Pocket alarm clocks: available to buy online - suitable for travel to other countries for example. Antique pocket watches available to buy online. A pocketwatch is a watch that is designed to be carried in a pocket, unlike a wristwatch, which is strapped to the wrist. Until wrist watches became popular (after the first world war), pocket watches were the commonest type of watch. They can have a chain attached to prevent it from being dropped; they may be secured to a waistcoat, lapel or belt. Typically the metal cover is hinged, available to protect the face of the watch face when jostling around. Pocketwatches with a fob and cover are often called "fob watches".