Popular during the Victorian Era, watch fobs were medallions or ornaments attached to a pocket watch by a strap, chain, or ribbon to help the wearer locate and retrieve their timepiece. Similar to key chains, watch fobs came in a variety of types, each with its own style and function. Fobs could be decorative, informative, and functional, all at the same time. Created largely for men, today they are considered "mantiques."

While many fobs were purely decorative, the rest were divided into three major categories: simple (the watch-owner's initials, state seals), fraternal (unions and organizations, including the military), and advertising (personal-sized billboard proclaiming everything from one's political allegiances to their local bank).

In the advertising category, patriotic and political fobs featured such nationalistic emblems as Miss Liberty, a shamrock, or national crests and flags, as well as campaign sloga...

Some collectors focus their collections on fobs that advertised industrial products, from tractors to oil-field equipment and materials. Others seek out local fobs produced in relatively limited numbers for such events and organizations as the State Fair of Texas, the Glen Lumber Co. of Kansas City, and the Wichita Commercial Club.

While fobs were made from a variety of materials, brass or nickel-plated brass fobs are most common. Collectors should know that most advertising fobs stamped “sterling silver” are not authentic period pieces, although there are exceptions. Celluloid fobs are also rare. More common are brass and nickel-plated fobs. Rarer are ones that incorporate compasses and celluloid buttons, and old ones that use colorful enamelwork into their designs.

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1910 Us Gold Indian Head Eagle Ten Dollar Coin .900 Gold Pendant Or Watch Fob Vintage 1899 14k Gold/f. Waltham 0 Size 7 Jewel Hunter Ladies Pendant Fob/watchLarge Solid All 9ct Gold Masonic Ball Orb Charm Watch Fob Pendant 11.9gmsAntique 18kt Yellow Gold French Articulated Dolphin Fish Watch FobOriginal Federation Of American Motorcyclists Watch Fob1934 Ingersoll Mickey Mouse Pocket Watch & Fob In Original Box Walt DisneyVintage Miniature Cap Gun Rifle W/ Bayonet Watch Fob Austria1909 Elgin 7j Size 0s Grade 320 Pocket Watch W/ Fob & Solid 8k Gold Case - ERare Design Dead Shot Smokeless Powder Hunting Scene Celluloid Center Watch FobVintage 18s Illinois 15j Pocket Watch Box Hinge Hunting Case Chain & Masonic FobBeautiful Elgin 21 Jewel 8 Adjustment Rr Approved Pocket Watch With Chain FobAntique Hm 9ct Gold Amethyst Pocket Watch Chain Revolving 3 Matrix Wax Seal FobAntique Bir 1920 Solid Silver Double Albert Pocket Watch Chain & Fob 15 Antique Sterling Silver Albert Watch Chain & Fob : Heavy 75.6 GramsAntique Chunky Victorian Pocket Watch Chain Necklace W Heavy Seal Wax Fob DotOrnate Antique Yellow White & Rose Gold Elgin Full Hunter Fob WatchAntique Vintage Victorian Mother Of Pearl Mop Figural Horse Pocket Watch Fob NrVintage 9ct Gold St George & Dragon Top Carved Seal Watch Fob Or Pendant 1968Miniature Cap Gun Watch Fob Pistol Revolver Xythos Austria.w/ ExtrasAntique Sterling Silver And Tiger Tooth - Claw Pocket Watch FobAntique Victorian C1890 12k 12ct Gold Gf Wax Seal Fob Watch Chain T/bar BraceletGold Watch Fob . Victorian Pocket Watch Fob 9k Gold. Vintage Pocket Watch ChainSterling.silver Watch Chain & Fob.15 Inches.63 Grams.hallmarked On Every Link.Edwardian Solid Sterling Silver Graduated Albert/pocket Watch Chain + FobSuperb Ladies Antique Solid Silver Pocket Fob Watch C1895 Lovely Cond & WorkingAntique Victorian 1895 Solid Silver Albert Watch Chain 109ct Gold Silver Masonic Ball Orb Charm Watch Fob PendantRare Miniature Working Cap Gun Pocket Watch Fob Marked Austria 2314 Approx 250-350 Keychain FobsFab Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Double Albert Watch Chain Fob NecklaceAntique Hm 9ct Gold Citrine Pocket Watch Albert Chain Revolving Wax Seal FobAntique 1895 Solid Silver Graduated Fob Pocket Watch Albert Chain 55gAntique Tiffany & Co. Pretty Enamel Dial. Lever Escapement Fob Watch MovementNecklace Made From Fred Harvey Era Silver Tabs Or Watch Fobs Wow!Antique Victorian 1870 Solid Silver Fusee Fob Pocket Watch Spares Or RepairArt Deco Silver Swiss Ladies Pocket / Fob Watch- TimebetweenusAntique Victorian 10k 10ct Rose Gold Gf Slide Watch Fob Charm Bracelet BangleAntique 1895 Silver Pocket Watch Albert / Chain & Silver Fob 31gAntique Gold Tone Fob With Horse And 4 Diamonds Simmons Chain For Pocketwatch1902 Elgin Goldfilled 56mm Pocket Watch And FobAntique Hm 9ct Gold Citrine Pocket Watch Chain Revolving 3 Matrix Wax Seal FobAntique Solid Silver Watch Chain & Fob 127grams 1902Vtg Kansas City Life Insurance 30 Year Watch Fob W/ Chain & 10k Gold Service PinVintage Double Chain W/ Slide Pocket Watch T-bar Fob Round Brown,quartzy StoneAntique Hm 9ct Gold Citrine Pocket Watch Chain Revolving 3 Matrix Wax Seal FobPocket Watch Fob With Silver Bridle & Base On Carved Bone Horsehead Dated 1888.1913 9k Solid Gold Cased Pocket Watch / Fob Watch In Working OrderAntique Silver Double Albert Pocket Watch Chain With Silver FobVintage Solid Silver Watch Fob And ChainVintage 1910 14k Gold/f. Elgin 15 Jewel Size O Ladies Pendant Fob/watch L@@k Aa+Antique 9ct Gold Carnelian Bloodstone Lion Watch Chain Revolving Wax Seal FobGf Watch Chain With Seal Fob Carved Scene Dog Birds T-bar Antique 14.8 GramsAntique Watch Fob Indianapolis Indiana E C Atkins & Co Silver Steel Saws Tool CoAntique Victorian Pocket Watch Chain Bracelet W Gem Locket And Ball Fob DotGorgeous Swiss Solid Silver & Pink Enamel Half Hunter Fob Pocket WatchAntique Victorian Waltham Foggs Patent Solid Silver Fob Pocket WatchClassic Antique Elgin Pocketwatch With Hunter Case & Lovely Watch Fob / ChainAntique Victorian Pocket Watch Chain Bracelet W Heavy Seal Wax Fob DotRare Antique German Geschutzt Gesetzlich Watch Chain Fob1908 Elgin 15 Jewel Pocket Watch W/14k Gold Filled Fob Knife,chain & Display Yqz