What Time Is It? Dad's Birthday!

November 7, 2009 5:52 PM

Please help me find a pocket watch for my Dad's birthday! He is in his seventies and has some limitations with his vision, so it needs to be pretty easy to read. For that reason, I'd prefer black numerals on a white face. He also would like for it to have the day of the week along with the date.

My preferred price range would be $100 or less, but I can be flexible if the perfect watch can be found. I've done some Googling, searched askme for 'pocket watch' and checked Cabela's and Duluth Trading (I've found some gifts he's really liked at Duluth Trading) and looked around Amazon. I have seen quite a few pocket watches, but the only ones I've found with day of week were clip watches (also referred to as backpacker watches) or looked like they might be hard to read (gold hands on a whitish-silver face, for example)

I'd prefer a silver tone case, but that is not a firm requirement. Thanks for any help or suggestions!

posted by hilaryjade to clothing, beauty, & fashion (5 comments total)

Does silver on black work? I thought this was kind of snazz.

Pocket watches so rarely have day/date windows anymore: usually they have subdials, which I would imagine would be really hard for your dad to read. That does narrow your choices a lot.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:27 PM on November 7 [1 favorite]

Wow, that is nice looking. You are right about the subdials -- I did find some of those, but had the same feeling you did -- that he would have a really tough time with those tiny hands. He needs a watch he can see when he doesn't have his reading glasses on.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll keep it in the mix!
posted by hilaryjade at 6:49 PM on November 7

Haven't seen them in person, but these Swiss Army pocket watches (all 48mm case diameter, apparently) seem to have pretty good contrast/readability of numbers (black against white face) and hands. Quick search shows that the Pocket Watch model with the red trim is available at REI and it looks like vendors at Amazon have that and the other models as well (there are a number of reviews, too).

It's easier to see in the bigger photos, but the Pocket Desk Alarm watch has a face cover that allows the watch to stand up, if that might ever come in handy for your father. Also, the photos I saw don't show it, but one reviewer on Amazon said the Pocket Desk Alarm watch used to come with a lanyard but then came with a chain -- not sure if that's still the case).

And yeah, it might be tough finding a pocket watch that shows the date/day name *and* have them in a big enough size to read easily. The Pocket Watch models have a small dial for the date, but not the day name. The other downside is that the retail prices of these watches are beyond your preferred price range, but maybe you might be able to find a good deal somewhere... In any case, good luck on finding the right watch for your dad.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 8:17 PM on November 7

Not sure if this is very helpful or not, but I received a pocket watch for my retirement a few years ago. I always wanted one and finally got one. Anyways, I don't use it too often but on occasion take it with me for special occasions. I wear glasses and thats the only way I can read it. But my point is, I value it, but don't use it if you know what I mean. You father may be the same way. Just having one and valuing it, but not necessarily using it. Its more of a keepsake for me. I'm not at all saying don't get him one. On the contrary, if you do, he might just appreciate having it as a gift from you and cherish it more for that reason and only that reason. Even if he can't read it, he'll still love it, if that makes sense.
posted by Taurid at 10:28 PM on November 7

There is such a thing as a low-vision pocket watch. You can see that compared to this other high-contrast, large-print watch, the real difference is the width of the hands so they're easier to see.

Sadly I don't know of any that also have a readable date as well but you could ask @wristwatchcom on Twitter. (Site has tone of watches but is too hard to use if you're browsing.)
posted by DarlingBri at 6:39 AM on November 8