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A pocket watch as an everyday carry?

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FrankDiscussion

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Years ago all I used to carry for time keeping everyday was a cheap quartz hunter style pocket watch and didn't wear a wristwatch much. I carried that thing around for years until the chrome wore off and the hoop for the chain broke. I still have it but I recently picked up another new open faced quartz pocket watch and quite like using it daily. I wear it at work with jeans with the chain attached to my belt.

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In fact I like using it so much that I bought a vintage (1970's) Westclox "Conductor" open faced mechanical pocket watch off eBay in running condition. It should be arriving in the mail tomorrow. I plan on wearing it to a 1920's themed party I will be attending soon. I also have my eye on a few of vintage Waltham, Elgin and Ingersoll models to add to the collection.

I am wondering does anybody here still collect and use a pocket watch daily and if so what is the type do you favor the most? Do you like open faced or the hunter style with the dial cover?
 
#2 ·
I have my grandfather’s railroad watch and several military issued pocket watch style timers in my collection.
If one suits your needs, then by all means carry it daily.
 
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#4 ·
LeDandy_66 said:
I have a vintage Eterna Matic from the early 1960s in stainless steel. Wonderful timepiece. Rugged and quite small. I don’t use it all the time but wear maybe once a week. Love looking at the exhibition caseback.
Click to expand...
Interesting to have an automatic movement on a watch that spends 99% of its time in a pocket.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
#7 ·
I used to wear my great grandfather's pocket watch (my confirmation gift) daily in winter in my waistcoat pocket when I was in college. In summer, it got too hot and I couldn't wear a waistcoat. It is a simple FF (Favre Freres) Cal. 18''' with cylindre escapement but it means a lot to me. More recently, I got myself a Zenith Cal. 19''' N.V.S.I lep. pocket watch from 1929 and still wear that on occasion in the office. Also in a waistcoat, of course!

Hartmut Richter
 
#9 · (Edited)
Yes, I do. Mainly to have precise quartz-time in my pocket in addition to the automatic on my wrist.
In case you wonder: I do not have a smartphone (by choice), only a modern version of the legendary Nokia 6310, which usually stays at home.

Here is the watch, an Aristo-Messerschmitt quartz with a Flieger Type-A dial:

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#10 ·
I used to carry a pocket watch when I worked as a BMW tech, because I didn't want to bang up a wristwatch. I collected roughly a dozen, including a 17 jewel Wakmann (name on the movement, the dial had a large "L", never knew what it stood for), a Russian Molnija (purchased new), a Zales 17 jewel watch with hunter case and a Braille dial, and a number of Ingraham and Westclox models (Bullseye, Scotty, etc).

Eventually, my job changed and I was able to wear a wristwatch again, which I found to be a lot more convenient, so the pocket watches were carefully packed away in a special box and mostly forgotten. I looked at them a while back, and the dial on the Wakmann has sort of flaked/peeled up from the metal (although the movement still runs), but the others are as they were when they were put away.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Here's the Westclox that came in the mail at my workplace today. It's in amazing cosmetic condition but according to the Watch Accuracy phone app it runs about 5 mins slow per day when wound. :ROFLMAO: I am going to try and regulate it however it's not something I'd wear everyday to depend on for the correct time.

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I do like the back engraving.

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#16 ·
I used to do this a lot before the pandemic when I'd still go into the office, specifically on days I was wearing Levi's with the 5th pocket. I'd mainly carry these three: an old Elgin, a more modern Arnex, and my absolute favorite, an Eaton (which sadly needs some TLC now). I have a few others that would occasionallly make appearances: an Hebdomas, a couple of Bulovas from the 40s and 50s, and a few Soviet-era Molnijas.

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#17 ·
I personally prefer using my cell phone rather than a pocket watch.
I'm not really into that, I guess.
My opinion is that people who carry a pocket watch might look cool/stylish for a watch enthusiast but a bit silly for others nowadays.
However, you do what you like, it's your own choice.
 
#18 ·
In my younger cowboy days, a girlfriend got me a cheap handwinder with the hunter case, used to clip the chain to a belt loop. I enjoyed the ritual of popping the cover open and clicking it shut. Yes, I was the coolest cowboy in Jacksonville, Florida! Now, I wear a Titanic tribute watch in a hunter style case in my waistcoat pocket when I go formal, which is only every 5 years on my Cunard voyages.
 
#19 ·
Hartmut Richter said:
I used to wear my great grandfather's pocket watch (my confirmation gift) daily in winter in my waistcoat pocket when I was in college. In summer, it got too hot and I couldn't wear a waistcoat. It is a simple FF (Favre Freres) Cal. 18''' with cylindre escapement but it means a lot to me. More recently, I got myself a Zenith Cal. 19''' N.V.S.I lep. pocket watch from 1929 and still wear that on occasion in the office. Also in a waistcoat, of course!

Hartmut Richter
Click to expand...
Nice! Do you have pictures of them?
 
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#20 ·
SigDigit said:
In my younger cowboy days, a girlfriend got me a cheap handwinder with the hunter case, used to clip the chain to a belt loop. I enjoyed the ritual of popping the cover open and clicking it shut. Yes, I was the coolest cowboy in Jacksonville, Florida! Now, I wear a Titanic tribute watch in a hunter style case in my waistcoat pocket when I go formal, which is only every 5 years on my Cunard voyages.
Click to expand...
Do you have pictures of them?
 
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