Wearing a pocket watch sans waistcoat

[HarborSpringsPiper]

Here I am in a couple of pics wearing a pocket watch, from the lapel buttonhole.

Thanks for posting those pics. Getting back to the pocket square thread, I just didn't think a white handkerchief looked correct with my daywear jacket in the mirror but see it certainly does! I should wear that pocket watch more often too!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Thank you for the advice, and all in agreement, no less! The heck of it is, though, that I've also just started wearing pocket squares (based on the good advice in this forum), so I guess it has to be one or the other in the left pocket.

You just drop the watch behind the pocket square, that's all.

[Bigkahuna]

I have seen some very nice leather devices for wearing a pocket watch on your belt. However, I don't think it is suitable for a dressy affair and I am not sure if it would fit a kilt belt. But it is an option.

[ThistleDown]

David, I am so sorry I misunderstood your question the other night. In former times it was unheard of for any gentleman to be without his waistcoast and, of course, that is where he carried his watch. Today, in warmer times, we set aside the waistcoat, but your question was: what about the watch?

Wrist watches have taken over the world, but some of us still like to be old-fashioned at times and wear what our fathers and grandfathers wore in the manner in which it was worn.

This is a poor pic, I realize, but it's a lovely Roman gold fob worn with the T-bar stuffed hrough the button hole from the front and the chain looping down in front of the lapel to the watch in the left breast jacket pocket.



If all you have is the watch, chain and fob (no T-bar) then stuff the fob through the button-hole from the back and the chain will hang down behind and on into the pocket to the watch (that's behind the puffed hanky, if you will).

Edit: oh no, I just re-read this and discovered four or five in agreement. Yessss.

[Macman]

David, I am so sorry I misunderstood your question the other night.

No worries, Rex. There was a lot going on, and I probably didn't make myself too clear, given the beverages being consumed.

Thank you all for the input on this, and for taking the time to respond and post pictures. It helps immensely!

[Bugbear]

I've been using a pocket watch, rather than a wrist watch, since I was about thirteen or fourteen. Back in the days when I wore suits quite often, there were times I didn't want the chain sticking out. There is usually a small pocket inside of one of the larger pockets on the front of a jacket. I don't know if kilt jackets usually have this pocket. Also, I have several suits that have a small pocket in the lower left side on the inside of the jacket; not one of the inside breast pockets because that might bulge through the jacket. Either of these pockets have worked for me to hold the watch.

Other than that, put it in the breast pocket like everyone else says to do.

[Strings]

Ok, I'll be the voice of dissent (just 'cause)

I've had good luck with tucking the watch into the waistband of the kilt itself. Or dropping it into the sporran.

There: it's not unanimous!

[Jack Daw]

Good advice of which I make mental note.

[RB51]

A bit of a deviation on this thread, if Macman will permit, but is there any convention on the wearing of a pocket watch with a waistcoat? In some pictures I've noticed that the chain only loops from the button hole to one side of the waistcoat, and at other times it starts in one pocket, loops through the button hole and then onto the other side. And pardon my ignorance, but what are the fobs for? Are they usually purely decorative, or might they have some meaning to the wearer?

Thanks for any enlightenment.

Laurie

[Jock Scot]

A bit of a deviation on this thread, if Macman will permit, but is there any convention on the wearing of a pocket watch with a waistcoat? In some pictures I've noticed that the chain only loops from the button hole to one side of the waistcoat, and at other times it starts in one pocket, loops through the button hole and then onto the other side. And pardon my ignorance, but what are the fobs for? Are they usually purely decorative, or might they have some meaning to the wearer?

Thanks for any enlightenment.

Laurie

Right then I am no expert on watch chains other than I have seen more than a few. If you regard the "T" bar as probably the normal fixing, there are others, you can have a single chain and fob, a double chain with or without a fob and generally they are known this side of the Atlantic as "Albert"(named after Prince Albert I think) chains. With the double Albert you will have your watch on one side and often a semi precious stone with perhaps with your crest, seal engraved on the other side,T bar in the middle. There is also just a chain that goes from left pocket to right pocket in a loop,not sure what they are called.

The fob could be a seal stone, a "piece of eight", gold sovereign, medal for winning a golf match, coin holder, hand lens, compass and all manner of little personal trinkets.