30 Best Pocket Watches at Every Price-Point for 2023

When discussing “Watches” 99 out of 100 times, one is referencing or thinking about wristwatches. But pocket watches once held the spotlight. Around the 1920’s into the 1930’s, Military’s around the world started utilizing wristwatches as a tool. This caught on quickly to the consumer market, and right around World War I, the pocket watch that was so dominant started to quickly lose steam to the more contemporary wristwatch.

However, there are still some time-honored traditions, and many brands still practice the creation of pocket watches - albeit, more as a token of a time gone by, and in much more limited quantities than the evermore popular wristwatch. We thought we’d highlight some of those lesser-carried pieces and showcase 30 of our favorite pocket watches. There are some on the list you can still buy, while others have a unique story, and may not be available. So without further ado, here are 30 of our favorites.

Enjoy!

Bovet Monsieur BOVET

When it comes to pocket watches, Bovet always delivers. Bovet has long had a history rooted in Pocket watches that convert into wrist watches, and the Monsieur Bovet is one of our absolute favorites. With a reversible dial (Which means a dial on both sides of the case), Bovet has created a patented “Amadeo” system to attach a strap to the top of the case, and the bottom - Meaning you can wear this 43mm watch on the wrist, or a white gold chain. From a technical standpoint, the Bovet Monsieur features a movement feature that is also patented that allows the seconds hands to utilize a Coaxial component to allow seconds on both dials using the same module - A real feat. Price for the Bovet Monsiuer Bovet is $64,000 USD.

Hamilton Railroad Pocket Watch

Who do you think of the most when you think about a pocket watch? For us, it’s a train conductor always shouting “All Aboard!” while checking the time before slipping the pocket watch back into his pocket. Hamilton has created a Railroad Pocket Watch to celebrate American Railroads. The watch harkens back to what original pocket watches used to be. Big bold arabic numerals seemingly float above the crisp white dial to provide superb legibility at a glance. The dial features red 5 minute markers as old railway clocks used to, and a small seconds at 6 o’clock. Price for the Hamilton Railroad Pocket Watch is $1,395 USD.

Tissot Double Savonnette Mechanical

Another affordable entry to the list is the Tissor Double Savonnette Mechanical. The classic design is a more classy design with Roman Numerals and cathedral hands. The 50mm case is etched in an elaborate design to provide some visual interest and is adorned with a gold and brass seal to match the gold seconds wheel. Price for the Tissot Double Savonnette Mechanical is a modest $995 USD, but comes in an option without gold for $825 USD.

Ball Trainmaster Secometer Pocket Watch

Another entry into the railway theme is the Ball Trainmaster Secometer Pocket Watch. The watch is unique in the pocket watch space, in that t features lume, and the indices are part of the case instead of the dial - Just like it’s 1920’s counterpart. The cathedral hands are skeletonized and easy to read, which is a massive theme for railway watches. One of the cooler things that the watch features is a disc seconds hand, that is visible through the small window at 6 o’clock. Overall, the watch has a uniquely 20’s-ero art deco vibe and we love it. Price for the watch is $795 USD.

Stührling Modena 991 Automatic 48mm Skeleton

Stuhrling has often gotten a bad rap in the Industry, but when it comes to their pocket watches we find them to be quite a heavy hitter in the affordable space. The Modena 991 is a solidly finished skeleton pocket watch with a number of treatments (sure, maybe they aren’t done by hand), that creates a lovely design. Additionally, the hands and screws are heat-blued to create a very legible watch. And, as we are big fans, a moonphase! All for a modest price tag of $250 USD.

Omega Specialties Olympic Pocket Watch 1932

Omega really started picking up steam with the Olympics. Omega had originally designed a pocket watch for the games in 1932, so to commemorate that effort, the brand released a pocket watch that reaches deep into the brands archives (Even with a Calibre 3889 movement) to revisit and revitalize an iconic timepiece. The hand-wound chronograph pocket watch measures in at 70mm in solid rose gold, with a hunter case allow for the back of the watch to be opened to view the long-retired, and recently revitalized 3889 movement. Price for the Omega Specialties Olympic Pocket Watch is $109,000 USD.

