Two questions about pocket watches

[Quartz]

Any Dopers who are watch specialists?

I recently broke my pocket watch, which I used every day, and needed to buy a replacement. One is now on order. But I’ve got two questions.

What is the point of having the stem in the 12 o’clock position? That makes it extremely difficult to use. The natural method is to have it in the 3 o’clock position so it fits your right hand.

With all the precision gears inside the watch, can they not make a better method of ensuring the case stays closed than a little tongue of metal on a spring?

[tellyworth]

A 12 O’clock stem was one of the standard requirements for a railroad watch. I think it was to make it harder to misread, by making it obvious which way is up.

[DrFidelius]

Always depress the crown when you close the case. You don’t get that satisfying snap sound, but the clasp will last for a century or more.

(All of my hunter case watches have the stem at 3:00 while my open faced watches all are at 12.)

[Quartz]

@DrFidelius

Always depress the crown when you close the case.

Yes, I quickly learned that! But it’s still not particularly effective: the watches have a tendency to come open in my pocket.

[silenus]

All of my pocket watches have the stem at 12, open-faced and cased.

[BMalion]

Paging Samclem.

[samclem]

@Quartz

Any Dopers who are watch specialists?

I recently broke my pocket watch, which I used every day, and needed to buy a replacement. One is now on order. But I’ve got two questions.

What is the point of having the stem in the 12 o’clock position? That makes it extremely difficult to use. The natural method is to have it in the 3 o’clock position so it fits your right hand.

With all the precision gears inside the watch, can they not make a better method of ensuring the case stays closed than a little tongue of metal on a spring?

Curious what kind of replacement you got. Vintage or new? Vintage to me means made before about 1950. Maker, model, etc.

The idea that you need the stem at the 3:00 position only is useful if you have a closed case watch. Open face, stem at the top is logical(to me anyway).

The typical closed case watch made between 1865 and 1900 stayed pretty well closed for 20-30 years without problem, depending on how often you opened it during the day. When it wore out, you just had it recased. Was your original watch a well-used vintage piece? If so, it may have been almost worn out when you got it and thus came open too often.

[Quartz]

@samclem

Curious what kind of replacement you got. Vintage or new? Vintage to me means made before about 1950. Maker, model, etc.

I can’t afford vintage. It’s just a £30 quartz watch for everyday use.

The idea that you need the stem at the 3:00 position only is useful if you have a closed case watch. Open face, stem at the top is logical(to me anyway).

Not really. Try adjusting the hands and you’ll see why 3 o’clock is best.

[BMalion]

My two vintage watches have the stem at 12 o’clock.