The Best 'Every - Day' Vintage Pocketwatch

[Kent]

A Hamilton 992B. I've been carrying one daily for over 25 years.

Kent

That guy down in Georgia :smile:

[Samuel Goldstein]

Gruen Ultra Verithin or if you have more money, a Gruen Ultrathin.

Elegant timepieces.

[crsides]

I don't have one, but the overwhelming vote will got to the 992B.

[Greg Davis]

Well, heck, I guess I have to be the odd man out. For an everyday watch that "you won't cry if you break" you might want to consider something small, like a 12S in a GF case. I say that because they are small enough to carry even when you don't want people noticing a big bulge in your pants... er, pocket. They are reliable enough, accurate enough, and best of all, since they aren't as thoroughly collected they are CHEAPER for the quality you get than the larger more popular watches. If I was looking for a good 12 size, I'd probably light on a Waltham Premier or a Colonial. Hey, you can even get a Keystone Howard pretty cheap in the 12 size.

- Greg

150941
Ch.149 member #77

[Don Dahlberg]

It depends on what you mean by "relatively inexpensive". For some the great 992B would not be inexpensive. Any watch in mint condition would be a shame to use as a carry watch, but there are many 992B's with case wear, or even brass showing and small hairlines on the dial.

My vote for the best deal in a 16 size watch is the Hamilton 972. Because it has only 17 jewels, it is priced like all other 17 jeweled watches; yet it was adjusted to five positions and railroad grade.

As the last message said there are some outstanding 12 size watches.

No matter what watch you get, it will not keep great time unless it has been properly overhauled and adjusted. If you found a 1960 Porsche, it would not be ready for the race track without some work.

Don

[Spike]

Darren I don’t know if you’re new to pocket watches or not. This response presupposes that you are.

The 992B is an example of an open-face, lever-set watch. To set the time you have to unscrew the bezel (the front ring that holds the crystal) and pull out a small lever. After you set the time you push the lever all the way back in and screw the bezel back on.

That system is fine if you wind the watch every day, because if the watch keeps “railroad time” as it was intended to (within plus/minus 30 seconds per week) you may only need to set it a few times a year.

For some of us who only wind a watch on the day we decide to wear it (or whose watches don’t keep “railroad time”), lever-setting an open-face watch can be a nuisance. Maybe it’s not a major nuisance; but also every time you remove the bezel, the hands and dial are unprotected and are exposed to dust and moisture.

The alternative is a pendant-set watch (pull the crown out a little, set the time, push the crown back in).

At least, be sure to try before you buy.

Hope this helps!

[Greg Davis]

Good advice, Annie.

And as a repeted plug for 12S, most of them are pendant set (as opposed to lever set or key set).

- Greg

150941
Ch.149 member #77

[bil2054]

If you don't care much about having a really nice looking watch, I have a Westclox "Scotty" which has been providing good service for years. Granted, it's only accurate to within a couple of minutes each day, but I wind and reset it every morning anyway, and I'm not responsible for the timely departure of a train. I have a New Englander's appreciation for something that works so well, for so little outlay of money! :biggrin:

Bill Miller
NAWCC Member #157710

[Tim]

I have a couple of Waltham 1894 model 12s pocketwatches. They are good little guys and inexpensive too.

You might want to consider a base metal case if you plan to carry the watch regularly.

-Tim

[Jerry Treiman]

Another point for a mid-grade Waltham is that they have a friction staff which is easily replaced if it gets broken. Replacement parts for Waltham and Elgin are readily available.

Jerry Treiman
member, chapters 174 & 185