Metal Pocket Watch

Name/Title

Metal Pocket Watch

Description

Corroded metal pocket watch

Context

Quarters Area

Collection

Saint Rosalie Plantation

Cataloged By

Rainey Cantrelle

General Notes

Note

Pocket watches were once considered to be a luxury item and status symbol owned by the wealthy. Most were made of precious metals and adorned with engravings, jewels, and other ornaments. Due to this many watches were deemed very valuable and were passed down generation to generation as a family heirloom. As technology allowed for advancements in manufacturing, pocket watches were made smaller and more affordable. They became more accessible to the middle class and as a result became more of a fashion accessory. With this being said, pocket watches still continued to be symbols of society by showing that the wearer valued time management. The invention of the stem-winding mechanism in the 19th century allowed for people to wind their watches without a key. This in turn allowed for users to better accurately wind their pocket watches which further propelled the popularity of this item. Source(s): https://watchmuseum.org/a-guide-to-history-of-pocket-watches/ https://19thcentury.us/19th-century-pocket-watch/

Created By

anthropologyandsociology@uno.edu

Create Date

December 5, 2024

Updated By

anthropologyandsociology@uno.edu

Update Date

December 5, 2024