BEST Pocket Watch Under $500 - Tissot Bulova Mondaine Dalvey Stuhrling Gotham Pocketwatch or eBay

[@chrismeyers7747]

I have a "Stuhrling Original Men's" pocket watch in stainless with the little kickstand, partial skeleton, open caseback. It was my first mechanical watch, bought about 10 years ago. It was then and is today less than $100 on Amazon. This Stuhrling is beautiful and the reason I got into mechanical watches. I have a growing collection now, and still consider this a significant piece. It has some miles but it winds, runs, and keeps good time. I used it during my PE exam and it didn't fail me.

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@chrismeyers7747 That’s awesome. 10+ years and still going strong.

[@dYrOiUs]

Great video! I like the Gotham for my price range

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@dYrOiUs I still have to check one out personally. I’ve heard really good things from other people online.

[@dYrOiUs]

@@PocketWatchTime i have as well. Tough choice. I want a nice Illinois Vintage, but watch-repair looks expensive, and the Gotham warranty seems nice. So much fun to explore!

[@22magnum68]

I have a Gotham railroad style quartz movement. It feels solidly built and looks great. I set the time last April when daylight savings kicked in and, as of today, it has lost only 5 seconds. Very happy with it.

[@PocketWatchTime]

That’s awesome. Quartz is amazing tech that’s under appreciated.

[@jcl410]

On a hunch, I looked up what the Swiss railway uses for station clocks. The face of their clocks is the same as the Mondaine watch. It was designed in 1944 (the second hand was added in 1953; per Wikipedia.) It's inspired by the Bauhaus Movement. BTW - I use a 1950s Ball 999B pocket watch in base metal case. It was $250 on Ebay, and another $250 for Servicing. It works well

[@PocketWatchTime]

That’s the perfect choice. Buy a super reliable movement like the Hamilton for an inexpensive price… Get it serviced… You have a reliable timekeeper for decades. I knew the Mondaine was based after some famous clock… I just didn’t know which one. Thanks for the info.

[@fossilimprint2954]

Interesting discussion, you covered a wide range.

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@fossilimprint2954 Thank you.

[@richardhall4318]

I appreciate what you had to say about Gotham pocket watches. I just purchased one a few months ago, gold filled railroad grade, quartz with a hunter case. The reason I choose a quartz movement is because I also have an Arnex 17 jewel mechanical pocket watch in a hunter case and I have to wind it to often and the last time it was serviced cost me $100.00. I carry my watch every day don’t like wrist watches. I bought my Arnex watch in 1971 at the time oldest daughter was born. Pocket watches forever.

[@PocketWatchTime]

Thanks. I definitely understand. I own a few hand-wind wrist watches… But they don’t get anywhere near the love compared to my automatic or quartz wrist watches. My job doesn’t let me carry a pocket watch… But if I did carry every day, I’m sure I would want something that didn’t require so much interaction and was rugged like a quartz.

[@MichaelSmith-cl1uo]

Hahahaha I burst out laughing When you said Tissot makes other watches then the PRX lollll Great vid made me a subscriber

[@PocketWatchTime]

Thanks. Glad I could bring a smile. 😊

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Hey Buddy I was traveling yesterday to Kentucky to check in on my 90 year old stepdad. Rewatching now 👍

[@juniorjohnson5961]

The Mondaine became famous for the stop to go based on the Swiss Railroad Clock I've never seen or held one but it looks really 😎

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@juniorjohnson5961 funny enough… Two different Mondaine pocket watches showed up on a weird auction site. I picked up both for about $30 apiece. I’ll let you know what I think about them.

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@juniorjohnson5961 hope all is well. That last storm we had hit harder than I think most people expected.

[@juniorjohnson5961]

​@@PocketWatchTime Hopefully it has that stop to go function it looks really cool.

