Time travel is still the most sought after technology, but it wasn’t until modern technology that we really realized it. We’ve gone from horse-drawn carriages and steam trains to a variety of ways to travel around the world, such as subways, high-speed trains, airplanes, and other types of cars, which allow us to travel faster and more conveniently. We can even travel to outer space on rocket ships. In addition, we have developed energy sources from coal to petroleum products, and the rising trend of solar energy in recent years.
Why is steampunk so popular among enthusiasts? What do newcomers need to know before trying this style? Is it enough to wear Victorian-style clothes and top hats? How about adding some brass products? Like a pocket watch?
Without a pocket watch, the time travel look will never be complete. The pocket watch is the predecessor of the wristwatch that is widely used today. In addition to telling time, it is also praised as a keepsake or souvenir. People will embed photos of their loved ones on the inside of the metal case of the pocket watch on their way to a distant place. Pocket watches are heirlooms, as proof of birthright.
Here are some authentic looking timepieces you might want to check out before buying a pocket watch of your own.
1# Flower Steel Mechanical Pocket Watch
This vintage-style half-hunter pocket watch, decorated with delicate satin scrolls and Roman numerals, can quickly display the time even when the metal case is closed. The transparent clock gears create a classic and authentic vintage atmosphere. Click Buy Here
2# Vintage Men's Flywheel Moon Phase Real Copper Mechanical Pocket Watch
Every pocket watch is a poet of time. This **Vintage Men's Flywheel Moonphase Genuine Copper Mechanical Pocket Watch** combines the precision craftsmanship of the **Tourbillon** with the romantic poetry of the **Moonphase**, and is also made of **Genuine Copper**, which oxidizes over the years and exhibits unique vintage flavors, making it an heirloom treasure on your wrist!Click Buy Here
3# Wooden Pocket Watch
This classic open pocket watch is accented with rosewood. The black and bronze dial is set against white hands and features a transparent clock mechanism. The back of this pocket watch dating from 1882 features an intricate folded plated engraving that shows its past glory. It comes with a gold-plated bracelet made of stainless steel alloy. Click here to buy
4# Classic Seagull 1882 Watch – Mechanical Beauty with 11 Ruby Jewels
In a world of digital distractions, the Seagull 1882 Mechanical Pocket Watch offers something rare: quiet elegance, visible craftsmanship, and enduring charm.
Hand-assembled with 11 ruby jewels, this watch is not just an accessory — it’s a legacy you can carry.. Click here to buy
5# Vintage Steampunk Pocket Watch
This vintage mechanical pocket watch exudes Steampunk in every detail:
A rosette-shaped double-porthole case, offering a bird's eye view of the gilded inner workings of the mechanism on both sides of the watch,
A bronze color and a mechanical movement to highlight the importance of the machine in Steampunk,
A belt chain for a 100% industrial look.
Dare to wear this vintage Steampunk pocket watch with Roman numerals and show your authenticity in broad daylight.Click here to buy
6# Steampunk Dragon Gusset Watch
The legends surrounding the Dragon are numerous and their origins very diverse. Nevertheless, they all converge in symbolizing this species as the incarnation of evil, powerful and malevolent.
As an inveterate steamer, you're sometimes labelled a revolutionary. This is the price you pay for living a meaningful life whose ultimate goal is the advancement of Mankind. Wear this dragon gousset watch and reawaken your anti-establishment character:
A “half hunter” clamshell case (or half hunter for the British) fashioned in the shape of a dragon and allowing a partial view of the mechanical gears,
A black color in keeping with Steampunk aesthetic codes,
A zippered belt chain for a 100% industrial look.
Breathe power and influence your peers with this iconic timepiece featuring a hand-wound mechanical movement.Click here to buy
7# Soleil Steampunk Gusset Watch
Fight the darkness with this sunray pocket watch
Impact the planet as powerfully as the sun by showing off this pocket watch with sunny symbol. This star, which gives light and warmth to the Earth and gives rhythm to life on its surface, is vital. The inveterate steamer must make himself just as indispensable to survive in this retro-futuristic universe.
Click here to buy
8# Steampunk Savonnette Pocket Watch
The hunter pocket watch differs from the classic pocket watch in that it has a crown located at 3 o'clock and hinges at 9 o'clock. This type of design was never mass-produced and remained limited edition, primarily to satisfy the Victorian aristocrats' desire for uniqueness.
This hunter pocket watch has all the makings of an elegant and refined vintage accessory:
A full hunter case (or "full hunter" for the British) composed of authentic Victorian symbols,
A bronze color characteristic of the Steampunk style and visible mechanisms typical of this retro-futuristic world,
A sliding belt chain for a 100% retro-industrial look.