Patek Philippe 973J

Patek Philippe as a brand, has always made pocket watches. In fact, they really got their start in manufacturing pocket instruments for a variety of things. Wristwatches eventually took over, but every few years, the brand looks back to their roots, and designs a pocket watch. One of our favorites is the simple 973J. The watch comes in solid cold with a really simple dial that’s white with gold indices and hands. The watch features a hunter case, which means the back can be opened to view the lovely 17 LEP PS movement. Price for the watch is $42,500 USD.

Bomberg BOLT-68

One thing that nobody can argue about, is the inclusion of pocket watches in motorsports. Bomberg has created a seriously cool pocket watch that can literally clip in and out of a wrist watch. Unlike some of the higher end watches with cumbersome connections to straps, the Bolt-68 can snap in and out of a complete case on the wrist. It comes in a number of really cool color combinations with colorful rubber straps. And ultimately, the watch doesn’t break the bank at a modest $1,295 USD.

Urwerk UR-1001 Zeit Device

One thing that can not be said about Urwerk, is that they’re boring. The Urwerk UR-1001 Zeit Device is one of the most complicated and original pocket watches we’ve ever covered. The watch features a dizzying array of features including seconds, minutes, hours, day/night, date, month, years, 100 years then even 1,000 years. It’s truly wild. And in a unique way to tell the time, the brand utilizes a “Satelite Calendar” which puts the months and hours on arms that spin and display the month and date on a hand that points to a date track. For the time, it displays the hour on an arm that points to a minute track. Additionally, the pocket watch can be equipped with a snap-in strap so you can wear it on your wrist. But at a whopping 62mm, it’s more of a device than a watch. It’s truly a work of complicated art, and we are here for it. Price for the UR-1001 Zeit Device is $405,000 USD.

Cartier Mysterious Double Tourbillon Pocket Watch

Purple is a criminally under-utilized color in the watch industry. So when you find a watch that utilizes it, it’s nice to see it pop. Cartier has created a lovely purple and white gold pocket watch with their ever desired “Mysterious” Double Tourbillon. While the time can be told at the left side of the dial, seemingly floating at the 3 o’clock position is the brands famous complication - Used here in a pocket watch instead of a wrist watch. It’s simply a lovey execution, which I suppose it better be at the price point. The watch also comes with a unique stand window that allows the watch to double as a desk clock. Price for the Cartier Mysterious Double Tourbillon is $360,000 USD.

Parmigiani Fleurier La Rose Carrée

Offered as a piece unique to close out Parmigiani Fleurier’s 25th Anniversary celebration, the Rose Carree was released. It’s a one-of-one timepiece with a surprising twist. Inside the Rose Caree is a vintage Louis-Elisée Piguet movement dating back to the late 1800’s. The white gold case is enamel encased with squared rose etchings. The case opens on both sides allowing for the lovely and quite-famous Louis-Elisée Piguet movement to be on full display. Price for the watch is not transparent, as it’s a one-of-one, but you can likely expect a watch like this to fetch well into the 7-figures at auction.

Jacob & Co. Brilliant Watch Pendant

Okay, technically Jacob & Co. call their Brilliant Watch a Pendant, and while that’s also true, it very much stands on it’s own as a pocket watch. The rose gold case houses a skeletonized version of Jacob & Co’s JCAM01 movement, which has been open-worked and anthracite treated to create a lovely grey hue. The rose gold bridges house a lovely tourbillon, and the heat blued hands are superbly legible. The 42.5mm case is fairly small by a pocket watch standard, but no matter how it’s worn, it’s a lovely piece from the Atelier. Price for the Brilliant Watch Pendant is $107,000 USD.

CODE41 Mecascape Pocket Watch

Code41 has done, and is continuing to do some really cool things in the industry. We’ve recently reviewed their staple wristwatch the X41 (Read the full review here), so we were immensely curious when we heard the brand was working on pocket watch and desk watch hybrid. The Mecascape Pocket Watch is a lot of interest for the money. Coming with a stand, the pocket watch can be converted into a skeletonized desk clock with all the components seperated into their own dials. We love the idea, and are always a sucker for desk clocks. Price for the Mecascape is $9,500 USD and comes in a variety of colors and configurations.

