Is Your Pocketwatch Valuable 💵 ? Rules to Grade a SOLID GOLD🥇Pocket Watch or a Gold-Filled Case ?

[@RobertGadfly]

Good information here! I'm a new owner of a pocket watch and am now enamored of them. Thanks!

[@PocketWatchTime]

Awesome. Glad to help.

[@Seedyrom247]

Such a great video. Thank you. I just went to the safe and inspected my great-grandfather’s pocket watch. My sister got his “everyday watch” and I got his “good watch”. It had “Swiss made” on the dial face, and I always thought it was solid gold. Alas, it’s just gold plated, but the sentimental value certainly makes up for any market value (in my mind) that it just lost. I will definitely be hanging on to it and passing it down the family line.

[@PocketWatchTime]

Thank you - Great compliment. Heirloom watches are special no matter the model or material.

[@WatchRestorationCottage]

Great guidelines, thanks!

[@PocketWatchTime]

No problem. Thanks for watching. 🙌🏻

[@PilotinMSFSonly]

Expert info! Thanks for putting this together!!

[@PocketWatchTime]

Thank you 🙌🏻

[@ENeseth]

Thank you, I have learned SO much!!!

[@PocketWatchTime]

That’s awesome. Thank you. 🙌🏼

[@HHPS419]

Great advise for any collector. I agree with the point about doing your own research, it is fun. Sadly, some info (in my opinion) has been lost to time, is incomplete, or only found on rare books. But that is probably true only in rare situations. Also, congrats on 25k subs!

[@PocketWatchTime]

Thank you. 25k down… 75k to go. 😁

[@arts.4014]

Very good video. A much better description than the prior case discussions. Hopefully, you'll do a video on some of the 'fancy' cases like boxed hinged, multicolor cases (and others). A comment on gold filled: Yes, the gold content is of little value. However, its purpose is different than simply lessening the cost of a watch. Gold is a very soft material, which means it offers less protection than a hard material such as brass. However, brass corrodes. The gold in a gold filled case, while decorative, has a primary function of protecting the brass, thus making the case both strong and durable. Besides being less expensive, a gold filled case provided better protection than gold for everyday carry, working men's watches. Neither a gold nor gold filled case looks great when heavily worn. The American system was set up for easy part, including case, replacement and replacing a worn case with a fresh one was a more practical solution than continuing to wear a gold case that was so worn, it no longer closed tightly enough to keep the dirt out. An interesting example to observe this trend is a working watch that was difficult to exchange cases: the Illinois, 17 size, Model 13 Sangamo Special. It was the best/top of the line production watch made by Illinois (prior to being acquired by Hamilton). Because of the odd size, they were all cased in-house. Although available in solid gold and gold filled, these very expensive (when new) watches were almost always bought in gold filled cases because they were intended for heavy use.

[@PocketWatchTime]

Thank you. 🙌🏼 Completely agree… Solid gold watches were never meant to be on the railroad line. Not durable enough. I’m not really a collector of railroad watches… Thus, my bias toward gold-filled cases. I know they’re more practical; however, they just don’t fit my collecting strategy as well. Thanks for all the info.

[@chilli-badger]

Hey Patrick hope your OK dude - this is a brilliant video - I'm buying a pocket watch for my father ATM - top quality information thank you

[@PocketWatchTime]

Thank you. 🙏

[@erichghetta8523]

Thank you for yuor explanation very useful. I started to collect American pocket watches, they are very fascinating to me :-)

[@PocketWatchTime]

Wonderful. 🙌🏼 Let me know if I can help with anything in the future.

[@johnfarmerfarmer4901]

Great info. I learned about the basics. I have a cool collection of pocket watches. I never pay over $60 for a pocket watch. I will now pay much more for a solid gold case.

[@PocketWatchTime]

It’s amazing how inexpensive you can get a really nice pocket watch for.

[@johnfarmerfarmer4901]

@@PocketWatchTime Yes, I get good deals at local auction houses. Ebay is not for buying them.

