Need info on pocket watches

**artificer** · 6th February 12, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by sailortats

I have what I believe to be my maternal grandfathers pocket watch. I doubt that it is an expensive watch as my grandparents were not wealthy and immigrated to this country from Nova Scotia in the mid 1800s. The name on the face of the watch is "Illinois". The diameter is 1 5/8" The front cover has a small engraved picture of a mountain town surrounded by a lot of filigree. The back side has a picture on a 6 point buck standing by a lake with mountains in the background, also surrounded by a lot of filigree. Can anyone tell me anything about this watch?

If you have pictures, especially of the movement itself, that would be immensely helpful. Before the early 1900's most watch movements were sold independent of the cases. Local jewelers would order the movements and pair them with a case of the customer's choosing.

As a result, any info on the case is likely to be personal (engraving) or would pertain to the case and not the actual watch movement. (metal content)

That said, any movement of any quality at all will have the company's name and a serial number on it, which would help in determining the origin of the piece. Hamilton records are VERY extensive. I could track down to the WEEK the date my watch was produced, a good estimate of when it was sent to the finishers, and a likely time that it would have been purchased by the jeweler for stock or special order for my family.

Many other well known brands will have similar amounts of information available.

ith:

**sailortats** · 6th February 12, 07:25 PM

Sorry, no pictures of the movement. I have no idea how to open the watch to expose the movement and am really afraid to try lest I ruin it completely.

**artificer** · 6th February 12, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by sailortats

Sorry, no pictures of the movement. I have no idea how to open the watch to expose the movement and am really afraid to try lest I ruin it completely.

How about pictures of the face? Barring that, your only hope is to take it to a REPUTABLE watch repair/jeweler and have them inspect it. They should be able to access the movement and give you some info.

ith:

**artificer** · 6th February 12, 08:15 PM

Not to post over myself (there were several PMs you lot didn't see), but here's my "ward".

And the fob I found to go with it.

I've no idea about it's origin, but I love it. It looks more than a little Masonic.

ith:

**madmacs** · 6th February 12, 09:27 PM

Quartz... Cheap and accurate
Mechanical - modern... Chinese or Russian movement likely, possible to get a Swiss unitas movement, and since swatch started stopping other makers using their movements i'm sure theres probably an alternative...
Mechanical - old... american, swiss, russian... Buy from someone who repairs them

Ideally you want a swiss minute repeater with a porcelain dial, in a solid gold hunter case, but then thats kind of like me saying you want a rolls royce phantom III

One word of caution if considering a mechanical watch, especially an old one, they require serviced... old parts are getting scarcer... Your repair parts might be as old and also used...

I would also, having dropped an expensive mechanical watch, recommend either budgeting for repairs or being very careful.

Practicality wise, i'd echo the sentiment of a modern quartz watch with a nice antique silver or gold ($$$$) chain.

**McMurdo** · 6th February 12, 09:35 PM

This thread has got me looking for another pocket watch to add to my collection, Scott that is a wonderful looking watch btw.

**Joe Gondek** · 6th February 12, 11:42 PM

The wealth of knowledge on various matters avaiable on this board never ceceses to amaze me

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 7th February 12, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Kilted Cole

I'm new to the pocket watch as well...my question is what is the fob for and how does one proporly wear it with the watch? Thank you for setting up this post and thank you everyone else for such informative post as well.

In answer to your question, the watch is usually worn in the top left breast pocket of a jacket with the chain or strap attached to the button hole and passing behind the lapel. When worn with a waistcoat the watch goes in the left pocket, and the chain or strap attaches to (or passes thru) the middle button hole-- some waistcoats have an extra button hole for the chain or strap. Longer chains and straps will have the watch on one end, and some sort of "bobble" on the other, often a signet, or small pen knife. Fraternal, scholastic, and other types of insignia, as well as coins, are often attached to the watch chain.

The watch is carried in the left pocket so that one's jacket or waistcoat can be removed (or un-buttoned) without having to remove the watch from the pocket.