To collect pocket watches can be a satisfying and rewarding pastime, it will also be a good investment, if you so wish you could buy and sell pocket watches for profit.

Collectable Pocket watches come in all sort of sizes, made from various materials, and can vary hugely in value. The most common type of pocket watch are open faced watches, then hunters and half hunters. Movements naturally change from period to period, the more recent normally being more complex and sophisticated and usually more reliable.

During the 19th century the two most popular mechanisms were the cylinder escapement and the more reliable lever escapement, which came into its own from the 1830s.
In the 1870s an internal mechanism was developed that meant you could wind the pocket watch externally instead of using a key.
If you want to collect pocket watches then note the following pieces of advise. Make sure the movement inside the watch matches the case and face.
Condition is as usual very important when you collect pocket watches, make sure it works, never buy a pocket watch without checking it works, buy a special back opening knife and universal key, so you can check yourself that it works. To repair pocket watches can be very expensive due to lack of parts. You can buy pocket watch opening knives and universal keys very cheaply of eBay.
One thing to watch for is scratch marks, many people do not have the right tools to open a pocket watch case and leave nasty scratch marks when attempting to open, this detracts from the value and looks of the watch.

Collect Pocket watches by noted makers will fetch higher prices, as do watches with fine decoration, chronographs or additional dials showing such things as moon phases and calendars.

The best universal source for anyone wanting to collect pocket watches is eBay, because you reach a World wide market place eBay just cannot be ignored, ok you have offline auctions, these are fine but expect less choice, higher prices due to commissions and travelling expenses. Also offline auctions you are competing against dealers, collectors, local fine antique shops, plus you do not get sufficient time to study the item and really check it over, easy to make a costly mistake.
See above for a small selection of pocket watches on eBay at the moment, browse through if anything of interest then check the details, make sure the seller has excellent feedback 98% +, ask any questions, check thoroughly.

This superb Waltham pocket watch has been sold, but see similar Waltham pocket watches on offer below.

I’ve always liked old pocket watches, in fact any time piece I always appreciate, it’s really to do with the craftsmanship, the feel of quality and looks, plus durability.
My favourite is the Waltham, see below I’ve posted another Waltham this time it’s a 1908 full hunter cased model with 17 jewels and a 9ct filled case and a 625 grade nickel movement. She’s in reasonable condition with just one or two areas the gold has worn through to the brass plate, it works beautifully.
If you want to check the serial numbers for all Waltham then a good site is the NAWCC site, full of interesting factual information.

Product listing

WALTHAM SIGNAL 21 JEWEL GOLD POCKET WATCH VERY RARE

Current price:

$3,941.00

'Buy now' item

Ends in:

0d 1h 3m

Seller: eBay

13 jewel Waltham pocket watch gold filled case

Current price:

$48.21

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

11

Ends in:

0d 5h 8m

Seller: eBay

S16 15 jewel HC Waltham pocket watch gold filled case

Current price:

$61.26

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

8

Ends in:

0d 5h 10m

Seller: eBay

Waltham USA "P.Y. Bartlett" 17 Jewels Double Sunk Gold Toned Pocket Watch #211B

Current price:

$45.99

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

15

Ends in:

0d 6h 55m

Seller: eBay

16 SIZE GOLD FILLED WALTHAM HALF HUNTER POCKET WATCH RUNS AND KEEP TIME

Current price:

$71.00

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

13

Ends in:

0d 7h 11m

Seller: eBay

14k solid yellow gold ladies WALTHAM POCKET WATCH 23.2 DWT NOT SCRAP! 1906

Current price:

$450.00

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

0

Ends in:

0d 7h 21m

Seller: eBay

Working Waltham Women's Gold Octagonal Pocket Watch with Chain - Approx 1884

Current price:

$50.00

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

1

Ends in:

0d 8h 10m

Seller: eBay

VINTAGE WALTHAM GOLD PLATED WORKING POCKET WATCH 1899

Current price:

$56.86

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

5

Ends in:

0d 8h 24m

Seller: eBay

2~VTG~ANTIQUE~GOLD POCKET WATCH~AURORA~WALTHAM

Current price:

$49.00

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

1

Ends in:

0d 10h 22m

Seller: eBay

Men's Waltham 14k Gold Plated Pocket watch 21 Jewel w/ chron pristine condition!

Current price:

$499.95

'Buy now' item

Ends in:

0d 10h 58m

Seller: eBay

 

NOTE: to keep the site running smoothly, product data is only refreshed once every minute, approximately. Click on a product to see the most up-to-date data on the seller's page.

