be less common and more expensive.  When you mention Silver do you mean Silver colored or real Silver?  I've seen Chrome and Stainless versions.  My plan is to start with a less expensive (under $150 total) watch and chain.  I'd guess a Charles Hubert off Amazon. 

Were Brass watches used much?  They're gold colored, but obviously not real Gold.

Thanks again

[Blair]

1961MJS,

Just thought you should know...
Some of the Quartz type pocket watches can be very nice, in/or with Hunter cases, and a great deal less expensive than any period pocket watch you may find.
My suggestion would be to use one of these within our sport over any originals you may find.
Just a thought on my part.
My best,
Blair

[1961MJS]

Thanks Blair

I had no intention of running around shooting with my Grandpa's old Railroad pocket watch.  I'll probably get a silver colored Quartz action for now. 

Later

[St. George]

They did use solid silver cases, just as they used solid gold - but plated-over-brass or 'gold-filled' and 'silver-plated' were common - as were nickel-plated versions.

Chrome was unheard of.

Watch fobs were used with vests all the time - even with chains, since they were a convenient way to retrieve the watch from the pocket.

For SASS - use a quartz movement, and don't spend much.

For NCOWS - use a period watch like one of the more common Elgins or Walthams - they're tough and they'll keep time, and they made a lot of them, so finding a good one should be easy, since they're all over ebay and in all of the antique malls.

They'll also keep time well, once you train yourself to wind them regularly.

As for that - the cheap little battery-powered watches you can buy at the checkout line will keep better time than my Rolex Sea Dweller - but no one cares about those...

Going back to fobs and chains - your station in life will determine whether which one you'll wear.

If you're a townsman - a chain would be common, but if you worked outdoors, then a fob, since your manner of dress would dictate hardier clothing than that of a townie who wore a suit.

Scouts Out!

[Tsalagidave]

I have had good luck with original key-wind watches from Illinois Watch Company at around $150 in full working order.
These are typically nickel with a crystal and a print number face (Roman)

-Dave

[litl rooster]

If any of you repair watches PM me here. I have a family watch that was damaged