Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Dash1 · Dec 24, 2025

Canuck
The case style is called a half-hunter, or Demi-hunter. The front cover has blue vitreous enamel Roman numerals over a guilloche background. The case appears to be made of 18-karat gold based on the stamping inside the rear cover. The movement (mechanism) is of Swiss origin, key-wound, key set. I don’t think the case is Swiss. A Swiss case would likely be marked .750 (decimal equivalent of 18 karat). Otherwise, the case would be marked with an image of Helvétia, the Swiss standard mark for 18-karat gold. The movement has a cylinder escapement and has (possibly) up to perhaps 10 or 11 ruby jewels. The watch likely dates from the fourth quarter of the 19th century. The greatest value would be to your family. The more desire there would be in the market place, the higher the market value would be. This watch would be of little value as a collectible, so the value would most likely be the melt value of the case. It would be next to impossible to determine the maker of the case or the movement. The decoration on the case back contains a monogram, it would appear, and the decoration was all done by a hand engraver. The front cover can be opened by pressing the button in the middle of the pendant on the edge of the case. The dial is of white vitreous enamel, likely with black vitreous enamel Roman numerals.

Interesting that the balance cock with the regulator is marked FAST and SLOW. Being Swiss, I would expect the makings would be ADVANCE and RETARD. During the era when this watch was made, the Swiss were not a major exporter of watches. But this one was likely made for an English speaking market. But not likely for England because the markings in the case back are not consistent with the markings as would be found in a Swiss watch sold in the English market.

Consider printing this information and keeping it with the watch. Now that you know about the watch and its family history,,it should be worth more to you.

Thank you very much for this fascinating information, I really appreciate it.

skand · Dec 24, 2025

Hello.
I have a silver Longines that runs, stops, runs......... I'm going to send it in for service because from what I've read, it's worth it. What are your thoughts?

sheepdoll · Dec 24, 2025

I had a freind who always asked "how does one do math with Turkish numbers?"
I am not sure they are base 10 myself. Look more like base 5.

noelekal · Dec 24, 2025

I certainly would have that neato silver Longines serviced!

skand · Dec 24, 2025

noelekal
I certainly would have that neato silver Longines serviced!

I have several different pocket watches, all working, so I'll have this one repaired. But are there any spare parts for this watch? I'm not sure if the parts are replaceable; they might be permanent.

noelekal · Dec 24, 2025

I have gathered in pocket watches, but am not expert on their rehabilitation. I would assume that the Longines was common for its day and survivors are popular now so parts might be more available than for some antique watches that were produced in smaller quantities.

Tako Taki 8 · Dec 25, 2025

Hello pocket-watch Enthusiasts!

I only own 4 manual wind pocket watches!
A Kienzle antimagnetic, it might be from the 1960s or -70s , I don’t know!
I once got it in a trade with a co-worker, who had two of them.
That was in the 1990s.
I wore this Kienzle for many years as my daily watch.
It was NOS, when I got it, but wearing it for decades, first daily, later on and off, it gets patina.

Then I got an old Omega pocket watch.
Traveling India, I found it with another old Omega wrist watch, both in a very devastated condition, at a local shop, in the Indian country side.
So I bought them!

The pocket watch I gave to a friend who is a watchmaker, to restore.
But keep its original (bad condition) face.
This piece I posted some years ago, already somewhere here in OF!
I don’t remember exactly, someone said it might be from around 1920-23.
After the watch was running again, I wore it as well for some years mostly as my main watch.

Then, I got some years back, a pocket watch, from my mother!
It was a present of her, to my late father in the early 1960.
A tuxedo/swallowtail suit watch.
In that time it was still inappropriate to wear a wristwatch with formal dress!

„PARA“ is the brand, the watchcase and chain are in white gold.

Dies someone here know more about this watch?
Thanks a lot!
(Not interested in selling any of my watches, just interested in their history, maker, story… etc!)

Now we come to my latest addition to my pocket watch „collection“!