Thought you would like a few details about the Waltham Watch Company, it’s still in existance a operates out of Switzerland.
Walthams started as the Warren Mfg Co. started by Edward Howard, David Davis and Aaron Dennison in 1851. A factory was built in Massachusetts in 1953, during this time the company name changed many times. Around 1959 it seems the name was settled on The American Waltham Watch Company, and the name subsequently was given to the wwatches of Waltham. Many millions of watches was produced by Walthams and they were credited with being the first mass-producer of watches in America.
Collectors look out for early Waltham pocket watches especially the ones with the original founders names or ‘Appleton Tracey and Co.’ used in the 1850s.
That’s a taster if you want more in depth details then ‘Google’ Watham watches and you will come up with a wealth of information.
See below a picture of my latest acquisition, you can make me an offer for it, I’m look for about £125, email me if interested.

In pocket watches, the power is obtained by a spring called the main spring, which is enclosed in a box called the barrel. Now there are two distinct ways of applying the power of this main spring to the first wheel of a watch ; one of them consists in the intervention or agency of a fusee, which is put upon the first wheel ; in the other, the first wheel is put upon the barrel itself that contains the spring, which arrangement is distinguished from that having a fusee by the term ‘ going-barrel.’ Watches having going-barrels are wound up by turning round the barrel arbors ; and watches

having fusees, by the fusee arbors. My invention consists in a new mechanical arrangement, applicable to the winding up of horological works.

First, as respects what is termed a going-barrel, the following are the contrivances that I nave invented as applicable thereto : Fig. 1 represents a watch with a goingbarrel, to which my invention is applied ; in which figure a part of the dialplate is represented as broken away, for showing the novel parts, the operation of which will be understood by first describing the separate figures, 2, 3, 4, 5. 6, 7, 8, all the same letters of reference in which refer to similar parts.Fig. 2 is the barrel ratchet with its click and spring, which keeps the maintaining power up ; this ratchet is put on the barrel arbor, which is squared, and the plate is sunk in which it ¡ays—it is on the side of that part of the plate under the dial ; this barrel ratchet is sunk or turned out as fur as the teeth to receive another ratchet with its click and spring, shown at a, Fig. 3, which I call the recoiling ratchet. This recoiling ratchet is fastened on to the barrel pulley 6 ; the upper side of this barrel pulley is sunk to receive a spring, shown in Figs. 1 and 5, which is the recoiling spring ; on the edge of the barrel pulley there is a groove to receive a chain d, shown at Figs. 1 and 8, which is hooked on a nin in the said groove. Kg. 1 gives a perspective view of the stud which keeps the barrel pulley steady and close to the barrel ratchet ; the centre of tinstud is round, and the centre of the recoiling spring is hooked on to it ; the other end of the recoiling spring is hooked on the barrel pulley. Figs. 1 and 8 show the impendent, made of the same metal as the case ; it turns freely on a piece of steel ej, Fig. 8 ; this steel arbor has a small knob on one side, Л, shown at Figs. 1 and 8, to prevent the impendent from slipping off; on the other end it is split to receive the end of the chain which is pinned on ; the pendent of the case is perforated, through which the chain passes.

I shall next describe the manner it is to operate, and how it is to be put on the winding up arbor. When the barrel ratchet before mentioned is put on the square arbor, the recoiling spring ¡a put on the barrel pulley, and placed over the barrel ratchet, so as to act on its click ; the chain, which is no longer than to produce one revolution of the pulley, is put through the pendent, and hooked on to the pulley : the stud is then hooked on to the recoiling spring ; by this stud the recoiling spring is set up one turn, more or less, and the stud is screwed on the plate.

To wind up the watch, the impendent is drawn from the pendent as far as the chain will permit it ; the recoiling spring will bring the impendent back again to the pendent ; and this operation is repeated till the impendent remains on the pendent, and cannot be more drawn from it, which indicates that the main spring is wound up. When the works are to be wound up by a fusee arbor, the ratchet, which keeps the maintaining power, is on the fusee itself; the fusee arbor, squared, is on the same side of the plate as the goingbarrel under the dial. The recoiling ratchet, Fig. 4, is put on the fusee arbor ; its click and spring are on the barrel pulley, Fig. 6. Here it is to be observed, that when any works are to be wound up by a fusee, the fusee with the first wheel and its arbor returns back again, which is not the case with a goingbarrel. h is the relieving click, which has a double action ; first, it acts as the recoiling click, by its action in the ratchet ; secondly, it acts as a reliever of the said click ; it is planted on the under side of the barrel pulley, Fig. 6, with its spring, and must be made in the form shown in the drawing. That part which is near the edge of the barrel pulley has a small pin, which pin goes through an aperture of the barrel pulley into the groove where the chain lies. When the works are wound up, the impendent rests upon the pendent, and the chain lays round the pulley, which is the same as with the going-barrel.