[@PocketWatchTime]

Agreed. I get much better deals off eBay.

[@WatchWithMike]

This video is a great guide to gold! Unfortunately (fortunately?) all of my gold watches are clearly marked "gold filled". I like the inverse rules as well. Nicely done! 😁

[@PocketWatchTime]

Appreciate it 🙌🏻

[@virtuosodm3327]

Do you have a resource on the weights of movements ( size depending) ,so we can subtract that from the overall weight, to determine an approximate gold weight value(?) Thanks

[@PocketWatchTime]

I don’t have a specific resource… But a general rule is the movement is 1/3 of the total weight.

[@PocketWatchTime]

260 grams is definitely impressive. I’m not sure how much the movement in that watch weighs… But regardless, it’s definitely a valuable watch.

[@spruce238]

Thanks for the advice: I thought I had an expensive LL leroy serial #328 (non running) pocketwatch left by a relative. It was only gold plated. Even though it was engraved by a famous French watchmaker (LL leroy). I could not sell it for anything, or scrap the gold. I ended up giving it to a watch museum in Pennsylvainia.

[@PocketWatchTime]

That’s an amazing story.

[@michaelfulcher6390]

My Waltham is 10k gold filled. I prefer the filled over plated as scratches usually wont reveal the metal under the gold.

[@PocketWatchTime]

Gold-filled is thicker than plated and less prone to scratches. 👍🏼

[@ccowboys6294]

Hello, thank you for the very helpful video... I have a Elgin National Watch Co pocket watch, #1155166 and found it's 8 of 32 run. It says on the inner rear part of the case B&Co 18k 15188. Is this in your opinion solid gold? I think it is or it wouldn't say that lol. I'm interested in your knowledge and thoughts about this pocket watch and the best way to sell it if possible? Thank you again, I enjoy your videos 👏🏼👌🏼 👍🏼😊 Barbie PS if more information is needed please let me know.

[@ccowboys6294]

I forgot to add I has a 50 grade if this helps.

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@ccowboys6294 The most important information is the case. Generally speaking… Very few watch movements themselves have a high value. This isn’t a super common movement… But Elgin still made almost 35,000 of them. It’s definitely not rare. It’s a very nice movement. High jeweled and a unique design that allows it to switch between open and hunter case configuration. The movement by itself is probably worth about $200-300. The case with the 18 karat marking… Probably is solid 18 karat gold case. 18 karat was never used as a coating or as a plating. The only issue I can’t confirm from text only… Is it a counterfeit or a fake case. My hunch… It’s legit. Older watches like this generally aren’t faked. I’d say your total package with movement and case is valued somewhere between $1700 and $2000. As for selling… That’s always tough. How do you find the specific market for a very specific watch. There are auction companies that will sell the watch for you… But they obviously take a hefty fee for the work. The best way to get the value you’re looking for would be to post on eBay with a reserve price or with a starting bid at the price you’d like to sell the watch for. If it sells… You made some money. If it doesn’t sell… No harm in trying.

[@ccowboys6294]

Thank you so much for your information and kindness. I truly appreciate your knowledge and help. I'll let you know what it sells for. Not sure just yet what avenue I'll go but will definitely let you know the outcome. About it being a possum fake, it's not I have the paperwork from the original sale thankfully. Thank you again blessings to you and yours always. Cheri

[@PocketWatchTime]

@ccowboys6294 That’s what I’m here for. Good luck.

[@billbowen3677]

What percentage average is solid gold in a pocket watch case. How can I find out how much is there????

[@PocketWatchTime]

14k is 58.3%, 18k is 75% - I would say the most common is a 14 karat solid gold case. As for the percentage in each individual case… There should be a marking.

[@cathymiller5391]

Hi I have a Leonidas precision prima 56-0.585 14 karat pocket watch from Germany number 20049 for the serial number can you tell me the value of it. It’s a standard larger size.

