Pocket Watch Question

[SGT Rocket]

Ok, I have a pocket watch that my wife gave me in 2006. However, the chain is only 13 and 3/4 inches long. This works fine when I'm wearing jeans with a pocket for my pocket watch.

However, I have some Khakis that don't have the pocket watch pocket, so I find the watch hard to wear (If I attach the watch to a belt or belt loop, it will hang and not sit in the pocket).

I've searched google for a "long pocket watch chain," but nothing came up that was longer than what I currently have.

I could only wear it with a suite, but I like wearing it for day to day stuff too. Plus, I prefer to wear a pocket watch when I know I'm going to be on the computer all day as it doesn't get in the way with my typing.

Any suggestions?

 

[sproily]

You could get a double albert watch chain and rig it for your needs?

Probably not the best of choices, though.

 

[SGT Rocket]

Hmmmm

That might work with a vest.

I did see something online about "wallet chains." Some of them look fairly long, but I've never seen one in person. So, I'm not sure how it would attach to my pocket watch.

 

[Big Man]

Three possible solutions:

1) Hook the chain to the belt loop directly above (or closest to) the back side of your front pocket. With a 13 inch chain the watch should then rest securely in the bottom of the pocket.

2) Have a "watch pocket" added to your pants. I've had this done to several of my pants at our local sewing shop at little cost.

3) Wear a vest.

 

[Feraud]

#2 sounds like the best choice.

 

[cptjeff]

Yeah, got with #2. I really have no clue how watch pockets have managed to survive on jeans but not other pants where a pocket watch would be more typical wear. Cotton chino fabric should be easy enough to match.

 

[Caity Lynn]

^ most likely because jeans are the simple attire of the masses, the basic design hasn't been re-vamped, it has just been accepted. Whereas dress pants, khakis, are worn by people who have a reason to dress nicely, more thought goes into the design and it has been altered as society changed. Hence the absence of the pockets.

 

[Feraud]

Yeah, got with #2. I really have no clue how watch pockets have managed to survive on jeans but not other pants where a pocket watch would be more typical wear. Cotton chino fabric should be easy enough to match.

The feature is not completely lost on modern clothes. I've seen khaki and dress pants with a watch pocket.

 

[Shangas]

Do you have any button-down shirts with breast-pockets?

Do what I do. Put the watch into your shirt pocket and put the chain through the nearest buttonhole. Button up the shirt to keep the chain in place...done!

I wear my watch like that every day.

 

[Edw8ri]

My grandfather always carried a pocket watch. He broke his left wrist as a young man and wrist watches bothered him.

Grandfather had one means of carry when in a blazer or two piece suit that I have never seen anywhere else. He would run the chain through the button hole in his lapel and carry the watch in the breast pocket of his suit or sport coat. I now have his old watch and chain. I don't believe the chain is any longer than yours. But that chain always worked for him.

 

[Shangas]

Hey Ed,

That is actually an accepted way of wearing a pocket watch, I do it myself when I wear a coat. If you watch the old 1960s "Addams Family" TV show, Gomez wears his pocket watch the same way.

Another alternative way to wear a pocketwatch (And I do this regularly as well, when the weather is right) is to put the watch into an inner coat pocket and run the chain through a nearby buttonhole. For example, if the buttonholes on your coat are on the right, you put the watch into an inner left pocket and stretch the chain across your abdomen and hook or clip the end of the chain into a buttonhole on the right, so that the chain hangs horizontally across. So long as you remember to unclip the chain before you take off your coat, nothing bad will happen.

 

[Bugsy]

You could get a double albert watch chain and rig it for your needs?

Probably not the best of choices, though.

Yes, but where does one get one of those chains?

 

[Tomasso]

If you watch the old 1960s "Addams Family" TV show, Gomez wears his pocket watch the same way.

And before that, FDR.

 

[Feraud]

Yes, but where does one get one of those chains?

Antique shops, estate/yard sales, flea markets, Ebay, etc.

 

[SGT Rocket]

Good Idea

Thanks for the good ideas fellas.

I think, at least while it's cold, I'm going to try the jacket and the shirt pocket method.

I may also look for some cardigan sweaters with pockets to wear while it's still chilly outside.

 

[JimWagner]

Yes, but where does one get one of those chains?

Just google double Albert watch chain.

 

[Shangas]

Hey Bugsy,

They're called Double Albert watch-chains. You can buy them at flea-markets, estate-sales, online, eBay, watchmakers shops, watch-shops and online watch-sellers. There's actually a watch-shop in my town which has a huge selection of watch-chains! I'm going to see if I can buy one there, once I have the money.

They're related to the similar single or half-albert chain, which is what I use.

SlyGI,

Glad we could help. I'm thinking of posting photos of the different ways you can wear a pocket watch without a waistcoat, actually...

 

[Maguire]

I've had this issue, i try to wear a vest with my suits so i can just slip it into it, but since many of my suits either won't match my vests or i'm not in the mood for the three piece, i usually use the pants pocket. Some of my suits have a pocket on the belt loop which works great, but most unfortunately do not. Another method is putting them through the lapel and putting them in the front chest pocket as mentioned earlier, i did that but i like wearing lapel pins most of the time so that method is out the door. Also, if i'm not in the mood to risk a good suit or a good watch, i use the cheaper watches i own that have those cheap modern chains that sort of have to hook to your pants. I don't know what the word is for them, but they don't have the bar.

My peacoat had side pockets so sometimes i wore it from the center button hole to the side pocket. I've done the shirt thing too, but i find that on most dress shirts unless they've got a button on the pocket, the watch and chain makes the pocket sag. on harder material though, this method works fine.

 

[JimWagner]

Here's the way I've solved the no watch pocket problem for my Hamilton Railway Special.

Note the extra thing between the chain end and the clasp, shaped sort of like the number seven. (Where the arrow points.) I cannibalized that piece from a key chain I received as a kid in the 50's and inserted it between the end of the chain and clasp.

What it does is hook on the lower end of the trousers pocket and suspend the watch about and inch to maybe two inches from the bottom of the pocket, depending on actual pocket depth. That keeps the watch away from whatever else (change, pocket knife, whatever) is also in the pocket.

A hook just like it should be simple to make from the metal of your choice. It's just a straight piece with a loop bent back on itself in each end. This one happens to be sterling silver.

 

[Tomasso]

Interesting solution,JW. I wonder if you could use a clip like the one at the end of the chain. I suppose it would be more secure but less convenient.