by Brent Robillard

The allure of time

There’s something inherently romantic about pocket watches—more so, perhaps, than even the finest wristwatches. Their weight, their history, their quiet presence tucked into a waistcoat or vest—they speak not only of time, but of a different time. A time of rails and schedules, of precision and craftsmanship, of stories told and retold.

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I go through phases with watches—as many of us do—but lately I find myself increasingly drawn to vintage and neo-vintage pieces. The reasons are partly practical: modern watches are more expensive than ever. But there’s more to it. There’s something undeniably powerful about owning a piece of the past. And pocket watches, more than most objects, feel like vessels of memory.

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The Elgin Model 3, Grade 345 (1918)

My own journey with pocket watches began with an inheritance—an Elgin Model 3, Grade 345, manufactured and cased in 1918. It came to me through my maternal grandmother, but had originally belonged to her second husband, Eldred Park “Jimmy” Jamieson. Most likely, it had been passed down to him from a man named Robert Percy Jamieson, a patrolman who worked along Highway 17 between Arnprior and Almonte. His life ended abruptly in 1935, when he drowned during a storm on Calabogie Lake. His initials are monogrammed on the back of the watch.

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At the time of writing, this watch is now 107 years old. That it still runs and keeps time is a testament to the quality of American manufacturing during that era. That it has remained in the family is a testament to how we hold onto these small machines—not just as tools, but as heirlooms. The damaskeening on the bridges, the quality of the finishing, the character of the movement—it all speaks to a time when even workhorse watches were made with an eye for beauty.

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That Elgin is the cornerstone of my small but growing collection. Recently, two more pocket watches joined it. I wasn’t looking for them—I wasn’t looking for any watches, truthfully. But while browsing through an antique flea market in Merrickville, Ontario (the “Jewel of the Rideau”), something caught my eye. My mother and I were there for my wife’s vernissage at the Monsky Gallery, and we arrived early. So she and I wandered into a nearby flea market, just killing time.

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Hamilton Railway Special Pocket Watch

That’s where I saw it: a 1920 Hamilton calibre 992 (watch may have been cased much later). It features 21 jewels, a Reed regulator, a Breguet hairspring, and a gold centre wheel. It’s adjusted to five positions and uses a lever-set mechanism. It powers the Hamilton Railway Special and is fitted with a porcelain Montgomery dial—renowned for its legibility. This example has a 24-hour scale, meaning it was likely made for Canadian export (Hamilton began offering 24-hour dials in the 1920s to meet the standards of Canadian railways). Its hands are extra-heavy, thermally blued whip hands. It was everything I didn’t know I needed.

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OMEGA Pocket Watch (circa 1923)

Sitting next to it was a lovely little 1923 OMEGA, just 39.1mm in diameter—a 12-size watch like my Elgin. After a brief negotiation, I walked away with both pieces for $200 CAD. Even better: they both run, and they keep perfect time.

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Pocket Watch Conversions

Monetary value aside, I have no plans to sell them. They’ve become part of my collection—and possibly, one day, part of my legacy. The OMEGA and Elgin in particular are small enough that they might make the leap to the wrist someday. I’ve considered converting one (or both) into wristwatches with exhibition case backs. The Elgin has the more visually striking movement, but given its monogrammed case and family ties, I’m hesitant to separate it from its housing.

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Vortic Watches

This is where brands like Vortic Watches come in. Founded by RT Custer, Vortic revives antique American pocket watches by transforming them into bespoke wristwatches. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, they combine traditional watchmaking with modern manufacturing—using CNC machining, 3D printing, and hand assembly to give these timepieces a second life. I spoke with RT last year at the Toronto Timepiece Show about the possibility of converting my Elgin.

Vortic’s American Artisan Series and its Military and Railroad Editions pay homage to the golden era of American horology. Their work resonates with me because it respects both the engineering and the narrative significance of each piece. Their watches are not simply upcycled; they are resurrected.

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Vessels for stories

All of this makes me think more broadly about why watches—in particular, mechanical watches—move us the way they do. Yes, they are feats of microengineering. Yes, they are beautiful. But more than that, they are vessels for stories. Each one carries with it the weight of time passed—who wore it, what it witnessed, where it has been. Pocket watches, designed to be hidden but always present, somehow seem even more intimate in this regard.

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Railroad watches, especially, hold particular allure. They are tied to a period in which timing wasn’t just useful—it was critical. A train being a minute off schedule could mean disaster. Precision was life. That need for accuracy led to rigorous standards, to watches like the Hamilton 992, the Elgin Model 3, and others that defined an era of industrial excellence. Today, these timepieces are historical documents—mechanical relics that still tick.

And so, my collection grows—not in search of monetary value, but in search of connection. Each vintage pocket watch I find becomes a new chapter. A mystery to be uncovered. A story to imagine.

I’m especially glad to have discovered these two new pocket watches alongside my mother. That experience—the quiet joy of sifting through history together—has now become part of their story, and mine. Each time I look at them, I’ll remember that shared moment, and smile.

They don’t just tell time. They tell stories. And that, to me, is the real romance of watches.

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About the author

Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.

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