[@juniorjohnson5961]

​@@PocketWatchTime I'm praying for you buddy 🙏 looks like things are gonna get rough tomorrow 🙏

[@arts.4014]

Great video! I think this is a real situation where time and money can be swapped. For those that just want to buy a gift, and not think/worry about it, your suggestion of new makes sense. If someone is genuinely interested in carrying a cool watch, a variation of your 'serviced pocket watch' idea gets you a much more interesting result for the money. The thing with service is that you get what you pay for. The new watch, in essence, just had a good service when it was put together. While it should be considered as part of the initial purchase price, some of these watches, if done right, will not be disposable and service will be an ownership cost in the coming decades. The way to trade off some extra time for a much better result is to buy that American railroad watch (or other 'nice old watch') in nice cosmetic condition and pay for a proper service/overhaul - educating yourself will take time; finding a watchmaker that you can trust will take time; the search for the watch itself will take time; and the watch servicing will take time. However, the result will be a reasonably priced (under $500, assuming you aren't going too fancy) watch that is of VERY high quality and will be accurate for 5 - 10 years before needing another service. Things like Hamilton model 992, Illinois Bunn or Bunn Special, Elgin Veritas or Waltham Vanguard can be done at this price point and will fill the jeans watch pocket beautifully while telling better time than a new Rolex. Oh, if you aren't used to pocket watches, the smaller 10 Size or 12 Size watches are just as special but less imposing. These are about the size of the 'bigger' wristwatches, just in pocket watch form.

[@PocketWatchTime]

Great points!

[@samnova450]

Like to get a vintage BALL railroad watch. Have any suggestions?

[@PocketWatchTime]

I own and personally like this model - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmmyYZRjpbWfkNksi=V5kvY6z4tlM5Gqx_ But, if you’re looking for a more traditional model I’d suggest eBay.

[@davidparker6589]

what model is the GP? and where did you find it for $400? great vid btw!

[@PocketWatchTime]

I don’t know the model number. It didn’t come with any paperwork. I found it on yahoo auctions.

[@HHPS419]

Disappointed to hear about the Mondaine. It is such a cool looking watch, and the Stop2Go complication sounded very fun.

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@HHPS419 oddly enough… I bought two variations of the Mondaine pocket watch last week. One is stainless and one is brass. Maybe there’s a quality difference?

[@borassictime918]

I like the GP 😂

[@PocketWatchTime]

Good taste. So do I. 😁

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Hello buddy I'm in Kentucky watching the news it looks like things are gonna get rough down there I'm not sure where you live but I'll keep you & your family in my prayers 🙏

[@PocketWatchTime]

I’m coastal Tampa Bay. It’s going to be rough. Thank you for your kind words.

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

one caveat you didnt cover was long term and resale value.

[@PocketWatchTime]

I don’t think there’s a long term or resale value to any of these watches. Sadly at this price point they’re mostly disposable - Costs more to service and fix than to buy again new.

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

@@PocketWatchTime And thats where vintage timepieces shine.

[@PocketWatchTime]

Exactly. These “modern” pocket watches are for enjoyment only - not a commodity.

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

@@PocketWatchTime Honestly Im in the strictly vintage camp. I Love repairing and restoring them and I gain unending joy owning them. Now a good field is the 6498 pocket watch movements starting in the 1950's those movements are still currently being produced and they are fine timepieces. the newer versions have shockproof balance jewel settings and make great every day carry pocket watches.

[@Mat-tg4fk]

My wearing of a pocket watch in jeans is too abusive for a mechanical movement so I wear a quartz gotham. Only con is there's no way for the user to replace the battery but Gotham swears you can request a replacement. EDIT: Found the slit for a case blade, VERY hard to see.

[@PocketWatchTime]

That’s interesting. I don’t know much about Gotham watches personally… Why can’t you change the battery?

[@Mat-tg4fk]

@@PocketWatchTime I actually just took a look at the pocket watch, The slit for a case blade is VERY small and borderline impossible to see with the polishing. This is now a perfect pocketwatch in my eyes LOL

[@PocketWatchTime]

@Mat-tg4fk Great 👍🏼