INTRODUCTORY RESOURCES:

New to pocket watch collecting? Menu full of important information for beginners, including how to open a watch, what jewels are, recommended books, etc: https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/reference/how-to-lookup-a-pocket-watch

Pocket Watch 101 also contains a plethora of well-organized information: http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/how-to/how-to-main.php

Easy to understand Pocket Watch Basics: https://americantimekeeper.com/basics
An Advanced page regarding the mechanics of a watch, complete with a video: https://americantimekeeper.com/advanced

An introduction to horology and timekeeping, including links to the history of timekeeping, as well as some resources for projects for children to help teach them some concepts:
https://www.jomashop.com/academy/article/a-history-of-horology-clockmaking-and-watches/
(Our thanks to the Garcia family for this link, and especially to Emilia who used this link and many of the websites we recommended on this page for her historic inventions project for her Social Studies class!)

A commonly asked question is whether certain American pocket watches are considered "Railroad Grade" watches. This blog explains it well: https://vorticwatches.com/blogs/the-vortic-blog/railroad-grade-pocket-watches

Need help opening a watch? Here are two excellent resources with photos:
http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/how-to/open-pocketwatch-cases.php
https://americantimekeeper.com/basics




GENERAL WATCH LOOK-UP RESOURCES AND RESEARCH TOOLS:

A remarkable tool to research most American pocket watches: https://pocketwatchdatabase.com (Please note that due to the extensive database here, some of the information is extrapolated from things that are known but have not been directly observed. Always verify your information.)

An incredible tool for wristwatch research, as well as historical information (also known as the Pink Pages): http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&2&2uswk

A great resource for early colonial-era pocket watches, including American, English, Dutch, and Swiss, put together by Richard Newman and including recommended reading on particular makers: https://www.colonialwatches.com/all-watches

Jones & Horan's own sales archives: www.archive.jones-horan.com Prices and basic info can be had on items sold in auctions back to 1992, basic images and info is available on items from auctions 1996-2004, and full information and photos are available on lots in auctions from 2005 to the present.




ORGANIZATIONS FULL OF RESOURCES (SOME THROUGH MEMBERSHIP):

NAWCC, a community of watch and clock collectors with extensive records, research, education, venues for information exchange, etc: https://nawcc.org

The American Watch & Clock Museum: http://www.clockandwatchmuseum.org

Antiquarian Horological Society, with extensive research on the art and history of time measurement: http://www.ahsoc.org

Since 1858, the British Horological Institute has been a source of news, education and more: http://bhi.co.uk

Hodinkee, a robust online magazine featuring in-depth reviews, critiques, and reports on watches of particularly high quality: https://www.hodinkee.com

Worn and Wound, for news and blogs on value-driven watches, the most beautifully-designed and well-crafted timepieces, regardless of price point: https://wornandwound.com

Watches by SJX, Asia's leading journal dedicated to fine watchmaking, covering mainly wristwatches but with some focus on pocket watches: https://watchesbysjx.com

Revolution Watch Magazine celebrates the craft, culture and joy of watches and watchmaking through a dozen international editions and its website: https://www.revolution.watch




RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO A PARTICULAR WATCHMAKER OR BRAND:

Excellent research tool for Bulova wristwatches: https://www.watchophilia.com

Resource for all things Elgin by Jeff Sexton: https://www.elgintime.com/
We previously recommended Wayne Schlitt's excellent website, http://elginwatches.org , but it appears to have been removed from the web.

Another Elgin pocket watch serial number lookup: https://www.elginnumbers.com/ powered by Strickland Vintage Watches

Historical pocket watches from Glashütte by A.Lange, A.Schneider, M.Grossmann, and J.Assmann (in German, but with a Google translater to change the language on the site): https://glashuetteruhren.wixsite.com/glashuetteruhren

Exhaustive resource on Glashütte watchmaking (in German, but with a Google translater to change the language on the site): https://www.glashuetteuhren.de

A must-visit for Hamilton collectors: http://hamilton.rrstd.com/Hamilton/Hamilton_Home.html

A handy Hamilton database - no membership needed!: https://www.nawcc.org/research/company-records/hamilton-serial-number-search This database includes Hamiltons Serial numbers from 1 to low 800,000s; it does not have serial numbers between low 800,000s and 3 millions. It also does include a lot of the alpha-numeric numbers like on 992B or 4992B, for example.

A superb Heuer-themed website: http://www.onthedash.com/

A helpful Howard database: https://www.howardwatches.com

A guide to Illinois Watch Co. size 12 watches: http://www.illinoiswatchguide.com (This site unfortunately no longer displays, but archived versions of it can still be viewed through the www.webarchive.org utility)

A source for information about International Watch Co, IWC pocket watches: http://www.iwcpocketwatch.com

A blissful website devoted entirely to John Bliss of New York (1795-1857) chronometers and nautical instruments: http://blisschron.org/jbliss.html

John Reardon's website, https://collectability.com/, contains plentiful videos and podcasts regarding all things Patek Philippe.

Also regarding Patek Philippe, a new database that is being added to regularly: https://pppp.guide/index.php

The most complete source for Seth Thomas information out there: https://seththomasresearch.com

A good resource on South Bend pocket watches: https://southbendhorology.com/

A worthy Waltham database - no membership needed: http://nawccinfo.nawcc.org




OTHER SITES HELPFUL TO HOROLOGICAL RESEARCH:

Extensive website on Hallmarks found on gold and silver cases, used to identify casemakers: https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/index.htm

Digital image library of English table clock engravings, wonderful for authenticating these clocks: http://www.englishtableclocks.org/




RESOURCES FOR ACQUIRING PARTS AND/OR TOOLS:

Largest supply house for Hamilton Marine and Military material: https://www.hamiltonparts.com

Great resource for watch parts and tools - just email Dave to see if he has what you need: http://daveswatchparts.com

For custom made glass crystals for pocket watches, wristwatches, chronometers, small clocks and more: http://whitescrystals.com/

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The Jones & Horan Peace Team, striving for world peace: http://www.jones-horanpeaceteam.com

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