I just got it!
An Omega, decentral seconds on the 6, Roman numbers, enamel face.
Hour and minute hands are still on the watch, seconds hand is missing.
Case is stamped Omega
Case Number:
1863796
P 1 1
Inner dust cap has stamped „Swiss made“ and again the
P 1 1

Case material seams nickel coated.
Outer case diameter 53,7mm
The caliber has 42,7mm diameter, about.
Condition is really bad!
I’d like to know more about it.
Time frame of production, etc
Any information about it, I am interested in to hear!

Thank You very much,
appreciate You share Your thoughts about it with me!

Christmas Greetings 🖖
Oliver

Tako Taki 8 · Dec 25, 2025

Hello again!

Sorry!
I was not able to edit my post, so I just write some additional things here.

About the lastest Omega pw addition to my small pw collection.
The diameter is larger than monotheism Omega pw,
I want to give it to my watchmaker friend for to getobt running.
I don’t want to rob it it’s distinctive patina and damages!
I like it as it is, it had a long life, it should wear its scars with pride!
I love patina and originality on my watches!

Any idea what could it cost to get this piece into running condition, at a local small watchmaker.
My watchmaker friend tells me always very very reasonable friendship prices, sometimes I feel it’s too cheap!
I d like to give him what he deserves to get, for parts and work!

Thanks 🙏 a lot!
Really appreciate it!

Greetings 🖖

ghce · Dec 25, 2025

Tako Taki 8
Hello again!

Sorry!
I was not able to edit my post, so I just write some additional things here.

About the lastest Omega pw addition to my small pw collection.
The diameter is larger than monotheism Omega pw,
I want to give it to my watchmaker friend for to getobt running.
I don’t want to rob it it’s distinctive patina and damages!
I like it as it is, it had a long life, it should wear its scars with pride!
I love patina and originality on my watches!

Any idea what could it cost to get this piece into running condition, at a local small watchmaker.
My watchmaker friend tells me always very very reasonable friendship prices, sometimes I feel it’s too cheap!
I d like to give him what he deserves to get, for parts and work!

Thanks 🙏 a lot!
Really appreciate it!

Greetings 🖖

I suspect that your PW maybe a money pit, looks like the balance shaft is broken but of course that does not mean it's a terminal case but convincing your watchmaker that a repair is feasible is a different matter. Personally I love watches that show their history be it a face that only a mother could love. The hands look a little too short.

Duracuir1 · Dec 25, 2025

Ho ho ho! It was a busy night. But I timed it perfectly. Time for a nap now. Ho ho ho!

Tako Taki 8 · Dec 25, 2025

Hello and thanks ghce!

Appreciate Your thoughts!

Balance shaft, where the screw balance sits on, yes, it’s broken!
The extender (?! don’t know the name in English!) where U can change the speed of the balance is loose and partly missing!
But otherwise it looks mostly complete.
Hands are moving when I turn the crown, in both directions.

I believe it will be more expensive to get it to running condition, than the possible selling price would be!
But, as I m not going to sell it…!

It was given to me as a present 🎁 it’s a family piece.
I’d like to keep it, get it running, use it as it is!
Maybe a new Glas, as the one inside seams to be a flat piece of window Glas, made fit to the watch.

Certainly it’s in a really bad condition, but as I just want to have it back to running condition, the face, the dents and scratches I want to keep!
What would it cost to get it running, that I can use it?
No restoring of the body!
Do You or someone here would know about it’s production year and other details and would like to share them with me!

Thanks a lot so far!

Greetings & thanks
Oliver

Waltesefalcon · Dec 25, 2025

Just as long as you're aware that this watch is a labor of love, you'll be fine, because it will indeed cost more to repair than it is worth if you tried to sell it.

Tako Taki 8 · Dec 26, 2025

Waltesefalcon
Just as long as you're aware that this watch is a labor of love, you'll be fine, because it will indeed cost more to repair than it is worth if you tried to sell it.

Hi Waltesefalcon!

Thanks!
Yeah, I m not going to sell it!
It’s a piece from family, given to me as a present!
It certainly had a tough life (would like to know about what age it is, or about what time it was produced, if someone here could tell me!), but I
love it, as it looks!
An old watch, new old stock or a drawer Queen (unused for decades in a withdrawer) looking almost new,
may it be for some the holy grail!

