Are Pocket Watches Valuable? A Guide to Antique Pocket Watches
This guide to antique pocket watches explores their value, history, and collectability—ideal for those wondering whether an old family timepiece is a hidden treasure or a timeless heirloom.
Why we love antique pocket watches
There’s something deeply romantic about an antique pocket watch. Each one carries not just the tick of time, but the echo of a past life. Worn by Victorian gentlemen, wartime officers, or Edwardian engineers, they’re miniature marvels of engineering and craftsmanship. Holding one, you feel the weight of history in your palm, a keepsake passed down through generations.
What makes a pocket watch valuable?
Not all antique pocket watches are created equal. A few factors that significantly affect value include:
Maker: Brands like Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Breguet are among the most sought after. English makers like Dent, J.W.Benson, and Fattorini (a Yorkshire favourite) also carry weight, as does the US made Waltham.
Age: Generally, watches from the 18th to early 20th centuries are considered antique. Earlier pieces in working condition command higher prices.
Metal: Solid gold or silver cases are far more valuable than plated or base metal ones. Hallmarks offer a clue.
Movement: High-quality movements, often jewelled or signed, add significant value. A working mechanism also fetches more.
Condition: Original parts, a clean dial, and minimal restoration make a watch more collectible.
Provenance: A story, receipt, or family note adds charm and sometimes cash value.
Types of antique pocket watches
Understanding the different types can help you spot a gem:
Open-Faced Pocket Watch: No cover over the dial. Clean, practical design, popular in America during the railway era.
Hunter Case Pocket Watch: Features a spring-hinged metal lid to protect the crystal. These are charming and often ornately engraved.
Half-Hunter: Has a window in the lid so you can read the time without opening it. Stylish and practical.
Key-Wind Watches: Early models that need a key to wind and set. Often 18th or early 19th century.
Top or Stem-Wind Watches: Introduced in the mid-19th century—more practical and hence more common. The stem of the watch is wound to operate it.
Popular brands and movements to know
Collectors often seek specific makers and mechanisms. Here are a few to look out for:
Waltham & Elgin (USA): Mass-produced, reliable, with beautiful movements. Affordable and popular.
Longines (Swiss): Elegant and precise. Their early chronographs are especially prized.
Fusee Watches (UK): Older English watches with a chain-driven mechanism. Fascinating to look at, often cased in silver or gold.
Breguet: The pinnacle of haute horology. Rare and museum-worthy
Are pocket watches a good investment?
While not as liquid as gold or diamonds, antique pocket watches hold their value well, especially rare or fine examples. They appeal to both watch collectors and lovers of mechanical artistry. They’re also less likely to be replicated or trend-driven, making them ideal heirlooms.
Buying or selling through a reputable, established dealer like Aladdin’s Cave in Leeds ensures authenticity, proper assessment, and fair pricing.
How to care for an antique pocket watch
A few simple steps will keep your watch ticking:
Wind it gently at the same time each day (if it runs).
Keep it in a lined pouch or soft case to avoid scratches.
Don’t over-wind or expose to moisture.
When to gift an antique pocket watch
An antique pocket watch isn’t just a gift, it’s a gesture of lasting meaning. Timeless by nature, they’re ideal for marking life’s most significant milestones:
Weddings: A perfect groom’s gift or a token for the father of the bride.
Graduation: Symbolising the passage of time and the beginning of a new journey.
Retirement: Marking the close of a career with something elegant and enduring.
Anniversaries: Especially meaningful for silver or golden anniversaries.
Christenings or Birthdays: For a child to grow into, or for marking a 21st or 60th birthday.
More than just a beautiful object, a gifted pocket watch becomes a story, one that begins with the moment it was received and continues through generations.
Final thoughts
Whether it’s tucked into your grandfather’s waistcoat or a recent find from a flea market, antique pocket watches can be surprisingly valuable, both sentimentally and financially. If you’ve got one, it’s worth getting it assessed. And if you’re hunting for one, make sustic are to buy from someone who knows their cogs from their cases.
We’ve long curated a fantastic and varied collection of antique pocket watches, with more treasures available in-store than online. If you’re local to Leeds, we’d love to welcome you into our Queen’s Arcade shop to explore the collection in person.