Dare to wear this mechanical hunter watch and reveal your will to power.Click here to buy
9# Double Open Tourbillon Brass Pocket Watch - Emerald Dial Vintage Mechanical Pendant
Discover the art of traditional watchmaking combined with modern horology. Featuring a tourbillon movement, a hand-wound mechanism and a unique and exquisite jade dial, this double-opening mechanical pocket watch is a true collector's item for time connoisseurs. Click here to buy
10# Antique Steampunk Pocket Watch
A "half hunter" porthole case with Victorian symbols, revealing a partial view of the silver-plated gears of the internal clockwork system,
A silver color and a self-winding mechanical movement typical of Steampunk technology,
A belt slider chain for a 100% retro-industrial look.
Show your will to power and become that charismatic Steampunk by wearing this antique pocket watch, crafted in stainless steel.Click here to buy
11# Steampunk Gusset Watch Paris
Wear this Paris pocket watch featuring the Eiffel Tower, the most striking symbol of this emblematic city.
Paris is a historic city that symbolizes a specific aspect of Steampunk. Indeed, the history of Paris has been a series of revolts and revolutions aimed at improving humanity. Vaporists and Steampunk advocate these non-conformist, revolutionary values to enable society to progress.
Alternative ways of thinking are expressed, among other things, through fashion. The pocket watch is the timepiece to show off your passion for Steampunk:Click here to buy
12# Royal Copper London 1856 Antique 5 Hand Mechanical Pocket Watch
Black lace hands, no cover.Click here to buy
Manual winding spring, power reserve.
Manual winding mechanical movement, winding.
The bracelet is made of pure copper, very stable.
Pointer display design, copper strap, classic casual minimalist style.
Yellow case, large Roman numerals, 5 hands, two small dials (seconds and 24 hours).
13# Pocket Watch Moon Phase
Honour the origin of time cutting by wearing this moon phase pocket watch.
Before time was defined in terms of hours, minutes and seconds, mankind relied on the phases of the moon to determine the passage of the months. This is why the moon is the favorite star of renowned watchmakers.
The moon-phase gusset watch is an emblematic timepiece that takes up the original operating principles of cutting time according to lunar phases:
- An open dial case (or open face for the British) crafted in stainless steel and featuring a 24-hour moon-phase display,
A golden color typical of British nobility and the style of early pocket watches,
A belt slide chain for a 100% retro industrial look.
Show your passion for the art of watchmaking systems by adding this timepiece with manual mechanical movement to your collection of vintage accessories.Click here to buy
14# Steampunk Pocket Gusset Watch
An open-face case (or open face for the British) crafted from aged stainless steel, offering a bird's eye view of the inner workings of the mechanical clockwork system.
A bronze color typical of the British aristocracy and Steampunk.
A belt chain slider for a guaranteed retro-industrial look.
Show your passion for Steampunk and vintage style by wearing this authentic pocket watch.Click here to buy
15# Steampunk Owl Gusset Watch
Dare to wear this gusseted watch featuring the owl, the famous animal of many superstitions.
The owl is a very common animal in the Steampunk universe, symbolizing nightlife, darkness and melancholy. These symbols are often associated with certain Steampunk tonalities, particularly in the alternative Steampunk Goth universe.
Embody this solitary, non-conformist character by wearing this owl pocket watch:
- A “full hunter” clamshell case featuring the owl and authentic Victorian symbols,
A bronze color that respects Steampunk stylistic codes,
A ring-shaped pendant chain for practical, refined wear.
Assume your revolutionary steamsonality and add this iconic timepiece to your Steampunk Goth wardrobe. Click here to buy
16# Bronze Coated Poker Pocket Watch with Royal Flush Exterior Case Design
The anti-corrosive material that makes the base material for the watch and the accompanying fob chain, is a strong stainless steel that is coated with vintage bronze. The entire pocket watch set gives off vintage steel because of the rustic shade of the metal and the engraves set of royal flush cards on the exterior case. Talk about lucky! This set is one of the best deals available in the Innovato Design collection. The interior face dial of the watch features a white background resin base and traditional quartz dial that gives off a clean and great looking watch face when you open it.Click here to buy
17# Steampunk Pocket Watch Savonnette
The hunter pocket watch differs from the classic pocket watch in that it features a crown located at 3 o'clock. This type of model was not adopted by the masses, but rather by a small segment of the English aristocracy and nobility, wishing to assert their originality and uniqueness.
