Mechanical Pocket Watches

In the past, it used to be that mechanical pocket watches were the gentry’s possessions and wrist watches the lady’s. Wristwatches by large are considered feminine, being smaller than mechanical pocket and usually attached with rather womanly leather.

Mechanical pocket watches are dominant for several centuries, as early as the 14th century (as evidence point out) until the last mid century, around 1950 where locomotives are still on widespread usage. Mechanical pockets watches are strapless personal watch that is normally carried in the pocket, hence the name as opposed to the wrist. They are also normally linked into a chain whose end is fastened to a waistcoat, on the lapel or on the belt. Traditionally, they are analog watches, having hands that display time but during the last century and now, digital and electronic varieties are also available. The reason that they are also mechanical is the absence of an alternative power source in the past, traditionally being clockwork (wound types).

The earliest indication of the mechanical pocket watch usage was on a letter dated November 1462, from an Italians clock maker Bartholomew Manfredi to the Marchese di Manta, stating that the clockmaker has an offer mechanical pocket watch that is way better than the mechanical pocket watch in the possession of Duke of Modena. In the turn of the century, spring driven clocks are in wide circulation, as the gentry’s possession and valuable equipment for navigation. A 1510 craftsman Peter Henlein was frequently manufacturing mechanical pocket watches. Subsequently, mechanical pocket prevalence spread to the other parts of the world as the 16th century progressed to 17th then to 18th then to 19th

Pocket watches were traditionally mechanical as the reason already stated. They are also open faced, though several mechanical pocket watches have covers in them. Like the hunter’s pocket watch you can see on the hunter on Jumanji movie (this type of watch are called Savonette in the French). The covers are just flap lids with hinges to protect the crystal face. It is also common to have portraits on the lid; in fact it is so much a practice that eventually it also became somewhat an inherent part of the design.

In modern times, the popularity of pocket watches watered down substantially as the usage of wristwatch became ubiquitous. Many just don’t see the ease of the schema of having a pocket watch, and even if they did, handheld/ pocket devices such as the mobile phones make better options as pocket watch since not only they have time, they also provide additional features. Mechanical pocket watch, and other pocket watch varieties thereafter became an exotic item only enthusiasts and collectors pursue.