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Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

noelekal
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Hey, thanks Stuart! I'll save that link.
 
Bernhard J
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This one arrived today, after travelling a total of three months from the Netherlands to Germany. The average speed being about 0,37 km/h 😁

But waiting really was worth it. Zenith, in particular the better grades, are imo heavily underrated. But that does not matter, if they are "keepers", like this one. It has a flawless dial, enamelled in several colors. The overall condition is excellent and it even just recently had a service. So, not suprisingly it works perfectly and precisely. Aside the multi color dial it has another speciality, i.e. an instantly jumping minute counter, although the meovement does not look like that at a first glance.

Cheers, Bernhard

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noelekal
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That's a very attractive watch, Bernhard!

It would have run down attempting to time its journey to you.
 
Canuck
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I see a stamp on the case pendant. Coin silver or sterling? Handsome.
 
Nupero
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Complete pocket watch newbie here! You guys seem to like American pocket watches. Not a lot of those available here in Europe, it's the good ol' Swiss that dominate the market. Any particular swiss/euro made models or calibers that I should look for in the $200-300 range?
 
Canuck
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You are unlikely to find collectible brand name Swiss watches in your price range. The popularity of American made watches probably originates in that most American watches were made in a factory with the name of the brand on the front door. Raw material entered one end of the building, and finished watches exited at the other end of the building. So American watches generally come with a pedigree. You’ll find thousands of Swiss made pocket watches that are unlikely to have a recognizable name, that will fit your price range. Generally, watches with no pedigree. So it is tough for us to recommend a BRAND name Swiss pocket watch in your price range. There are countless numbers of names on Swiss watches that were made by perhaps a few dozen factories. Few of which marketed their product with the maker’s name actually ON the watch. If you find a recognizable brand name on a Swiss-made pocket watch in your price range, chances are it’s a basket case.

Your post followed immediately a post from @Bernhard J in which he showed his recent acquisition. His Zenith pocket watch in a coin silver case. You won’t find a Swiss watch like that one for $200 to $300.
 
TexOmega
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Nupero Nupero
Complete pocket watch newbie here! You guys seem to like American pocket watches. Not a lot of those available here in Europe, it's the good ol' Swiss that dominate the market. Any particular swiss/euro made models or calibers that I should look for in the $200-300 range?


You can get a nice but esthetically challenged Hamilton grade 992 or 940 or 992B off e*bay for about that price.

All are RR grade/RR approved, easily serviced, with tons of available parts and made in high numbers and for many years.
 
Nupero
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Thanks for the advice guys! 👍

I see a lot of Tissot/Omega/Zenith watches with silver cases in $50-150 range, many in nice condition. I'm guessing these are pretty basic models which would explain the price. Pocketwatchdatabase is great but only for American watches. I struggle to find info about Swiss pieces and movements. Probably a stupid question, but what swiss company (mass)produced the highest quality calibers? Is there a "ranking" among collectors? For example, is Zenith considered better than Omega and so on.
 
Waltesefalcon
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If I were looking for a Swiss pocket watch I would probably look for a Longines. They are very well made, and I sometimes see them on ebay for right around the money you are talking about. Zenith, Omega, and Eterna would also be solid choices.
 
noelekal
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I'd love to have examples of each of those makers' pocket watches, Waltesefalcon.

Don't you be posting such threads! I'm suggestible.
 
DaveK
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Nupero Nupero
Thanks for the advice guys! 👍

I see a lot of Tissot/Omega/Zenith watches with silver cases in $50-150 range, many in nice condition. I'm guessing these are pretty basic models which would explain the price. Pocketwatchdatabase is great but only for American watches. I struggle to find info about Swiss pieces and movements. Probably a stupid question, but what swiss company (mass)produced the highest quality calibers? Is there a "ranking" among collectors? For example, is Zenith considered better than Omega and so on.

The magic of the American pocket watch industry is that they automated and perfected replacement parts. Accuracy and reliability was beyond what Europe was able to do on any scale.

most North American collectors want American pocket watches, particularly the railroad grade watches. I’m not sure how to answer your question about comparable European watches - no doubt there are some, but I doubt that there are any like Hamilton that produced over 525,000 of the 992b between 1940 and 1970
 
TexOmega
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@Canuck might post his Louis Brandt(Omega) for Swiss equivalent high quality RR grade PW's.


Produced in much lower numbers, however...
 
Canuck
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Gladly! Louis Brandt founded the firm that became Omega. After his sons ran the firm, they named the firm Omega. That was early in the 20th century. However, the name Louis Brandt pops up on products of Omega, on occasion. I have two Louis Brandt CCR, 19 ligne, 19-jewel, high grade pocket watches. These were railroad approved in Canada. But would one of these be in the price range preferred by the OP. Only if the seller didn’t know what he had, or it was in rough shape. One dial is marked Louis Brandt, and the other is a private label for jeweller and railroad watch inspector A Logan of Greenwood, British Columbia (Canada).

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Bernhard J
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Nupero Nupero
Thanks for the advice guys! 👍

I see a lot of Tissot/Omega/Zenith watches with silver cases in $50-150 range, many in nice condition. I'm guessing these are pretty basic models which would explain the price. Pocketwatchdatabase is great but only for American watches. I struggle to find info about Swiss pieces and movements. Probably a stupid question, but what swiss company (mass)produced the highest quality calibers? Is there a "ranking" among collectors? For example, is Zenith considered better than Omega and so on.

I personally have a favor for Zenith. IMO you should be able to find a nice Zenith, perhaps even with a 17 jewel movement and microregulator, in your 200-300 € range. Despite my favor for Zenith, Omega is just as good, but generally priced higher and with better "image".

Both, Zenith and Omega, made movements in quite a lot of quality grades. It will be helpful to research a little bit about these before purchasing a watch, because the quality grade makes the price.

Cheers, Bernhard
 
Bernhard J
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But English watches are even better 😉, in most cases not mass produced, and still rather cheap. For example this one cost me 100 € only, including shipping and import duties 😲. Prestine dial, original hands, original case, fusee movement, Breguet hairspring (rare in english watches), and working great. But only the knowledgable will note that it was made by Newsome, a respected company that also entered watches in Kew trials, and is really a high grade watch. Please disregard the hair in the movement photo 😁.

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Bernhard J
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And yesterday I could not resist this one. Made about 1815, duplex escapement. About 800€ including shipping and import duties, purchased from an UK dealer. Again, only the knowledgable will note that the hall mark of the case (1862) is about half a century too late, compared with the date of making of the movement. Thus, it is a recase, but the present case was purpose made specifically for this movement, so that the said discrepancy in the dates is the only indication for the recase. The movement works, but will need a clean. Photo copyright: https://www.antique-watch.com/

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Waltesefalcon
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@Bernhard J that is a lovely watch you just purchased. I love the big weighted and temperature compensated balance wheel, the diamond cap stone, and then that apparently perfect dial. It's a stunning piece.

I am guessing that this watch originally resided in a pair case and was recased into a modern case in 1862 to keep up with the fashion of the day. Likely because the movement is such a high grade movement, that even though it was old fashioned, it was worth the update. Would you agree? Do you think that damage to the original case may have been more likely? Granted this is all speculation, but I enjoy thinking about it.
 
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