This hunter pocket watch symbolizes the expression of elegant and refined nonconformity:
An open-face case composed of Roman numerals and a steam train symbol, typical of the Steampunk universe,
A black color characteristic of British high society,
A sliding belt chain for a 100% retro Victorian look.Click here to buy
18# Hunter Pocket Watch
Show off authentic vintage style by wearing this hunter pocket watch
The hunter-style flip-top pocket watch was designed to improve the robustness of early versions of pocket watches, which were made with an open dial.
The hunter-style pocket watch features a flip-top case that completely protects the glass dial. This timepiece has all the hallmarks of a luxurious and refined accessory:
A raw and shiny "full hunter" flip-top case (or "full hunter" for the British),
A black, gold, or silver color typical of the Victorian aristocracy and exposed mechanisms characteristic of the Steampunk genre,
A belt slider chain for a 100% retro-industrial look.Click here to buy
19# skeleton pocket watch
The skeleton pocket watch, the timepiece most faithful to the Steampunk genre
Steampunk is a genre that combines a retro aesthetic with a futuristic imagery inspired by the great scholars and authors of the Victorian era, such as Jules Verne and Georges Méliès. Steam technology and visible mechanisms are now directly associated with Steampunk.
This skeleton pocket watch respects the aesthetic codes of Steampunk by offering a bird's eye view of the internal clockwork system:
A skeleton pocket watch with a pass-through design that reveals the internal cogs and gears,
An aged copper color and gold gears for an authentic Steampunk style,
A sliding belt chain for a 100% retro-industrial look.Click here to buy
20# Freemasonry Pocket Watch
Like the Freemasons, work for the good of humanity and proudly wear this Freemasonry pocket watch.
Freemasonry is a selective social space that practices secret initiation rites. Often criticized and denounced, Freemasons are nonetheless influential and driven by a desire for constant progression.
Embrace your will to power without shame by displaying this timepiece with an authentic Freemason symbol:
A "full hunter" clamshell case (or "full hunter" for the British) composed of engravings representing the famous symbol of Freemasonry,
A bronze color typical of the vintage world and the aesthetic origins of the Freemasons,
A ring pendant chain for a guaranteed retro-industrial look.Click here to buy
21# Steampunk Gusset Watch With Arabic Numerals
This vintage pocket watch is a Victorian classic. Its open dial remains true to the earliest historical gousset watches. Like an aristocrat determined to influence his or her community, display this iconic retro timepiece.Click here to buy
Steampunk
Due to the advancement that was happening during the Victorian era, steampunk was born. Steampunk started in the nineteen-thirties when locomotives were run using coal and steam. There was a fixation with the use of types of machinery and clockworks. Coming from an era where huge advancements were accomplished, such as the telegraph and the modernization of the railroad, human minds frolicked with what technology can become, and the imagination was limitless. The love of adventurous travels with the use of technology created excitement and joy. There was no boundary with what machines can do. From flying to the use of time machine. These futuristic inventions were the catalyst to some of the things that are available at present. Blimps of the past versus the jets and the rocket ships of today. Steam-powered trains set against the electric bullet trains and subways we are currently using.
Steampunk cover different subgenre depending on the element being highlighted, such as the following:
Dieselpunk
Diesel punk is the era that came after the Victorian regime, where automotive is driven by diesel and gasoline. The early age of cars and motorcycles where leather and guns are everywhere.
Valve punk
Everything was about the valve from the creation of radio to television. If you have watched Frankenstein, you would see these large valves used to bring him to life.
Cog punk
Like the word implies, cogs or gears are highlighted within this genre. The utilization of the mechanical parts of a variety of machines. It is mesmerizing to see the complexity and precision of a device for it to function. It highlights the importance of the smallest part, for, without it, vast types of machinery would not work. It could represent an armor made from spring and gears with a detailed mechanism designed for a specific use, not just for aesthetics.
Gaslamp fiction
The genre where technology meets fiction. The outcomes were not limited to what reality can concoct but by how far the imagination can go. From traveling through time to how fast and how far humans can travel, with the use of technology and futuristic inventions. I would say the most popular of all the genres at the present wherein it is incorporated within the games and animations. From a sailboat that journeys from one planet to another to find lost treasures or an expedition to the core of the earth to save the world. Simple and fun adventures that even children can understand.
Style
Steampunk, as a fashion, is a combination of retro and science. A Victorian-style featuring the different elements of the genre, whether you are into gears, guns or other futuristic objects. One other thing that is common in this fashion is copper and brass. Why these two? Because most machinery uses these metals to conduct electricity. But, again it is not a must.
According to folks who are a part of the community, it is more than just the brass material. It has to be of use. For example, elements of a clock which would be the most common rather than let’s say actual gears of a train. You don’t just stick some parts, and that’s it. It has to have a purpose on why those gears are there? Keep in mind that this is the time where inventions and advancement in science and technology were explored. The highlight where innovations stemmed from. Some would say after this era, humans stopped exploring other possibilities and are currently stuck with innovations rather than new inventions.