But for me, the beaten up,
well used and patinated, with lots of traces of a sometimes difficult life, but still someone loved and cherished it, instead of throwing it away, I feel utterly attracted to!
If it is an piece given through the generations of my own family, it’s value is not monetary but irreplaceable!
There is just no second piece like this one existing!
I m from Europe, there were lots of wars in the past, most cherished items were lost in these wars in the last hundred something years.
What we still have in our possession from our grandparents or great grandparents…?!
Many even don’t know what their great grandparents names, what did for work or what they cared for….

I m by no means wealthy enough to spend stupid money on it, but I just want to have it running well and enjoy it, keep it optically like it is!
It went through family to me, it should be enjoyed for what it is, and given further to be enjoyed by someone else in the same family…

Would be glad to know a production period of this PW!
Just about, must be not exactly!

And if the case and the caliber is from the same area!
Any further thoughts about it, would be glad to hear about!

Thanks and greetings,
Oliver

ghce · Dec 26, 2025

Tako Taki 8
Hi Waltesefalcon!

Thanks!
Yeah, I m not going to sell it!
It’s a piece from family, given to me as a present!
It certainly had a tough life (would like to know about what age it is, or about what time it was produced, if someone here could tell me!), but I
love it, as it looks!
An old watch, new old stock or a drawer Queen (unused for decades in a withdrawer) looking almost new,
may it be for some the holy grail!

But for me, the beaten up,
well used and patinated, with lots of traces of a sometimes difficult life, but still someone loved and cherished it, instead of throwing it away, I feel utterly attracted to!
If it is an piece given through the generations of my own family, it’s value is not monetary but irreplaceable!
There is just no second piece like this one existing!
I m from Europe, there were lots of wars in the past, most cherished items were lost in these wars in the last hundred something years.
What we still have in our possession from our grandparents or great grandparents…?!
Many even don’t know what their great grandparents names, what did for work or what they cared for….

I m by no means wealthy enough to spend stupid money on it, but I just want to have it running well and enjoy it, keep it optically like it is!
It went through family to me, it should be enjoyed for what it is, and given further to be enjoyed by someone else in the same family…

Would be glad to know a production period of this PW!
Just about, must be not exactly!

And if the case and the caliber is from the same area!
Any further thoughts about it, would be glad to hear about!

Thanks and greetings,
Oliver

What you really need to do is trawl the internet looking at the likes of eBay or other sellers looking for an identical Omega to act as a donor for parts. It's likely that your donor Omega PW maybe in far better cosmetic / mechanical condition but it's the sentimental value of yours that is the most important.
You could also try other watch makers to see if they have the correct parts in stock.
Unless you have a pet watchmaker whom you patronise exclusively I would look for a donor PW first.

Tako Taki 8 · Dec 26, 2025

Hello ghce!

Thanks a lot!
That’s a great idea with the donor PW!’
What would be a fair price for such a donor PW?
Or, what You guys would pay for something like that, a donor?!

Thanks 🙏!

Still, I’d be glad to know, from what timeframe of production my PW could be …?!
Anyone with a guess about…?!

Thanks 🙏!

Greetings from Japan,
Oliver

skand · Dec 26, 2025

I don't even know when I collected so many pocket watches. This collection has no thought behind it; I buy one if it looks nice, or I take it in trade.

ghce · Dec 26, 2025

skand
I don't even know when I collected so many pocket watches. This collection has no thought behind it; I buy one if it looks nice, or I take it in trade.

For a random collection you sure have good taste!

skand · Dec 26, 2025

ghce
For a random collection you sure have good taste!

Thanks. I have more, but I don't want to take up space. Pocket watches aren't my specialty; I like them because they're big and you can make all sorts of photo puzzles.

Canuck · Dec 26, 2025

You have very discerning tastes. From the sound of your initial post, you must be exposed to a lot of watches, but you only collect the best of the best. The one Zenith would appear to be labelled for a Turkish railway. And the fact that your collection doesn’t include American brand watches would seem to tell me your collection is mostly from European sources.

skand · Dec 26, 2025

Yes, it's true, I live in Europe. I'm just not an expert on pocket watches, so I buy brands like wristwatches. I had a nice Waltham, but a collector quickly took it from me in exchange for an Omega wristwatch.