ZIIIRO Titan Pocket Watch

“Simplicity” and “Modernity” are two words I would use to describe the Ziiiro Titan Pocket Watch.The lightweight aluminum pocket watch was designed to be work as a pendant or a watch and utilizes a unique way of telling the time. Two circles of light allow the wearer to figure out waht time it is when pushing the top of the case. 12 segments break up the outer ring determining the hour, and 60 segments on the inner ring determine the minutes. We think it’s pretty cool. Price for the Ziiiro Titan is $229 USD.

Gotham Railway Classic

One of my (Travis) first experiences with a purchased pocket watch came from an impulse buy on Amazon from Gotham. It was a skeletonized watch that came with a desk stand. That watch has been sitting on my desk since 2013, and it’s charm has lasted longer than many of the desks it’s sat on. One of the more practical, although just as charming is another railway inspired model with the Gotham Railway Classic. The simple design transports you back into the 1920’s industrial age with crisp white and contrasting black indices with red 5 second intervals, and blued hands. Price for the Gotham Railway Classic is a modest $110 USD.

Tissot Lepine Mechanical

The second Tissot on our list is the Lepine Mechanical, which is a bit more of an elaborate (albeit really clean) pocket watch offering from Tissot. The pocket watch offers a bit more of a Victorian aesthetic with a floral motif and cathedral hands. When paired with the roman numerals, the Lepine Mechanical is a classy take on a pocket watch. Price for the Lepine Mechanical is $750 USD, but there is also a rose gold and steel variation available on Amazon for $511 USD.

Breguet Classique “Grande Complication” Ref. 1907

Arguably among the most famous pocket watches on our list is the Breguet Classique “Grand Complication” Ref. 1907. Breguet is most known for its Tourbillon complications, so naturally the 1907 features a prominent Tourbillon at the 4 o’clock position. Additionally, the watch contains a “Grand Strike” complication that allows the wearer to press a small pushed and hear the time via a series of chimes. Additionally, that chime is visible with two hammers and a gong on the edge of the case. A unique complication and one Breguet does extremely well. Again, being that this is an extremely limited piece, the price is “Upon Request” but we’ve seen it quoted at around $1,000,000 USD.

Longines Heritage

Longines entry into the railway pocket watch space comes with a lovely lacquered dial with painted numerals. This allows the Roman Numerals to feel almost raised and 3D. It makes the watch superbly legible and the polished stainless steel case ties together the entire class act. The heat blued hands are superbly legible, and a small window on the back of the watch allows for a glimpse at the very well executed movement. Price for the Longines Heritage Pocket Watch is $4,750 USD.

Frederique Constant Manufacture

Frederique Constant has long been known for creating very well received entry-level luxury dress watches. So naturally, the ability to create their same penchant for classic designs is carried over into the pocket watch space with the Frederique Constant Manufacture Pocket Watch. The monochromatic design allows the watch to go with anything, and there is plenty of texture to go around. The dial is embossed with multiple textures that make the simple black hands and indices pop against them. Price for the Manufacture Pocket Watch is $3,750 USD.

Audemars Piguet Classique Pocket Watch

One of the most recognizable pocket watches in the entire industry comes from Audemars Piguet. The Classique is one of the oldest pocket watches the brand ever made, and the refinements just make the watch all the better. The watch is incredibly complicated and even considered a “Grand Complication” with a Minute Repeater and Perpetual Calendar. All housed in a solid 59mm gold case with reversible dial covered by a hunter hinge. Retail price is likely to reflect auction pricing at this point, at well over $1,000,000 USD.

Bulova Classic Pocket

Bulova’s entry into the pocket watch space comes with a classic and timeless design language. Featuring a simple, though textured black dial with contrasting silver indices, the monochromatic design is uniquely contemporary, and not terribly expensive at just $95 USD.

Panerai Pocket Watch Tourbillon GMT Ceramic PAM00446

One of the last brands you’d ever expect to see a pocket watch come out of is Panerai. However, their offering is actually a really unique piece both aesthetically and by featureset. For starters, the watch comes in a black Ceramic case, with anthracite bridges, a GMT fuction, and a Tourbillon. It’s an interestingly brooding piece in a world where pocket watches are generally considered dressier in nature. Additionally, the watch comes on an equally cool desk tray mount, and a price tag of $184,100 USD.