Pocket watch
A pocket watch meant to be carried as opposed to being worn. It is a device that tells the time prevalent during the time of world war one. A watch characterized by a chain to be clasp to the belt loop to protect it from reaching the ground in the event of slipping or sudden jolts.
History
Pocket watches dates back from the fifteenth century. It originated from Germany though it only became popular from mid sixteen hundred to eighteen hundred. Like any other form of jewelry, a pocket watch signifies the status of the owner. A person belonging to a lower class community would not be able to purchase one. Only the upper-classmen were capable of acquiring such expensive timepiece, therefore.
Types
Open-faced
This is when the pocket watch lacks an outer metal cover. It still has the same style and mechanism, but as you can imagine, due to the absence of a metal cover to protect the face, the glass covering can only do so much to protect the sides, and the material would be damaged or scratched with any minor impact.
Half hunter
Featuring a concave metal cover with an open middle hole. A type of pocket watch meant to have some protection at the same time conveniently having access to time without opening the metal cover. It’s like having a peek of what is inside. The half hunter usually has simple to elaborate etchings of different patterns for style and personalization.
Full hunter
A full front metal cover designed for complete protection against scratches and damaging the delicate glass cover. A type of pocket watches frequently seen in movies wherein you can see a picture of a wife of a family inside the metal cover facing the dial of the timepiece. The outer metal cover may have engravings of some sort of a simple smooth surface.
Double hunter
A type where both the front and the back of the pocket watch are protected by a curved metal frame. An example of this is the kind of watch used in hypnosis. The covers offer complete protection on both sides can be opened by the same latch release.
Half double hunter
A half hunter at the front with a full metal cover at the back. A combination that offers practicality and security.
Uses
Aside from telling the time which has not as accurate during those times for it is common for mechanical watches of the past to suddenly stop. A pocket watch was also used as an heirloom. Due to the high price. It was used as a symbol of a birthright for upper-classmen. This is the reason why there were pictures of one's spouse or family on the inside cheek of the metal cover for identification and proof of one's family.
Parts
A pocket watch consists of different parts starting firm the upper top part which is the bow. The bow is where the chain clasp on to be chained around the belt loop or the lapel. The latch release is the part where you push in order to open the metal cartouche. Just below the latch is the crown, which looks like a real crown holds the latch in place. The case body or the frame that protects the internal parts of the watch. Next up is the dial, which is the face of the timepiece where the hands are placed. The last but the most essential part would be the time mechanism for the watch to be able to tell the time.
Things to consider in buying a pocket watch:
Material
Choose a material that would last you a long time. At present, not everyone owns a pocket watch of their own it is a symbol of the past. Choose a pocket watch that you can use not just for a one-day event but a token that can be passed to your future generation. Consider the quality of metals used and how to properly take care of them to last a lifetime.
Style
Style differs from one person to another. One woman would want an extravagant piece made from gold and all the intricate carving to show off with their friends and family, while another would choose a classic and straightforward design to have their initials etched in the innermost part where only they can find to be passed on their children and so on. Whatever it may be, feel free to choose a style you would be comfortable with and would achieve its purpose.
Type
Having tackled the different kinds of pocket watches earlier. Choose your lifestyle. An active lifestyle would need a double hunter metal cover as a shield, while a delicate woman can handle an open-faced type without any problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are Gothic style and Steampunk fashion the same?
It would give the impression that they have a shared theme, which is the Victorian period. Gothic style covers more about the dark side of love and religion, while Steampunk is all about science fiction and adventure. Steampunk enthusiast has a playful and more on mechanical innovation themed gatherings that usually happens around daytime or early evenings compared to the midnight events for the Gothic community.
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Does a vintage pocket watch need extra care?
Yes, since it is vintage, it needs to be oiled to maintain its normal function. Keep in mind that old pocket watches are made of metals alone, and minerals are prone to rust. Proper lubrication would protect the metal parts from that and also keep a smooth and balanced motion.
Conclusion
Steampunk is engraved in human history, it is just a fashion or a style used in gatherings of enthusiasts or a themed party. While digging deeper, it teaches us how humans survive as a race. Coming from time of war-stricken era. People found ways to improve one’s life. They say that when you are down in the deepest possible way, the only way you can travel is up. That is what humans do, we found ways to go up through inventions and great use of imagination and perseverance. A simple watch was not made overnight, it was created through countless diagrams until it reaches perfection, and a pocket watch is a symbol of that era. Be reminded of this train by having one of your own to be passed on to the future generation to teach them about the period that acts as a catalyst to all the technology that they have today.