The pin of the relieving click, which goes into the groove of the barrel pulley, receives a pressure from the chain ; it brings the click part out of the ratchet, and gives free action to the ratchet on the fusee arbor to return back again without any drag or incumbrance of the click. /, Fig. 1, is the finger touch : it is made of gold, or some metal which will not rust. By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that it is a kind of cup with a milled edge, and the minute-hand is fastened to it : when the hands are to be set, a slight pressure with the end of the forefinger is required to turn the hands. In case it is desired to have a watchor clock wound up in one pull, the multiplying of the turns of the chain round the barrel pulley will have that effect.

Selling Silver Pocket Watches For Profit Ideas

One of the most profitable things I do is buy for repair damaged or non working pocket watches, then resell  online through mainly eBay.
A pocket watch can be a very complicated piece of mechanism, in many cases having more parts than the average cars gearbox! The good news is you don’t need to know how to repair a pocket watch, a limited understanding of the movement and how to date the pocket watch would be useful, but the most important thing is were to buy good non working examples, or working but damaged pieces.

I find the best places to buy is offline auction houses, buying in many cases multiple pocket watches, dividing what you buy into good pocket watches that can be easily repaired, or ones which can only be used for spares.
You are looking for pocket watches that are all in one piece, have all the mechanism present, and are cosmetically in good condition, the only thing wrong is that they do not work, or work but need some cosmetic repair.
One other major point is to buy silver pocket watches, they must clearly show the silver hall marks, also an added bonus is a recognised makers name.
Now the the next stage is to decide if the silver pocket watch is worth you taking to a reputable horologist for, or sell ‘as is’ through eBay, it depends on the cost and potential profit. Selling through eBay you will aim the watch at someone who generally repairs pocket watches as a hobby or sideline interest.
Look in the local directory, visit an antique shop and ask if they can advise who can repair a pocket watch you own, you will be surprised how helpful people are and the recommendations they make, sound as if you know nothing about the subject, certainly do not let on you want to become a dealer.
The cost of a reasonable silver pocket watch at auction will be around £20 to £35, if it has a silver chain all the better, as you can sell the chain on its own.
I will dealve more deeply into this very interesting and profitable hobby in future posts, in the mean time take a look at the pocket watches offered below from eBay, you will find many excellent examples.

If you are a collector then you will mainly want to buy pocket watches to add to your collection, or buy damaged pocket watches to repair and add to you collection.
Then again you could buy pocket watches to repair and sell, make a decent profit to finance your collection of finer pocket watches, selling pocket watches for big profits is not easy, you will need a basic amount of knowledge to know the difference between a pocket watch that can be repaired, or just sold on for spares.
See below for a few examples of multiple watches available and also individual watches that can be bought for repair.

As you can see ebay is a great source for buying pocket watches, but is not the only one. Also try

1-Antique shops and ask if thye have any broken watches as they will not normally display these.
2-Auctions, online and offline
3-Antique and collector’s fairs
4-Second-hand junk and charity shops, again ask as they might have some hidden round the back

Once your watch has been repaired it can be described as working, working should mean will run keeping a reasonable time over 24 hours, these will fetch higher prices. Take a look at the following:

You can sell to an antique shop or dealer, but expect to be offered a lower price as they will need to sell on adding on their margin.
The best way I’ve found is selling through an auction, the offline ones that specialise in time-pieces can be very good as they gather collectors and dealers, if the watch is good then the collector will normally outbid the dealer. The problem with offline auctions is that it’s not international and they can be very expensive due to the high commission rates.
I’ve found the best way is through ebay online auctions, you get to present your pocket watch to an international audience, and thus the final bid can be a lot higher than offline auctions, plus the overheads and final costs are a lot lower.
To take advantage of online auctions you need to do your homework, to make sure you follow a practice that will maximise your return. I will offer some suggestions in another post on how to maximise your profit selling through ebay.
Follow the above and you should easily be selling pocket watches for big profits, but as is the case with most complicated timepieces, knowledge and experience will make it all so much easier.
So get reading, go to auctions, and antique fairs, find and get to know what makes a pocket watch tick.

This superb Silver Pocket watch Albert Chain plus Fob and Bar has been sold but see below for some more great examples offered.
Superb silver pocket watch chain or albert that is 17 inches long and weighs 55 grams. Each link on the silver pocket watch chain is hallmarked as is the clasp, the silver bar is dated 1892 and made by G.E.G. probably George Edward Gee.

The fob is hallmarked and dated 1912 assayed in birmingham made by F Fattorini & Son Ltd, has some other inscriptions but hard to make out except the part that says Bradford.