Are pocket watches becoming cool again?  Are they making a comeback?  Well, probably not, but it is certainly an interesting coincidence to see 2 of the most respected watch brands in the world each release a pocket watch within about a month of each other!  You may recall it was just weeks ago that I wrote about Vacheron Constantin’s new pocket watch, the Patrimony Contemporaine (For the Dandy Man: Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine Pocket Watch) - this was Vacheron’s first new pocket watch since 1992. And now just today Glashütte Original announced the Pocket Watch No. 1, based on a historical watch by famous Glashütte watchmaker Julius Assmann circa 1905.  Julius Assmann followed Ferdinand Adolph Lange in establishing the Glashütte watchmaking tradition, manufacturing precision watches outfitted with elements typical of Glashütte, such as the three-quarter plate and a hand-engraved balance cock – of which both features are (not by coincidence) featured on the GO Original Pocket Watch No. 1.  Cased in rose gold and housing a specially made, hand-wound GO Caliber 84-01, the watch includes a quarter-hour repetition complication, which announces the quarter hours and hours acoustically.

While I like the traditional design of the Pocket Watch No. 1, I can’t help but think how starkly it contrasts with the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine that is, well, much more contemporary!  This holds true even for the type of chain that is used for each.  Ultimately, it is of course a matter of personal preference, but if you like this beautiful new piece from Glashütte Original, get on it quick because as you can see in the last picture below, only 25 will be made.  As for me, well, I’ll just stick with my very dependable and equally beautiful GO Senator Automatic for now.

For an alternative viewpoint on this one, check out my watch friend RJ’s post HERE (you snuck in right ahead of me on this on RJ ).  Or, you can see it for yourself at BASELWORLD 2010!!  Here’s some pics, courtesy of GO:

Related posts:

1. For the Dandy Man: Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine Pocket Watch
2. Glashütte Original Goes Global With Its New Senator Chronometer
3. Glashütte Goes to Tokyo (As does Patek, Breguet, A. Lange, …)
4. Glashütte Original Novelties at Baselworld 2009
5. Video Watch Review: Glashütte Original Senator Automatic