Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Ingersoll Trenton Mechanical Pocket Watch
01 / 05
Ingersoll Trenton Mechanical Pocket Watch
bookmark_border
Where's the price?
To negotiate the best possible price for our customers, we agree to hide prices prior to logging in.
191 requests
Product Description
Like something a 19th-century businessman might have carried, the Ingersoll Trenton looks like a piece of vintage Americana—and it is. Made by Ingersoll, which was founded in New York in 1892, this pocket watch has a rustic look and feel, and it's part of a limited-edition run of just 250 serialized pieces Read More
You Might Also Like
search
close
Sort by: Newest
keyboard_arrow_down
RayF
22220
Dec 4, 2019
In furtherance of my earlier suggestion that there are still a lot of real pocket watches to be had out in the wild!
The two at 12:00 and 6:00 o'clock were mine as a kid, the two at 9:00 and 3:00 o'clock belonged to my father. His were a little more expensive than mine. The two gold-filed watches were purchased from an antique shop in Toronto sometime in the Sixties. The silver Arnex Railroad watch has a Swiss movement. All but the Elgin still tick.
None of them were expensive watches; the Ingram "Biltmore" (on top) was a two-dollar American made watch (so far as I know) from '62. In the movie "Chinatown" Jack Nicholson's character put similar watches under the tires of a suspects car to determine what time the vehicle left a given location (crushed watches reveal the exact time they died ;- )
RayF
22220
Dec 3, 2019
For the record, there are few things in the watch world as cheesy as a cheap, modern-build pocket watch trying to pass itself off as a real pocket watch. Scratch that, a guy carrying a cheap, modern-build pocket watch, as if it were a real pocket watch, would be cheesier still!
Here's the deal: as I was discussing earlier with @frk3, the golden age of pocket watches ended with the first world war and the need to put watches where they were more practical and more quickly referenced--that meant pretty much anyplace but the pocket. The first wrist watches were actually pocket watches that were modified/adapted to be worn on the wrist. Not very svelte, but it got things rolling.
Real pocket watches, up to that point were (and still are) some of the most interesting, and often the most beautiful time pieces ever created, and nearly all of them were very important heirlooms. Did you know for instance, that when shopping for a (pocket) watch, one generally purchased the movement separately from the case, and also separately purchased the corresponding chain and fob? It's true!
Watches and cases were selected separately and later matched/combined by means of an intricate numbering system. In it's simplest form, if you purchased a No. 8 size watch, you would also purchase a No. 8 size case, but there were many sizes to chose from. You can read more about that here:
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/reference/sizes
So why separately? Lots of reasons: certainly cost (the good ones were gold with intricate handwork or engraving), and sometimes purpose--a case might be engraved locally to commemorate an occasion or event, and that case might be passed between family members, while the movement might be replaced as needed. Local jewelers and gold smiths could create amazing cases locally, but generally couldn't build entire movements--those came from the big factories in New England (perhaps Waterbury, Connecticut or Waltham, Massachusetts).
Which brings us back to real pocket watches--they aren't widely popular today--yes, they're collected and folks pay big bucks for the cream of the crop, but collecting pocket watches is no where near as popular as collecting wristwatches. And if you're interested in collecting or purchasing a real pocket watch, THAT'S GOOD NEWS!
Good news for you, because you can still find nice examples of workingman's-grade pocket watches at reasonable prices. Which begs the question: why would someone even consider buying this piece of Chinese hell, when they can buy a real piece of American history, for about the same price?!
I actually have a couple pocket watches, one that belonged to my father, and a very inexpensive, but authentic Ingersol. In the sixties, they sold for between $2.50 and $5.00. I'm traveling now, but will post photos of each when I get home. Meantime you can just barely make out my fathers watch in the lower left corner of a recent wrist check I posted.
https://gearpatrol.com/2019/05/15/best-modern-pocket-watches-how-to-wear-them/
https://gearpatrol.com/2019/05/15/best-modern-pocket-watches-how-to-wear-them/
(Edited)
gabriel-dan
16
Dec 5, 2019
RayF Thank you for the detailed lesson about pocket watches. It is very informative, however I have to disagree that purchasing this Ingersoll is a bad idea. What makes a pocket watch real? Are cheap 9 bucks Timex or Casio real wrist watches? Does the fact that this pocket watch is been build in China make it cheesy and cheap? 90% of all stuff I use is made in china including my iphone, computer, TV, etc..
I have bought quite a few watches made in china/Hong Kong and they are all perfect and beautiful. Who knows maybe even the Makara in your pic above is made in China J, not not everyone can afford a real brand new pocket watches like Tissot so IMHO this Ingersoll would be a good intro to the world of pocket watches. Regards.
RayF
22220
Dec 5, 2019
gabriel-danYou've missed the point by about a hundred miles. The country of origin isn't the issue, authenticity is.
Of course 90% percent of my watches (probably all watches) are made in China, that's what they do and are known for. What they aren't known for are pocket watches--yes they can make them, but they have no provenance, no particular history, or distinction in that area.
If a smart guy want's to buy a great sports car, he looks to Italy or Germany. If he wants a great cheese, he looks to Switzerland, France or Wisconsin. You on the other hand, probably buy a big slab of Velveeta. It says cheese on the box, so it must be cheese right? Kind of like this drop says it's for a pocket watch?
Atoum
58
Dec 2, 2019
I'd love to add a pocket watch to my collection some day! Probably not one with faux patina, nor an Ingersoll though, but must be tempting for the ones who are into faux patina? It'd be great to have some indication of the used movement, otherwise it looks good and pleasantly out of modernity for a time measuring instrument ;)
static.overdub
555
Dec 2, 2019
I don't think I'd ever want to be "that guy" but it's good to know the opportunity is there.
wonbul
296
Dec 2, 2019
Also, description and specs say case is made of Bronze, photo of back of watch says Stainless steel.
RayF
22220
Dec 3, 2019
Well, I tried ;- )
BTW, there's a ton of customer photos on that link showing real-life users wearing their new monocles.
Some of them (women too) actually pull-off the look quite well (but definitely not all of them ;- )
Recent Activity
Related Products
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionCollaborate With Us
For Brands & DesignersFollow Drop