Here is my favorite pocket watch: a lowly nondescript 15J 12s Elgin. Why? I was reorganizing my collection last week and picked this one up -- and remembered my Mother had given it to me as a gift almost ten years ago. I had never checked the serial# for a date. So I did and found out it had been made in 1925 -- the year of her birth, and I'm positive she wasn't aware of that when she bought it. She passed last year and it means a lot more now to me.

In addition, the thing keeps time like a certified chronometer. I kept it running for three full days and to my complete surprise it lost less then 15 seconds! Like I said, it had been sitting in my safe without attention for many years, and now has it.

The very simple dial

And the engine that could..

It is carrying the spirit. Nice watch.

We as collectors occasionally forget that among our 23j gold train/diamond endstone treasures, THESE are the little watches that should actually mean the most to us.

Well said, and thanks for reminding us.

Regards! Mark