Buying Antique Railroad Watches
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.