Contemporary Pocket Watches

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For centuries, pocket watches were indispensable objects to carry and wear. Miniaturized heirs to clocks, they gave way to wristwatches at the beginning of the 20th century but did not disappear completely. Now available in modern versions, they are still part of the watchmaking landscape

Mondaine, 260 CHF.

This affordable model stems from Mondaine’s long tradition of watchmaking and offers excellent value for money. The manufacture has been made famous by its timelessly elegant station clocks, ubiquitous throughout Switzerland. The same design can be found in this pocket watch, making it a perfect gift to yourself or a loved one. 

Classic Railways comes in a 43mm stainless steel case and is equipped with a quartz movement © Mondaine
Classic Railways comes in a 43mm stainless steel case and is equipped with a quartz movement © Mondaine

Tissot, 335 CHF.

When we speak of a “Savonette” model, we are talking about a pocket watch whose dial is protected by a cover. The gesture of opening it to read the time is a beautiful one. The aesthetic harks back to another time and this affordable watch taking us on a genuine trip down memory lane. 

The Savonnette comes in a 48.5mm stainless steel case and is powered by a quartz movement with a date © Tissot
The Savonnette comes in a 48.5mm stainless steel case and is powered by a quartz movement with a date © Tissot

Hamilton, 1,350 CHF.

Managing the first American railroads at the end of the 19th century required the utmost precision in timekeeping. A mission that was entrusted to Hamilton watches that were renowned for their precision and legibility. This model pays tribute to this glorious past. It is produced in a limited series of 917 pieces in reference to Hamilton’s historic address, 917 Columbia Avenue in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The Railroad is housed in a 50 mm stainless steel case and is equipped with a manual-wound  movement indicating the hours, minutes and small seconds. This edition is limited to 917 pieces © Hamilton
The Railroad is housed in a 50 mm stainless steel case and is equipped with a manual-wound  movement indicating the hours, minutes and small seconds. This edition is limited to 917 pieces © Hamilton

Chopard, 56,000 CHF.

Launched in 2010 and developed in collaboration with the Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève, this gold pocket watch has become a highly prized collector’s item. Its retractable case can be mounted on a chain or a classic alligator strap. Its exclusive movement, the L.U.C EHG – a pocket watch caliber – is used in workshops attended by students at the Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève.
 

The L.U.C Louis Ulysse – the Tribute comes in a 49.6 mm white gold case and is powered by a hand-wound movement with small seconds © Chopard
The L.U.C Louis Ulysse – the Tribute comes in a 49.6 mm white gold case and is powered by a hand-wound movement with small seconds © Chopard

Van Cleef and Arpels, 68,000 CHF.

This pocket watch has been revisited and made into a pendant. It is a piece of jewellery that can be compared to a mini-savonette dangling from a chain and designed for elegant women in search of the passing of time. While the bezel is set with diamonds, the lid is completely set with emeralds. This pocket watch is a genuine success story of the marriage between watchmaking expertise and the tradition of jewellery making.

Crafted in yellow gold with diamonds and emeralds, this timekeeper measures 25mm in diameter and is powered by a quartz movement © Van Cleed & Arpels
Crafted in yellow gold with diamonds and emeralds, this timekeeper measures 25mm in diameter and is powered by a quartz movement © Van Cleed & Arpels

Bovet, 75,000 CHF.

This three-in-watch pocket watch, pendant, and table clock could be considered a masterpiece. In addition to its reversible case, its manufacture calibre comes with a grand complication and a long power reserve. It features two superb guilloché lacquer dials. On the reverse side, there are jumping hours and retrograde minutes, and on the front a second time zone.

The Virtuoso V comes in a 43.5 mm titanium case and is powered by a hand-wound movement with jumping hours, retrograde minutes, and a second time zone © Bovet
The Virtuoso V comes in a 43.5 mm titanium case and is powered by a hand-wound movement with jumping hours, retrograde minutes, and a second time zone © Bovet 

Richard Mille, 537,000 CHF.

Richard Mille continues to surprise with an ultra-contemporary, ultra-horological pocket watch. The massive, shaped case gains in lightness thanks to the skeletonized calibre, which displays watchmaking legitimacy by including one of the most impressive complications, a tourbillon. It can be mounted on a chain or placed on a base for a table clock version.

The RM 20 is housed in a 62 x 52.5 mm titanium case. It is equipped with a hand-wound tourbillon movement and features power reserve and function indicators © Richard Mille
The RM 20 is housed in a 62 x 52.5 mm titanium case. It is equipped with a hand-wound tourbillon movement and features power reserve and function indicators © Richard Mille

Cartier, 1,330,000 CHF.

The French watchmaker’s double talent is at work here. The manufacture calibre offers two grand complications (tourbillon and perpetual calendar), a dazzling spectacle as the movement is also skeletonized, not to mention its precious case whose bezel is magnificently set with baguette-cut diamonds.

The Rotonde de Cartier Grand Complication comes in a 56 mm white gold case with diamonds. It is equipped with an automatic skeleton movement featuring a tourbillon and a perpetual calendar (days, months, date and leap-year indication) © Cartier
The Rotonde de Cartier Grand Complication comes in a 56 mm white gold case with diamonds. It is equipped with an automatic skeleton movement featuring a tourbillon and a perpetual calendar (days, months, date and leap-year indication) © Cartier
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