Piaget Altiplano Pocket Watch

The always classic and classy Piaget created a really cool pocket watch to celebrate their 60th Anniversary of the 1957 Altiplano release - A quintessential dress watch for a contemporary individual - And the Altiplano pocket watch certainly continues in that tradition. Measuring in at 50mm in white gold, he Altiplano features the 1200P Calibre, Piaget delivers a remarkably thin pocket watch. Only 26 of these pieces were ever made, and it comes on a “Marquetry” stand, meaning it can be worn or displayed. Price for the Altiplano Pocket Watch is a modest $27,000 USD.

Mondaine Evo Pocket Watch

Mondaine is best known for it’s minimalistic and blocky designs. They’ve made quite the name for themselves in industry based on all their squared-off features that highlight the brands legibility. What better way to showcase that than a railway style pocket watch. The Mondaine Evo Pocket Watch evokes that same level of attention to legibility in an affordable package. You can pick up the Mondaine Evo for $215 USD.

Bell & Ross PW1 Steel

Believe it or not, Bell & Ross has deep reaching roots in the Pocket Watch space. The traditionally aviation theme brand has produced a number of unique pocket watches for both pilots and naval officers. One of their more modern offerings is the PW1 in Steel. The 49mm dress watch features a more traditional Bell and Ross dial configuration with a glossy lacquered dial with high contrast whit indices. While it’s sold out on the Bell & Ross website, price for the PW1 Steel can be as low as $3,000 USD.

Rapport London Double Hunter Pocket Watch

Rapport London, is an (Obviously) London based company producing some really cool and really accessible timepieces. In fact, you can get some of their pocket watches for less than $600 on Amazon Prime right now. One of our favorites is the Double Hunter Pocket Watch. The double hunter is in reference to the fact that both the front and back have a hinged cover that allows the dial and movement to be protected, but also opened up to be viewed. Price for the Rapport London Double Hunter is $550 USD.

Jaquet Droz Parrot Repeater Pocket Watch

Jaquet Droz isn’t exactly known for being reserved in their design language. Many of their models include whimsical takes on both wristwatches and jewelry in general. The Jacquet Droz Parrot Repeater Pocket Watch is no exception to that. Featuring a solid rose gold case with a whopping 10-Carat’s of precious stones, the watch is simply a marvel to look at. The dial features two parrots that spread their wings and bobble to the minute repeater gongs, while a bird hatches from an egg. All mechanical. The dial and caseback are decorated with both Pailonne treatments and Grand Feu enameling, all while being hand painted. Price for the Jacquet Droz Parrot Repeater was original $1,100,000 USD, but would probably fetch far above that at auction.

Jean Pierre Chrome Double Hunter Dual Dial Moondial Pocket Watch

Jean Pierre is doing some really cool things. Another double hunter case, the Chrome Double Hunter Dual Dial Moondial features a dual dial on each side of the case with a skeletonized movement allowing for an un-adultered view of the movement and dial. The moonphase is at 12 o’clock with the first timezone, while the second timezone in the center of the dial. If you look closely, the watch also features a second moonphase literally combining two different dials on the same side of the case. Price for the watch is $516 USD.

Monsieur de Chanel Pocket Watch

Every year or two, Chanel produces a timepiece that’s particularly out-of-character for the brand. One of the more recent releases was a monochromatic pocket watch called the Monsieur De Chanel. The brooding watch comes as a set with a desk stand in white gold with a lion mounted with diamonds. It’s stand is actually more elaborate than the pocket watch itself. Which, makes it more like an end-game desk clock than a pocket watch, although it can be attached to a chain and worn. It’s definitely cool, and we love it, even if it’s a little more clock than watch. Price is $800,000 USD.

Breguet Marie-Antoinette N°1160

Dubbed the “Fifth Most Complicated Watch in the World” the Breguet Marie-Antoinette may be among the most infamous watches in the world. The watch was recently reimagined (or really recreated) based solely on images, videos, and technical specs alone to create the watch said to be in Marie Antoinette’s personal collection. The queen was an avid collector of Breguet’s creations, and the 1160 was said to be a gift from a suiter. The watch is technically a museum piece, and a priceless artifact, it would be difficult to define a price, but you can get it would be among the most expensive watches ever sold.