A Look At Antique Gold Pocket Watches

Time has often been a valued component, 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 noble is offered what was termed as a pocket clock by the clockmaker.  A businessman of German descent was making pocket watches in 1524 in England using a revolutionary spring technology ; clock faces that exhibited just one hand to indicate the hour now took the place of using the sun to tell what time it is.  Time might be guestimated inside an hour or so of the genuine time.  The minute hand was added much later on in the late 1600's when technology sophisticated farther ; enabling wearers of the watches to gauge time inside mins of the time.  As technology authorized more definitive time gauging, more embellishments were added to meet a growing interest in the watches. 

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

Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Ball and Illinois are just a few of the early producers of pocket watches whose products are among those valued the highest.  All the way back to the mid 1800's and of attractive design, many of these watches are wanted as collectibles.  Another popular collector type of pocket watch is a series called Railroad watches.  These timepieces were employed by train engineers in critical 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 2 trains on one track.  As with any antique, the value of the item relies 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.  Frequently owned by the well to do in society, these watchs would likely have smashing stories if they were only ready to tell more than time.