Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Enamelled Gold Half Hunter Pocket Watch, 1880s
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- 1880s
- Historical period
- Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold, enamel
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 2769
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2769)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Enamelled Gold Half Hunter Pocket Watch (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 2769), this is a pocket watch, dated 1880s. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold, enamel. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop
Step back in time with the Enamelled Gold Half Hunter Pocket Watch, a captivating piece from the 1880s that epitomizes the elegance and craftsmanship of the Late Victorian era. Crafted by the renowned Thomas Russell & Son of Liverpool, this exquisite timepiece is a testament to the artistry and precision of its makers. The watch boasts an 18k gold guilloché enamelled case, adorned with salmon pink guilloché enamel and striking dark blue enamel Roman numerals. Its half hunter design is not only visually stunning but also practical, allowing for easy time reading without opening the case. Measuring 50 mm in length, 35 mm in diameter, and 10 mm in height, and weighing 38.7 grams, this pocket watch is a substantial yet refined accessory. The watch movement and dial, both signed by Thos Russell and Son, further authenticate its historical significance. Whether you are a collector of antique timepieces or an admirer of fine craftsmanship, this pocket watch is a remarkable addition to any collection, reflecting the opulence and sophistication of its period. Introducing an exquisite 18k gold guilloché enamelled pocket watch with a half hunter fully engraved case. This timepiece is a true work of art, featuring salmon pink guilloché enamel and dark blue enamel roman numerals. The half hunter design allows for easy time reading without the need to open the case. The watch movement and dial are signed Thos Russell and Son, Liverpool, dating back to around 1880. At 50 mm x 35 mm x 10 mm (length, diameter, height), this pocket watch has a gross weight of 24.9 dwt and is a stunning addition to any collection. Creator: Thomas Russell & Son Metal: Gold,18k Gold,Enamel Weight: 38.7 Grams gross weight Dimensions: Height: 10 mm (0.4 in)Diameter: 35 mm (1.38 in)Length: 50 mm (1.97 in) Style: Late Victorian Place of Origin: England Period: 1880-1889 Date of Manufacture: 1880s Condition: Good
Historical context
Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
American interchangeable-parts manufacture; railroad time standards; Swiss and German factory systems.
Machine production with interchangeable parts, pioneered by Waltham (1850s) and adopted by Elgin, Longines, Omega and others, made reliable lever watches widely affordable. Keyless winding became standard, railroad watch standards were introduced (1890s), and Swiss and American industries competed globally.
Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Precision & Scientific Horology
Atlas type guide
Hunter, half-hunter and open-face watches
In the nineteenth century the pocket watch case settled into a few standard forms. The hunter (French savonnette) has a hinged front lid protecting the crystal — reputedly for riders who could not risk broken glass — and is opened by pressing the crown or a push-piece. The half-hunter has a small window in the lid so the hands can be read when closed. The open-face (lépine) watch has no front cover, with the crown at 12; hunters normally carry the crown at 3.
Case types also changed with winding: key-wound watches gave way to keyless (stem-wound) mechanisms after Adrien Philippe's and others' designs of the 1840s, with pendant setting or lever setting.
What to look for
- Crown position relative to the seconds dial: at 3 for hunters, at 12 for open-face watches.
- Spring-loaded front cover with a push-piece in the pendant.
- Half-hunter chapter ring enamelled on the lid.
- Key holes in the inner dome (cuvette) versus keyless winding.
Dating clues
- Keyless winding spread after c. 1850 and became standard by c. 1890.
- English hallmarks inside gold and silver cases give the year of assay.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Detached lever escapement
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