怀表是指一种没有表带，随身携带的钟表。传统的怀表为指针式，用一条表链系在衣服口袋中，使用的时候掏出来。怀表也可以固定在衣领、腰带等处，或者不系表链。

早期的随身钟表体积较大，都属于怀表。其最早的文献记载见于1462年，意大利钟表匠Bartholomew Manfredi的一封信中提到了“怀钟”。15世纪末，发条驱动的钟表促进了小型怀表的生产。到1510年的时候，德国纽伦堡的钟表匠彼得·亨莱因（Peter Henlein）制造了很多怀表。此后怀表逐渐在欧洲流行开来，成为上流社会人士的常见用品和装饰。制造怀表最著名的国家是瑞士。

A pocket watch (or pocketwatch) is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed to a wristwatch, which is strapped to the wrist.

They were the most common type of watch from their development in the 16th century until wristwatches became popular after World War I during which a transitional design, trench watches, were used by the military. Pocket watches generally have an attached chain to allow them to be secured to a waistcoat, lapel, or belt loop, and to prevent them from being dropped. Watches were also mounted on a short leather strap or fob, when a long chain would have been cumbersome or likely to catch on things. This fob could also provide a protective flap over their face and crystal. Women's watches were normally of this form, with a watch fob that was more decorative than protective. Chains were frequently decorated with a silver or enamel pendant, often carrying the arms of some club or society, which by association also became known as a fob. Ostensibly "practical" gadgets such as a watch winding key, vesta case or a cigar cutter also appeared on watch chains, although usually in an overly decorated style. Also common are fasteners designed to be put through a buttonhole and worn in a jacket or waistcoat, this sort being frequently associated with and named after train conductors.