Posted: 5/11/2026 8:24:53 PM EDT
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Never had one... Want a wind-up... Don't want to spend too much... Anybody??? |
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Funny - I just spent most of tonight working on one (side note: f@*! putting fusee chains back on). Attached File The “watch” part of a pocket watch tends to be the cheapest part nowadays - almost all of the price is a function of how much precious metals are in the case. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, I’d look for a vintage one with a plated case, keyless, running, and in the 15-17 jewel range (abbreviated 15j-17j typically on eBay). That’s considered mid grade, with ‘railroad grade’ being the top tier, but still a great bang for the buck. For a little over $100 you can still get something like this: eBay |
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Originally Posted By WI_DeerHunter13: Funny - I just spent most of tonight working on one (side note: f@*! putting fusee chains back on). https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/75925/IMG_5762_jpeg-3761023.JPG The “watch” part of a pocket watch tends to be the cheapest part nowadays - almost all of the price is a function of how much precious metals are in the case. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, I’d look for a vintage one with a plated case, keyless, running, and in the 15-17 jewel range (abbreviated 15j-17j typically on eBay). That’s considered mid grade, with ‘railroad grade’ being the top tier, but still a great bang for the buck. For a little over $100 you can still get something like this: eBay I've never tackled a fusee movement but pocket watches are my preferred movements to work on. |
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Originally Posted By medicmandan: New or antique? Antique watches are going for stupid prices right now thanks to silver and gold prices. Sellers want scrap prices for the watch. 100 years old watches I was paying $30-$50 two years ago now go for $200-$300. It's nuts. new/used, don't need a collector/heirloom type... Thanks. |
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Originally Posted By WI_DeerHunter13: Funny - I just spent most of tonight working on one (side note: f@*! putting fusee chains back on). https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/75925/IMG_5762_jpeg-3761023.JPG The “watch” part of a pocket watch tends to be the cheapest part nowadays - almost all of the price is a function of how much precious metals are in the case. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, I’d look for a vintage one with a plated case, keyless, running, and in the 15-17 jewel range (abbreviated 15j-17j typically on eBay). That’s considered mid grade, with ‘railroad grade’ being the top tier, but still a great bang for the buck. For a little over $100 you can still get something like this: eBay Perfect, thanks Boss... |
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Ebay is probably best place to find one unless you want to poke around pawn shops. There is a century of refinement in pocket watches. The jewel count of the watch can give you an idea of the quality. Cheap watches start at 7 jewels and go up to 23 jewels....AFIK that is the highest. Probably the pinnacle of pocket watch tech are are the American made railroad grade watches which were probably made up into the 1960s. I got a my grand dad's pocket watch serviced by Unreformed66 which led me down the rabbit hole of buying a couple more. You can reach out to him if you find one that needs to be fixed. He can probbly answer a lot of your questions too. If you are looking at a watch, the make and serial number from the inner workings is what you want to know so you can check the pocket watch database online. You can find info on most watches there. |
Keep an eye on eBay and you can get a nice 21 jewel size 16 Hamilton 992 for not too much. They were one of the most common railroad watches pre-WWII. They are fairly easy to service and keep good time when maintained. Some other good size 16 21-jewel models include Elgin BW Raymond and Father Time, Illinois Bunn Special, and Waltham Vanguard. I have a Hamilton 992 from 1925 that looks like it was made yesterday and still keeps great time.  
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-D.A.
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-D.A.
"I’ve been known to kiss a girl now and then..." -PlaneJane
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The old originals are often not a good buy for most people because as used they often have problems not apparent until you've bought it, and finding a qualified watchmaker can be difficult and expensive. If you just want a pocket watch and don't want to spend a lot, there are modern made pocket watches that still have large size movements. Most modern pocket watches actually have a small men's or even tiny women's movement and most will be quartz movements. If the seconds hand is mounted in the center with the hour and minute hand it's probably a small wrist watch movement. A friend of mine used to carry a modern full size movement pocket watch and it gave him good service for many years with my doing an occasional clean and oil. Here's one example of a decent full size modern pocket watch on Amazon, note the full size movement........ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L9F6HHL?tag=arfcom00-20 |