Timeless Pocket Watches

Unlike wristwatches, pocket watches are meant to be placed on coat or trousers pockets. They are often attached by a chain to a belt loop, a lapel, or a waistcoat. In contrast to the digital displays in most of our modern watches, pocket watches favors the traditional analog display.

Pocket watches that come with chains are often decorated on those chains with ornaments. These chains are often called fobs. Most pocket watches have hinged covers that is flipped open when looking at the time. The cover keeps the pocket watch from damage and scratches. They usually have fasteners that goes through a buttonhole to secure them well. Reminds us of train conductors, doesnt it?

Pocket watches have been in circulation for quite some time now. The first reference to quartz movement pocket watch ever made was in a letter addressed to the Marchese di Manta from an Italian clocksmith named Bartholomew Manfredi in the year 1462. The letter was a proposal to make the Marchese a pocket clock that would surpass the quality of that owned by the Duke of Modena.

Spring-driven pocket clocks became known in Italy during the end of the 1400s. Peter Heinlein, a German locksmith from Nuremberg started making many pocket watches in 1510. That soon became very popular all throughout Europe.

There are two kinds of pocket watches: open-faced and the covered type. The open-faced pocket watches do not have the cover that flips open. The latter, also referred to as hunter type or savonette, has a hinged cover to protect the watch face from scratches and breakage. A pocket watch normally has a seconds dial located close to six oclock, a stem pendant at twelve oclock, and a hunter stem (for the cover) at three oclock. Both of these types may or may not be a winding pocket watches or watches that you need wind up for it to work.

Todays pocket watches are dependent on quartz clock movement mechanism eliminating the traditional wind-up mechanism of older pocket watches.

While pocket watches have not been nearly as common or popular as the modern wristwatches, theyre still deemed a classy, decorative, and prestigious time implements that double as a decorative wardrobe accessory as well. Pocket watches and pocket watch chains make perfect gift ideas and are usually given as retirement presents. Theyre especially good sentimental gifts as their metal casings inside and out can easily be engraved with loving messages of many characters.

There are so many versatile options in todays pocket watches, from the standard to chronographs, ladies pendants, and Swiss Army Pocket watches. Any of them can make a great keepsake.