Greenwhich Pocket Watch Company Blog

Regularly we will be updating new entries in to this lively and interesting Web Log (Blog) about the very facinating subject of collecting and owning pocket watches.

Hold the watch in your right hand with the bow or swing ring between the index finger and thumb. Press on the pendant crown with the right thumb to release the cover exposing the case. When closing, do not SNAP the cover. Press the crown to move the catch in, close the cover, then release the crown. This will prevent wear to the rim catch.

The watch was first created in the 16th century, initially in spherical (Pomander) or cylindrical cases, when the spring driven clock was invented. These watches were at first quite big and boxy and were worn around the neck. It was not for another century that it became common to wear a watch in a pocket.

A Pocket Watch is a watch which has been specifically designed to fit into your pocket, as oppose to a wristwatch which you would wear on your wrist. Pocket Watches were the most common type of watch from the 16th century up until wristwatches became largely popular after the first World War. Pocket Watches in most cases have chain which can be attached to them which makes the watches suitable to be secured safely to waistcoats, lapels, or belt hoops, and this will prevent them from being dropped. the chain or ornaments on a pocket watch is known as a fob, and there is also a hinged metal that covers the face of the pocket watch. Pocket watches which havea fob and a cover and generally known as Fob watches. There are also fasteners which are specifically designed to be put through a button hole so they can be worn on a jacket or a waistcoat, with this type being associated regularly with train conductors.

There are several different types of pocket watches that you can come across when you are choosing the specifc type of pocket you wish to have, depending on what you may want to have the pocket watch for. The main types of pocket watches you will come across are: 

• Open Face
• Half Hunter
• Full Hunter
• Double Hunter &
• Double Half Hunter Pocket watches

You can see all the different varieties of pocket watches along the left hand side of the gpwc home page, with all the different types having there own particular strengths, whether you want the pocket watch for a collectors item, a gift for a friend or loved one, as the different types of pocket watches can be engraved to make it a truly personal gift that can be kept for generations to come.

Open face pocket watches come with out a lid on so that the dial is always visible and cannot be covered up. They vary in all price ranges and were first used by train conductors as they used a T-bar chain to hand the pocket watch from there jacket. A problem which could be seen from open faced pocket watches is that the dial is open and vulnerable to be damaged by scratches due to it being unprotected. They can come with visual skeletal movements on the back of watch, or they can also have a plain back which can leave room for a personal engraving. They also can be mechanical wind up movements or quartz movements, with also a choice for a free standing pocket watch which are beautiful to put on display where-ever you may wish to treasure your pocket watch

Half Hunter pocket watches are the different to that of open face pocket watches, as half hunters come with a lid that covers the dial of the pocket watch which has a small glazed window in it so that the time can still be read even when the case of the pocket watch is closed. There can also be roman or arabic writing around the small glazed window which can also be used to make it cleare to read the time with the case closed. There can also be engine turned patterns which can be shown on the front and back of the case, and half hunter pocket watches can come in Chrome,Solid Silver & Gold,Gold & Silver Plated, depending on your price range, with T-bar albert chains also can be attached so you can attach is to a jaket or to a belt loop, with all the major brands including Woodford, A.E Williams, Mount Royal and Jean Pierre are stockists of Half hunter pocket watches.

The Full Hunter Pocket Watches are similar to that of the Half Hunter Pocket watch cases, but the full hunter cases do not have a window on the front of the case and they only have a protective lid which will cover the face of the watch. This then means that the dial of the pocket watch is covered and better protected against scratches and wear and tear that could occur and damage the face like what could occur with an open face pocket watch, as they are more vulnerable without the protected lid. It is more than likely that the protective lid will be spring hinged so that when you click the button on the top ot the pockt watches where an Albert T-bar chain can be attached, then the protective lid will spring open so the dial is full viewable.