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About Antique Watch Fobs
Watch fobs, popular during Victorian times, were medallions or ornaments attached by a strap, chain or ribbon to a pocket watch to assist in locating and removing the watch from the pocket. Similar to today's key chains, fobs came in many styles and designs (including advertising). They would be used to add weight to help anchor the watch chain into a vest pocket, or to just hang off the chain as a decorative piece of jewelry.
Watch fob designs ranged from simple shapes to intricate hand made miniatures embedded with precious stones. Fob chains were made from gold, platinum, sterling, Boar's hair, leather, string, or even human hair.
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Upcoming Events
- Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars
Jan 13–Apr 4. Houston, TX. - Special Topics in 19th and 20th Century Jewelry
Apr 15–17. New York, NY. - Cartier and America
Jan 12–Apr 18. San Francisco, CA.
See all 42 Pocket Watches events
Interviews & Articles
An Interview on Turn of the Century Jewelry Styles with Appraiser Joyce Jonas New!
I bought my first piece of jewelry—a gold ring with a big lapis stone propped on prongs—when I was about 12 with mo… [more]
An Interview With Antique Pocket Watch Collector Tom McIntyre
I got interested in clocks in 1967, and I started collecting watches fairly seriously in the early ‘80s. I ran out … [more]
An Interview With Fine Jewelry and Costume Jewelry Collector Christie Romero
I started out with general antiques and collectibles... I was a dealer for a while and bought and sold all kinds of… [more]
An Interview With Antique Pocket Watch Collector Barry S. Goldberg
I got started collecting pocket watches partly because I hated wearing wristwatches; I used to carry my wristwatch … [more]
An Interview With Modernist Studio Jewelry Collector Marbeth Schon
My background is in fine art. My B.A. was in Art Education, so I started out as an art teacher. Later, I began work… [more]
An Interview With Vintage Watch and Clock Expert Jonathan Snellenburg
I grew up outside of Philadelphia. I didn’t have any particular interest in clocks or watches as a kid; that came a… [more]
An Interview with Arts and Crafts Jewelry Collector and Author Elyse Karlin
I started collecting jewelry when I was about 13 years old. I was very close to an interior designer who took me to… [more]
An Interview With Arts and Crafts Silver and Jewelry Collector Paul Somerson
How did I get started collecting Arts and Crafts silver? My wife and I had been collecting Arts and Crafts items as… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
All About Jewels Dictionary
This incredible reference dictionary on jewelry, from Enchantedlearning.com, is both beautiful and comprehensive. S… [read review or visit site]
Barry S. Goldbergs Pocket Watch Collection
Barry Goldberg’s excellent collection of pocket watches, mostly American models from the late 1800s and early 189… [read review or visit site]
American Watch Company Web
Tom McIntyre’s reference site on antique watches, especially those made by the American Watch Company (later know… [read review or visit site]
Antique Jewelry University
Although not actually a university, this website has a lot of great educational information about antique, vintage,… [read review or visit site]
Morning Glory Antiques and Jewelry
Jewelry collectors, feast your eyes on this internet gem! It's a goldmine of jewelry information featuring all styl… [read review or visit site]
Heartland Horology
This simple but impressive site features visually stunning, high resolution photographs of American pocket watch mo… [read review or visit site]
Chicago Silver
Paul Somerson's incredible reference on handwrought metalwork from the American Arts and Crafts movement of the ear… [read review or visit site]
National Watch and Clock Museum
This virtual museum, created by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, lets you stroll through tim… [read review or visit site]
Cathy Gordon's Jewelry Gallery
With its vast galleries featuring clear images of jewelry and style, this site really covers it all! Divided up by … [read review or visit site]
Art of Mourning
Australian historian and collector Hayden Peters' handsome site is a great resource for fans of memorial, mourning,… [read review or visit site]
Jewel History
Since March of 2007, readers of Lori Ettlinger Gross’s JewelHistory blog have been treated to her weekly (sometim… [read review or visit site]
Got a site to suggest? Let us know.
Clubs & Associations: Pocket Watches
- National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors
- American Society of Jewelry Historians
- Association for the Study of Jewelry and Related Arts
- Society of Jewellery Historians
Discussion Forums: Pocket Watches
Other Great Reference Sites: Pocket Watches
- The Bowes Museum Watch Collection
- Elginwatches.org
- The Watch Guy
- American Horologe Company
- Allaboutgemstones.com
- Tadema Gallery
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Pocket Watches
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Fine Jewelry
- overview
- earrings
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- lockets
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- watch fobs
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