Pocketing Your Watch
The pocket watch, also first known as the portable clock, began around the end of the 15th century and on into the 16th. The first pocket watch was small and worn around the owner's neck. It wasn't until the mid-1600's that the pocket watch with its verge escapements, was actually carried in a person's pocket.
Part of the inspiration for the first pocket watch were the rich merchants whose offices were mobile coaches. These business peoples had to carry out their work and correspondence while on some quite extensive journeys. Coach clocks came into being as a result. These may have been the first chronometers that ran on mechanics and could be transported. These were the precursors of the pocket watch, according to some historians.
No matter what the discrepancies in pocket watch early history, these early version timepieces are extremely rare and you'll almost never see them in any major historical collection of timepieces or any memorabilia. What you'll usually find in collections of early timepieces such as the early pocket watch, is something only as far back as the early 1900's. At that time the pocket watch was as we think of nowadays when we think of old pocket watches - very attractive and decorative, complete with verge escapement, a balance composed of a spiral string, a decorated balance cock or bridge called a coq, a winding system of the old chain and fusee type and hands that told both the hour and minute.
Until approximately 1850 a pocket watch was custom made and signed by the designer. It had a key to wind it. After 1850, however, mass production of pocket watches began, turning out all variations of style, quality and price. With this assembly line pocket watch production, the pocket watch became possible for almost everyone no matter their means.
The heyday of the pocket watch, when it was at its most popular and most brilliant, ran from 1860 to about 1920. Its popularity began to decline when Adrien Philippe patented the crown winder. Philippe, an engineer, was to become co-founder of Patek, Philippe and Company, the renowned Swiss watch manufacturer. With this invention and founding of the firm, wristwatches started their path to a popularity that would eventually all but destroy the pocket watch market.
A pocket watch collection is not only intriguing but can be quite valuable, as a pocket watch well cared for will keep its value, and probably increase in value with age.