Antique Pocket Railroad Watch Deals!

Welcome to Railroad Watch Auctions, the best place to find an antique pocket railroad watch and/or accessories on the Internet! From classic models from Hamilton, Elgin and Waltham to a host of lesser-knowns, find it here at Railroad Watch Auctions. Bookmark us and stop by often. We parse eBay's 20 million daily auctions every minute in search of every antique pocket railroad watch so there is always something new here!

Looking for something specific?

Use the search box at left to find it or simply browse the site.

Happy hunting!



---------------

A few railroad watch buying tips:

It is amazing to think that there were 19th century engineers who designed such beautiful pocket watches or tiny machines and that these watches are still found today ticking through time. If you are keen on becoming a collector of these time pieces, here are a few tips to consider when purchasing one.

First of all, always buy from a reputable dealer as there are many out there that will sense that you are a new collector and of course vulnerable. Pricing is usually based on how rare the watch is, the number of features it has, it's condition and most importantly, whether all the parts are original or have been replaced through out the years.

Look out for any screwdriver damage. Please note, it means nothing to a dealer with regards to who owned the watch or how shiny the casing may appear. It is important to examine the watch's "movement." Is it clean?

Look to see how many jewels there are and whether they are cracked. These watches had to have 19 jewels or more. If the watch originates from Switzerland or Japan, you are definitely holding an imitation.

The standard railroad pocket watches are all 16 size, although, a so-called ladies' watch, might be a 10 size.

---------

As an avid collector of train memorabilia including antique railroad watches, I have been cheated a few times in some purchases I have made.

It can be easy to be defrauded by being sold counterfeit merchandise or watches whose condition doesn't match what a seller has advertised. I've developed a few tips to make sure that the watch you're getting is both genuine and a good-looking addition to your collection.

First, always ask for more pictures than first provided if buying something over the web. Many people use stock photos when advertising their watches and many times the watch unfortunately looks nothing like what is pictured.

Asking for more photos also ensures that the seller cares enough about the merchandise to make sure it is in good condition and the photos can also let you check out any potential dings or strange markings that would otherwise not be revealed until too late.

My second piece of advice is, if possible, to always go and see the watch in person before buying it. Fakes can look very good in photos but believe me, when being held, a counterfeit plastic watch feels nothing like silver or steel.

I hope this advice helps you add to your collection and good hunting! Who knows when you'll find that next perfect piece to add to your collection.

-----------

Railroad pocket watches of old are treasures of unique craftsmanship. My uncle worked for the railroad in Illinois at the beginning of the 20th century, and my father was a watchmaker.

I remember seeing my uncle's watch, and I remember my father working with the special device attached to his glasses to magnify the tiny parts while repairing these fine timepieces!

In the late 1800s, the heyday of the railroad, literally hundreds of trains were managed by this quality timepiece, the railroad pocket watch. Because incorrect time would be disastrous to the railroads, American watchmakers had to meet the rigorous challenge of producing an amazingly reliable and accurate timekeeping machine.

They met the challenge. Indeed, a well cared-for railroad pocket watch from the 1800s can still be in good working order today, a tribute to its superior craftmanship.

Several factors should be considered when buying or assessing an antique railroad pocket watch, including the Size of the movement--16 or 18.

Some of the finest railroad watches were built to even high specifications. These included 21-23 jewels or more, adjusted to six positions instead of five, and had wind indicator dials to signal the current wound condition.