[@PocketWatchTime]

I specialize in American manufacture pocket watches… I’m familiar with Leonidas, but I don’t know their pricing. With a solid gold case any watch should at least fetch $800 or so… But depending on the movement and the brand it could get significantly more.

[@michaelfulcher6390]

Late reply. Google pocket watch database. You can enter the manufacturer and serial number and it will tell you some info about the watch including the rarity. That's for the movement, not the case as older watches were usually sold as the movement and the case was picked by the buyer.

[@RustyDawgVintage]

I have watched so many of your videos but am really stumped by my "gold" case. No markings to differentiate from filled to solid. It is not picked up by a magnet but looks solid?

[@PocketWatchTime]

Can you send me some pictures to my email address? I’ll take a peek.

[@RustyDawgVintage]

@@PocketWatchTime you are amazing! What is your address?

[@PocketWatchTime]

@bozeman56 pocket.watch.time at gmail

[@eddielee5874]

The only markings I can find, are the maker name, Walthon, serial numbers, and 18 k. Tried doing research but have limited knowledge of pocket watches/Fob watches. Cheers

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@eddielee5874 if you can send me some pictures I can help. However, 18K is a bonus. Not many 18K filled watches out there.

[@beeclair480]

I didn't quite understand why a heavier watch is a great watch and a lighter one isn't a great watch. Is that personal preference or does it protect the movement better for example? I'd think a lighter watch would be better, since it would be lighter to carry. This assuming that the price reflects the weight.

[@PocketWatchTime]

I get what you’re saying. The change in weight for me is a small upgrade. There are some crazy thick 6 ounce silver cases… That’s way too big. Increased weight is just silly on that kind of case. What I’m referring to is a degree of quality. I handle a lot of gold cases that are very thin and cheap feeling. Thus, also a little fragile. Thicker and more heavy gold cases are just built better. The difference in weight is small enough that you barely notice the difference while carrying it. But, the quality difference will make the case last longer and possibly protect the watch more.

[@nobuddy1364]

Useful video. In the discussion of value based on weight, it might have been worthwhile to note that "solid" does not mean "pure" so the percentage of gold content as noted by the Karat or percentage number makes a large difference. Since melting them down for the base metal is the source of the value. As well as just the esthetic value people attach to something being "solid gold". But 375 or 9K is pretty much bottom of the barrel, in my opinion anyway.

[@PocketWatchTime]

Thanks for watching. I don’t remember which video… I think one of my later videos on valuing a pocket watch I discussed the differences in karat and the associated purity/price. There are so many factors it’s hard for me to include them all in one video. If there’s any other subject you think I could clarify… Please let me know. That’s what I’m here for… Hopefully to spread some useful information.

[@Falkenroth1]

I bet most men of that time period preferred gold filled cases because they were thicker and more robust than a solid gold case.

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@Falkenroth1 definitely true for railroad watches

[@LilithWasFirst]

Hamilton

[@PocketWatchTime]

Great brand 🙌🏼

[@juniorjohnson5961]

I'm buying a 18kt. Gold Chronograph I recently turned 70 i think i deserve it for making it through the late 60s & 70s . For some reason whenever i see you i think of SpongeBob 🤠

[@PocketWatchTime]

You’re a loyal member of the community - you can call me SpongeBob anytime. 😁😂 As for the chrono… you deserve it!

[@juniorjohnson5961]

@@PocketWatchTime God Bless 🙏

[@france4322]

EXCUSE ME BUT SOLID GOLD IS 24K NOT 14K !!!!!!!!!!

[@PocketWatchTime]

Correction: pure gold is 24k, solid gold is gold throughout.

[@france4322]

NOT AS SMART AS HE THINKS. BE CAREFULL LISTENING TO THIS GUY !!!!!!!!!!

[@PocketWatchTime]

You’re entitled to your opinion. The common language for a “solid gold” case means it’s comprised of full thickness gold and not a base metal. The adjective of “14k” or “18k” denotes the purity. In the watch world “solid gold” does not mean pure/24 karat gold.