29 grades · 5 American makers
Built to keep the trains on time, and most still run. Here's which American pocket watches to buy and what to check.
Hamilton, Waltham, Elgin, Illinois and Howard built these movements to be serviced and carried for a working lifetime, and thousands are for sale. A century on, dials have been refinished, movements moved into other cases and parts swapped, so the grade engraved on the movement is where we start. Each page covers one grade, from the Hamilton 992B to the Bunn Special, with its story, what to check in the listing photos and the eBay listings we’d buy.
A checklist for all 29 watchesFacts checked, sources listedNo affiliate links
The timetable
grade · jewels · sizeOn an American pocket watch the grade engraved on the movement decides most of the value, and the case is usually a separate part. Here’s every grade we cover, by maker. Not sure what makes a watch railroad grade? Read railroad grade explained.
Find yours
browse byBy maker
Hamilton8 grades992, 950, 18-size railroad and 10-size dressWaltham7 gradesVanguard, Riverside, Crescent Street and Model 1892Elgin5 gradesB.W. Raymond, Father Time, Veritas and Lord ElginIllinois5 gradesBunn Special, Sangamo Special and Santa Fe SpecialHoward4 gradesRailroad Chronometer, Bridge model and 12-size extra-thin
Most-hunted grades
Hamilton · 992
Railroad gradeHamilton 992B
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- 992B
- Years
- 1940–1969
$370–$430 typical ask
Illinois · Bunn Special
Railroad gradeIllinois 60-hour Bunn Special
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Bunn Special 60 Hour
- Years
- 1924–1940s
$600–$1,700 typical ask
Waltham · Vanguard
Railroad gradeWaltham Vanguard 23 Jewel
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Vanguard
- Years
- by 1911 to the mid-1950s
$370–$525 typical ask
Elgin · B.W. Raymond
Railroad gradeElgin B.W. Raymond 21J Grade 571
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- 571
- Years
- 1947–1955
$370–$675 typical ask
Hamilton · 950
Railroad gradeHamilton 950B
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- 950B
- Years
- 1941–1965
$1,475–$2,300 typical ask
Howard · Railroad Chronometer
Railroad gradeHoward Series 11 Railroad Chronometer
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Series 11
- Years
- late 1910s–1920s
$675–$950 typical ask
From our latest eBay check
Howard Series 0 23-jewelE. Howard Series 0 23 Jewel Pocket Watch 16S Keystone 14K Gold Filled
$655.81 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 11, 2026
Howard Series 8 12-size1910 E. Howard Series 8 21J Pocket Watch #1070979 25YR GF Hunter Case Runs
$395.00 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 11, 2026
Howard Series 5 19-jewel1910 OLD E.HOWARD 5 SERIES 19j 14k GOLD FILLED OPEN FACE 16sRR POCKET WATCH
$672.94 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 11, 2026
Howard Series 11 Railroad ChronometerAntique 16s Howard 21J Railroad Class A Mechanical Pocket Watch Series 11
$367.85 deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 11, 2026
Buying guides
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Got Grandpa’s railroad watch in a drawer?
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