Antique Pocket Watches. A Testament to Timeless Quality and

By: Trendon Cato

Pocket watches, we have all seen them, especially if you are a
fan of old English movies or Sherlock Holmes films you would
have seen one. A watch made out of some type of precious metal,
silver or gold or even in some cases steel, with a cover to
protect the screen and a chain attached to it instead of a strap,
which was attached to the pocket or belt or even placed in ones
pocket.

Made at a time when humans were trying their best to make these
massive clocks, with the smallest of which being grandfather
clocks, into a more miniaturized version that could be used
personally. At that time, the thought of a minute hand itself
was enough to be certifiable much less to a portable watch since
at the time clocks only had an hour hand alone anyway. But
however as humans normally do they forge on and eventually after
a lot of trial and error, the pocket watch was born. However,
this in itself still had lot of kinks - for one, when they first
found the solution to portability, accuracy became a problem in
that times used to be off up to an hour at times. Then once
again they forged on until they eventually came up the solution
to their problem and the minute hand was created.

You see what originally happened was that they used coiled
springs to replace the hanging weight used in the large clocks
but the thing was springs did not unwind at a constant pace
causing the inaccuracy. So when they discovered that the springs
uncoiled at more constant speed when weights were added they
added a balance which increased the accuracy which meant that
these watch were off by minutes now and an hour. As time went
along more modifications were made until they even in the 1700's
added jewels as bearings in the watches to prevent friction and
wear between metal parts.

One particular to note is that the first set of pocket watches
were not made with coverings to protect the watch but later it
was that cases were made of precious metals to protect the
watch. Also if you come upon a watch whose cover does match, the
manufacturers placed their logo on the case as well, the watch
then it is a replacement and not the original.

Today

Nowadays, an antique pocket watch is something of unique quality
and value, an item worthy of wealthy collectors throughout the
world. Though made in the 1700's it is very rare to find one
before 1700 itself and considering to date it is over 300 years,
that is to be expected. They are usually kept as an heirloom
passed done from generation to generation which is part of the
reason why they actually still exist. And the best they are
usually still in proper working condition and still ready for
use.

Sometimes in your travels you might just by accident come across
on of these antique pocket watches and done not even realize.
These things though extremely valuable sometimes are sold in
garage sales, flea markets, etc through the ignorance of the
owner to the value for sometimes a few dollars. Could you
imagine meeting upon a ten thousand dollar watch being sold for
ten bucks, well, it has happened before. Though many are still
in existence, if you where to look, thanks to the durable
materials used to make them, which by the way makes them that
much more valuable, if you come across one, take it not lightly.

Antique pocket watches a testament to technology advancements at
the time and also to that of human ingenuity. And to add to that
a perfect it to become a family heirloom lasting as time moves
one to forever.

Article Source: http://collectibles-articles.com

Find out everything about watches, from antique pocket watches to everyday wrist watches here at Shinkeno Watch Solution. It might make the difference between you buying an ordinary watch or an extraordinary one.

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