Looking for modern old style watch

[MTHall720]

Does anyone know of some good brands of modern, yet old fashioned looking pocket watches?

 

[leghog]

Does anyone know of some good brands of modern, yet old fashioned looking pocket watches?

Seriously you'd be much better off with a vintage pocket watch. Look at Hamiltons, Walthams, Elgins from around the turn of the century or teens/'20s. They are much better watches (some of the best watches ever made) and can be had for good prices.

These are some watches are from my collection.

Elgin Veritas - 1903

Elgin B.W. Raymond

Two Hamilton 992s (older on top, circa 1904 IIRC)

Waltham Vanguard

 

[hoppes no9]

^^^ gorgeous watches.

 

[MTHall720]

Thanks very much for the advice! I miss the one my Grandpa gave. I carried it during the 70s It was a Waltham railroad. A burglar took it. I would like to find another railroad type with the case. Did you find yours online?

 

[leghog]

Thanks very much for the advice! I miss the one my Grandpa gave. I carried it during the 70s It was a Waltham railroad. A burglar took it. I would like to find another railroad type with the case. Did you find yours online?

I bought my watches all over. Brick and mortar, from other collectors, shows, on-line, inherited, etc.

 

[Piso Mojado]

Orient FDD00001W0

Case diameter: 40mm
Case thickness: 11.4mm
30M water resistance
Hacking hand winding movement
Power reserve indicator
Sapphire front and back crystals
Blued hands

Listed on Orient's Japanese web site but very hard to find.

http://www.orient-watch.com/products/category/item/?category_id=44

A reputable Singapore dealer sells these for $195, you can easily find him by googling. FDD00002W0 has Roman numerals but I couldn't find anyone selling it.

Orient's movements are very accurate, perhaps as accurate as a railroad watch. It's a nice inexpensive modern watch and if someone steals it, you'll just buy another.

 

[leghog]

.....

 

[leghog]

That Orient is the size of many contemporary wristwatches. Just in another case. More akin to ladies watches of old. Equivalent to about 12s/10s pocket watch size. Even at that the small case still needs a spacer to hold even the smaller movement. My run of the mil Seiko dive watch (SKX007) has a larger diameter case. It you want that size, I'd recommend a wristwatch.

 

[MTHall720]

thanks to all! Very helpful and I love the looks of these watches.

 

[MTHall720]

I forgot to ask what the largest sizes are since I want a bigger size.

 

[Piso Mojado]

That Orient is the size of many contemporary wristwatches. Just in another case. More akin to ladies watches of old. Equivalent to about 12s/10s pocket watch size. Even at that the small case still needs a spacer to hold even the smaller movement. My run of the mil Seiko dive watch (SKX007) has a larger diameter case. It you want that size, I'd recommend a wristwatch.

0.393701" is not a deal breaker for me. I have owned both sizes. I inherited my first pocket watch from my grandfather: it was a 19th century lady's watch that he inherited, and he was glad to have it because he couldn't afford to buy one. He used to grow his own tobacco because he couldn't afford a can of Prince Albert. If you ever smoked anything that was grown in a field in Illinois, you know what I'm talking about.

I carried his lady's watch until a burglar got it, and then I bought a Westclox Pocket Ben. I bought it at Sears for $8 and I walked to the liquor store across the street. They had a notions counter with cards, dice, hair picks, knives and razors — all the amenities of civilized life — and there was my watch for $2 less. That opened up my eyes about Sears.

It was 50 MM and the lady's watch was easier to carry. The Pocket Ben was a real tight fit in my jeans watch pocket, but I mostly wanted it for work so jeans weren't a deal breaker. It would run fast and slow the same day, but it was good enough to get me back from lunch on time. I was teaching a blind class in a Chicago public school, and my students liked it because they always knew exactly where I was. In a quiet place you could hear it 25 feet away. I finally gave it up because people thought I was a mad bomber.

 

[leghog]

I forgot to ask what the largest sizes are since I want a bigger size.

20s is largest, but they are not common.

18s and 16s are the common large watch siszs and what you're looking for. 18s popular before the turn of the century. 16s after. Before the turn of the century and for a while after railroad approved watches had to be 18s or 16s. Later RR approved watches had to be 16s.

16s was likely the size of your Grandpa's Waltham railroad approved watch and is likely the best size if looking for "old fashioned looking pocket watches".

Sad to hear about your Grandpa's watch being stolen. When made these were the best watches in the world, and they will certainly last generations if not abused, and because of that the good news is that you should be able to find a replacement fairly easily.