Pocket watch for wedding

[lpgp]

Hi all,

I am seeking some advice for a quality pocket watch that I could use for my wedding and keep as a keepsake. I am seeking a skeleton watch (one with the cogs inside showing), and I believe it's a double full hunter (which I think means has a front and back cover without any view portal, as the watch isn't visible when closed).

I've been looking around and it's been hard to find reviews and it seems price is not really a great indicator of quality. It seems I could go for ultra budget $65 and obtain a watch in similar quality to $300-400 as it seems most that aren't silver are made in china.

I have seen that Woodford seem to be sold by some higher end watch sellers and was looking at a Sterling Silver Model which I understand uses Swiss time pieces (so I assume is higher quality?). It's at least $1000 AUD so I want to be fairly sure (or at least a bit more confident) that I'm buying the right thing. I know silver tarnishes so is less practical, but after the wedding it will likely stay in a draw, and potentially get used once or twice at formal occasions, and potentially once more at our child's wedding.

The exact model I was looking at is the Woodford Skeleton 17J Sterling Silver (attached photo). The watch itself has to be silver with black numbering. It can be chrome or sterling silver or any metal.

To be honest I am open to any and all suggestions - we could go slightly higher, but ideally if we could spend less for a quality piece that will last 10+ years, that would be great too. Any country/brand/non-brand etc is great but the other kicker is that it must be easily available as wedding is six weeks away

 

[topspin]

When looking at new skeleton pocket watches in the shops here, there are many brands to choose from, but at least 90% of them seem to be using one of just 2 basic movements -
The one in your picture (generally quite cheap), and the movement that this guy is using (generally costs a bit more.) You can instantly recognise it by the W-shaped bridge around the 6 o'clock position (at the back.)

Jean Pierre Double Hunter Skeleton Pocket Watch with Seconds Dial 5060635311877 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Jean Pierre Double Hunter Skeleton Pocket Watch with Seconds Dial at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

I don't know whether you prefer roman or arabic numerals, but don't settle for one with the "wrong" style.

You could also give some thought to whether you want it "plain" or whether you want the seller to engrave something on it for you. Like, say, your initials in a monogram, or some message to record the event & date & participants.

If you are planning to give out skeleton watches as gifts, then for someone very close to you, you could consider something like one of these. For the remaining guests, including any random distant uncles from the other side of the family, any-old cheap watch made-in-China will hit the spot. They look fantastic and it doesn't matter if they break in a few weeks. Filter on "lowest price" first (they start at just a few quid apiece), or take a trip to your local street market.

Sekonda Open Face Mechanical Pocket Watch With Chain 1110 RRP £59.99 5051322011101 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Sekonda Open Face Mechanical Pocket Watch With Chain 1110 RRP £59.99 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[miguel angel cladera]

With the budget you have allocated, I would take my mind off a skeletonised watch and go for a good, nice quality watch with a history that if taken care of will last you not 10, but 100 years. I would have used my Hamilton 920, but I didn't have it when I got married and I don't intend to get married again now.

 

[Jim Haney]

lpgp

Welcome to the NAWCC Forums. Most of the threads that you can read on these Forums concern Vintage Watches.

You are considering a New modern watch made to appear as a vintage watch.

Why don't you do some reading & researching of Vintage watches?

They usually have a history and have been around for over 100 years and will be around for another 100 if cared for properly.

Maybe a Hamilton 992,992B,950 etc or a Illinois, Bunn Special or an Elgin, B. W. Raymond or Father Time, these are classics that people would love to wear and pull out and show and discuss the watch because it is interesting with a history, not something just produced.
I also realize you are 35 and may not be into Antique or Vintage items and that is fine.

 

[Dr. Jon]

Most of us on this site do not consider any new watch even at $1000AUD a serious keepsake watch.

There are a lot of older watches well below your price that are worthy of long term relationships.

There are a lot of serious watch collectors in Australia and there should be some nice old watches for sale. A good dealer will stand behind their offering.

Also the example shown is actually a wrist watch movement in an oversize case. That's OK but it means that movement has to carry oversize hands.

Another current maker of pocket watches is Arnex and they are also in your range.

If you are going to buy a quartz watch have it checked. These do not sell fast and if it has been on the shelf a long time its battery may have failed and corroded its interior.

 

[Incroyable]

You can buy any number of very nice antique pocket watches in silver or lightweight solid gold cases for around 1000 AUD.

American ones or silver verge fusees are probably the easiest to find in that range.

However I've never seen any antique/vintage skeletonized pocket watches except for the Breguet Marie Antoinette and some rare midcentury Audemars Piguets which would be much more than 1000 AUD.

 

[Karl Kröte]

If you want something that keeps value, I suggest a vintage watch - but they don't come with a skeleton design. You might like to check out Hebdomas with visible balance or look for a watch that is cased with a glass back cover. (Here: A Longines cased by Giles Brothers, Chicago)

 

[musicguy]

I combined these similar threads by the same OP

Rob