* Value of Old Pocket Watches *

Finding information on the watch itself can be easy.
First look at the dial..it may have the maker on it "hamiltion" for example.

Is it an open case or a covered watch? If it has a cover and you press the stem for the case to open be sure to depress the stem before you close it. That lip is thin and the steel spring wears it every time you close one of those with that "movie snap"; eventually they won't stay closed without very expensive repairs.
Back cover on both kinds should open to view and work on the "works"; our watchmaker had a "case" knife made to open watch cases. Just like todays watches that you replace batteries in, there is a spot that is recessed or slightly lipped that you put the edge of the case knife into and GENTLY pry/twist. Inside the back case should be some numbers...could be model/jewels/patents and...I asked our watchmaker once what all those scratched letters and numbers were..he said a record of who/when/what repairs were done to the watch.

Depending on what kind of collector he was he may have aquired junk or true treasure without knowing it. Consider all of them valuable until you are sure otherwise. I wonder if he had any old key wind watches?? Ones with moon phases and calenders are generally worth more as are jeweled watches..jewels in a watch are usually(now a days) synthetic corundum piviot points for the works to move on...using them extended the life of the movement as they don't wear like metal. If you open the back and look at the works jewels are usually red,clear and round. I can remember the customer who was sure a previous watchmaker had removed his "jewels" from his watch....of course believing they were faceted gems. Lordy, thinking about this really takes me back..like 16 years....

I would love to have your friends problem!! Treasure hunting takes time but can be so rewarding!

Opps, forgot to add that large heavy cased watches sometimes have back cases that screw off and on...be careful!

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" As needs-MUST!!"--- in other words..a gal does what a gal has too!

just an additional thing to consider. Some of those watches were gold or silver, so also have precious metal value.

Thank you for your thoughtful and full-of-information post bee.

I don't have any of the watches on hand, but when I briefly looked through a box of them, I remember several that had as many as 3 additional small faces in the face - that showed various forms of time keeping, like moon phases and calenders like you describe. They looked the oldest and I figured they would be worth more.