If you enjoy antiques there is no doubt that somewhere along the way you looked at vintage watches. However locating and purchasing truly authentic vintage watches can be a challenge, but a fun one. The first step is to get familiar with the different styles and manufactures of vintage watches. Knowing these things will help you maximize your investment and make sure that the watch you purchase will have the most value.

Good Vintage Watches Manufacturers

One of the most reputable and long standing manufacturers of watches is the Waltham Watch Company. Based in Waltham Massachusetts, this company has been manufacturing watches since the mid eighteen hundreds. Watches from this time period are extremely collectable and can be worth a lot of money to the right investor. They have several famous vintage watches including the eighteen fifty-three P.S. Bartlett watch. This watch originally sold for forty dollars, quiet a sum of money at that time. If you can find one of these prized possessions, purchase it without hesitation. Other watches from the Boston Watch Company, an older name for Waltham, are also extremely collectable. These watches were marked Dennison, Howard, & Davis or perhaps C.T. Parker.

Again if you find these, grab them while you can because they are in high demand. The Waltham company went through several changes throughout the eighteen hundreds and with each of these changes came more unique watches, but most of the collectable, vintage watches come from before the turn of the century. The company eventually changed to the Waltham name and continued to produce some of the finest examples of pocket watches the world has ever known. Sadly, due to a lack of demand, the company was forced to close in the mid fifties.

Another company to look for is the Elgin National Watch Company. Founded in 1864 this company produced watches up until the mid nineteen sixties and is another example of fine watch technology prior to nineteen hundred. They began producing watches in the city of Elgin, Illinois that are highly desirable in the antique watch market. The company logo is an image of father time holding a pocket watch.

If you are looking for a non-American pocket watch, the company to search for is Rolex. These can be difficult to find in the U.S. however as most were sold overseas. In addition, their watches are not really considered to be true vintage watches as the company was founded in 1905. Most truly vintage watches come from around the civil war era time.