A great classic watch is more than just something worn on your wrist to keep the time. It's more comparable to a work of art that contains the workmanship and design of the time and person who made it. In fact, if you're looking for an accurate timepiece, you might be better off getting a cheap digital watch, most cheap modern watches are more accurate than their older, more expensive counterparts.
But, classic watches are valued for things other than their timekeeping abilities. They are valued because the owner of one of these watches now owns a special part of history and it almost opens a window through time to when the watch was created. Classic watches many times even turn out to be good investments as their value increases with time.
There are two basic types of classic watches, pocket watches and wristwatches. Wristwatches for men have only been made since the beginning of the 20th century, so pocket watches are many times much older than their wristwatch counterparts.
The Value of Classic Watches
There are many different reasons that people consider classic watches so valuable. A great amount of time, classic watches are a family heirloom, bought by one of the family's patriarchs and passed down through the generations. Watches can also have a unique design or style for their time period and this can cause them to be valued as well. If you have a truly great watch, it can even possibly catch the spirit of the watchmaker who labored to build the timepiece.
Being an incredibly old watch does not necessarily make it classic, nor can an new watch not be classic. The biggest factor is how unique or distinctive the watch is. For this to be true, the watch needs to have an original design, lots of complications, innovative technology for the time it was made, and a fashionable design.
Classic Watch Examples
Many different countries have strong watch making traditions, but none quite rival that of Switzerland. What started as a way for French Protestants escaping persecution to express themselves, has blossomed into a booming, world-renowned industry. Swiss watch companies include Rolex, Patke Philippe, Tag Heuer, Movado, and Longines. Other famous watch companies from other countries valued for their designs and styles include Cartier, Eglin National Watch Company, Hamilton Watch, and Simon Carter.
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