A Look At Antique Gold Pocket Watches

Time has always been a valued part, and now becomes a valuable part for people that collect antique gold pocket watches. 

The history of pocket watches extends back to the mid 1400’s, evidenced by a letter from an Italian clockmaker to a nobleman.  In the document, the nobleman is offered what was termed as a pocket clock by the clockmaker.  A businessperson of German descent was making pocket watches in 1524 in Britain using a revolutionary spring technology ; clock faces that exhibited only one hand to indicate the hour now took the place of using the sun to tell what time it is.  Time may be estimated within an hour or so of the genuine time.  The minute hand was added much later on in the late 1600’s when technology complicated further ; enabling wearers of the watches to gauge time inside mins of the time.  As technology permitted more definite time gauging, more gildings were added to meet a growing interest in the watches. 

Portable watches, as they were called in the early days, were first assembled of steel by blacksmiths and locksmiths as they were accustomed to working with the alloy.  Over time, other more suitable substances were used instead, for example brass, silver and gold.  Jewels and delicate scroll work were added to adorn some of the watches to make them more attractive for the wealthy.  Antique gold pocket watches, especially those with jewels, are especially valuable for collectors because of these elaborations. 

Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Ball and Illinois are some of the early makers of pocket watches whose products are among those valued the highest.  All the way back to the mid 1800’s and of stunning design, many of these watches are wanted as collectibles.  Another well-liked collector kind of pocket watch is a series called Railroad watches.  These timepieces were employed by train engineers in vital time keeping schedules for train arrivals and departures.  The accuracy of the watches were more precisely correct than most, as any variance of time faster or slower could mean sad situations for two trains on one track.  As with any antique, the value of the item depends on how much a buyer is willing to pay for it. 

The prize of many collectors is antique gold pocket watches, with histories that go back virtually 150 years.  Regularly owned by the well to do in society, these watchs would likely have fantastic stories if they were only able to tell more than time.