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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watches · Form

Chains, Fobs and Accessories

Partially verified

The guard chains, fobs, seals, watch keys and other accessories carried with a pocket watch, forming a distinct collecting and identification category of their own.

Mechanism

Not mechanical; chains and fobs are wearing and carrying accessories connecting the watch to buttonhole, waistcoat or belt.

Typical characteristics

  • Albert-style guard chains with a T-bar and swivel clasp
  • Watch keys, seals and vinaigrettes suspended from fobs
  • Materials ranging from base metal to solid gold

Identification characteristics

  • Hallmarks on gold and silver chain links, comparable to case hallmarking
  • Wear patterns matching a specific watch's pendant and bow

Collector significance

Original accessory survival adds context and, occasionally, provenance to a watch, though chains and watches are frequently married later.

Known variations

  • Albert chain
  • Fob chain with seal or key
  • Watch guard with slide

Photographs

Two antique gold-filled pocket watch chains and fob
Two antique gold-filled pocket watch chains and fob — Invaluable auction archive, Auction archive photograph, rights review pending. Invaluable sold-lot record
At Auction: Cyma Pocket Watch and Antique Fob Chains
At Auction: Cyma Pocket Watch and Antique Fob Chains — Invaluable auction archive, Auction archive photograph, rights review pending. Invaluable sold-lot record

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. General horological and decorative-arts surveys

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.