9 of 10

Write now Article Tools

"Grandpa, what time is it?" I asked, just to see the watch he would pull from his watch pocket.

""It's almost noon, Son," he said, looking up toward the sun high overhead. "Why? Are you getting hungry?"

"No, I just like to see your watch. Why don't you wear a watch on your arm like other people?"

"My grandfather worked on the railroad, and he gave me this watch. Men didn't wear wrist watches when I was a boy."

"Why?"

I will always remember his answer. "We weren't so lazy we couldn't pull a watch out of our pocket to check the time."

His watch was what is called a hunter watch, with a flip open cover to protect the crystal face. Some pocket watches are open-faced with not protective cover. The case was solid gold and had my aunt's teeth imprints from her using it while sitting in church and teething. Grandfather would let her chew on his watch until he noticed the teeth marks.

Invented in the 16th Century, wind-up watches didn't become popular until they became small enough to fit into a pocket in the 17th Century, and became more widespread in the 19th Century with the increased need for accurate time keeping by railroads to avoid accidents. General Railroad Timepiece Standards adopted in 1893 read, ""...open faced, size 16 or 18, have a minimum of 17 jewels, adjusted to at least five positions, keep time accurately to within 30 seconds a week, adjusted to temps of 34 to 100 F. have a double roller, steel escape wheel, lever set, regulator, winding stem at 12 o'clock, and have bold black Arabic numerals on a white dial, with black hands." [wikipedia]

Watches with straps, or wrist watches, were considered unmanly until World War I, when officers saw the advantage of having the time conveniently placed on their wrists for easy, hands free vieing. From then to now, pocket watches declined in popularity. Self-winding watches, developed in Switzerland, gave way to battery operated watches and digital displays; now those are losing popularity as many use the clock on their cell phones, computers, and iPods.

There is a slight increasing popularity for pocket watches as nostalgia for a simpler time gains support. There are still some pants with pockets for watches, even 501 Levis, enormously popular with teens around the world have pockets for watches, but few people even know what the pocket is for.

"Someday, Son, this watch will be yours," Grandfather said.

"Really, Grandpa? Wow! I can't wait!"

"Don't rush my death too soon," he laughed.

"Oh," I said. "I didn't mean."

"I know what you meant," he said and ruffled my hair. "Let's go get some lunch."

That watch is displayed proudly on my mantle in a glass case. I occasionally take it and its gold chain out, loop it through the button hole of a vested suit, and look like someone from a past time for formal events. Several people will inevitably ask, "Is that really a pocket watch?" I pull it out and show them with pride my great, great grandfather's time piece with the gold case, passed down to me from my grandfather. I open it proudly and then show them the teeth marks in the case. If I need to know the time, though, I look at my cell phone.

Learn more about this author, Will Kester.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The history of pocket watches?
We want to hear your view. Write now!