"For run-of-the-mill pocket watches the market has not generally moved on a great deal and pricing sensibly to help sell them reflects this.” Busier than everįurther insight comes from horologist and watch maker Robert Loomes, of Loomes & Co based in Stamford, Lincolnshire. We are seeing some new buyers enter the market but not as many of the younger generations as we would like to see. Some collectors who traditionally have brought very sought-after vintage wristwatches are now branching out to look at earlier horology such as pocket watches and are intrigued by them and their story.”įor certain types of pocket watches, rather than the market as a whole, specialists are seeing modest improvement in interest, demand and pricing.ĭavid Hare at specialist auction house Gardiner Houlgate in Corsham, near Bath, notes: “There are still plenty of buyers and collectors for serious quality pocket watches. “With pocket watches you are looking at the genesis of horological complications now seen in high-value wristwatches today, such as the tourbillion,” says Somlo. Add a chronograph, an automaton, a moon phase, an alarm or a repeater and the watch begins to stand out – and tells a better story. This means watches that are elevated above the run-of-the-mill by date, maker, case decoration, the sophistication of the movement, provenance, condition or likely a combination of these factors.Ĭomplications, any feature of a mechanical timepiece beyond the basic display of hours, minutes and seconds, are key. A far more positive view of the collecting market is seen through the lens of the smaller percentage of pocket watches that do have ‘something that sets them apart’. Speaking in late October, Bloomstein said: “I brought in 40 gold pocket watch cases from a dealer yesterday, all for their precious metal value.”īut to consign all pocket watches to the back of the drawer, or worse, is to miss the point entirely. The relatively high price of gold in recent years has meant standard Victorian and Edwardian pocket watches have been scrapped in their thousands. The truth is that, as most gold antique and vintage pocket watches have a comparatively low financial value, many are destined for the melting pot.
On one side of the collecting chasm is the somewhat gloomy tale told by a single image from Brighton precious metal dealer Michael Bloomstein ( above).
Scrapped gold pocket watch cases at Bloomsteins of Brighton.
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