The Pocket Watch
They were the most common type of watch from their development in the
16th century until wristwatches
became popular after World War I
during which a transitional design, trench watches were used by the
military.
Pocket watches generally have an attached chain to allow them to
be secured to a waistcoat, lapel, or belt loop, and to prevent them
from being dropped. Watches were also mounted on a short leather strap
or fob, when a long chain would have been cumbersome or likely to catch
on things. This fob could also provide a protective flap over their
face and crystal. Women's watches were normally of this form, with a
fob that was more decorative than protective.
The watch was first created in the 16th century, initially in
spherical (Pomander) or cylindrical cases, when the spring driven clock
was invented. These watches were at first quite big and boxy and were
worn around the neck. It was not for another century that it became
common to wear a watch in a pocket. There are two main styles of pocket
watch, the hunter-case
pocket watch, and the open-face pocket watch. An open-faced watch
is a watch in which the case lacks a metal cover to protect the
crystal. It is typical for an open-faced watch to have the pendant
located at 12:00 and the sub-second dial located at 6:00. Occasionall, A
hunter-case pocket watch is the kind with a spring-hinged circular
metal lid or cover that closes over the watch-dial and crystal
protecting them from dust, scratches and other damage or debris. The
majority of antique and vintage
hunter-case watches have the lid-hinges at the 9 o'clock position
and the stem, crown and bow of the watch at the 3 o'clock position.
Pocket watch movements are occasionally engraved with the word
"Adjusted", or "Adjusted to n positions". This means that the watch has
been tuned to keep time under various positions and conditions. There
are eight possible adjustments: Dial up, Dial down, Crown up, Crown
down, Crown left, Crown right, Temperature (From 34-100 degrees
Fahrenheit) Isochronisms (The ability of the watch to keep time,
regardless of the mainspring's level of tension). The pocket watch has
regained popularity due to a sub-genre of cyberpunk known as steam
punk, in which the pocket watch is a common accessory. Steam punk fans
tend to choose pocket watches with visible gears and springs
