
Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Victorian 18ct Pocket Watch, Hallmarked In Chester, 1867
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- 1867
- Historical period
- Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
- Country of origin
- England
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 2813
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2813)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Victorian 18ct Pocket Watch ,Hallmarked In Chester (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 2813), this is a pocket watch, made in England, dated 1867. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Pocket Watches collection. 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 this exquisite Victorian 18ct hunter pocket watch, a remarkable artifact hallmarked in Chester in 1867. This piece, crafted by the renowned Henry Westrap of Stow and London, epitomizes the elegance and precision of Victorian-era horology. The watch features a chain-driven movement and a silver face adorned with intricate gold work, both at the center and along the edges, enhancing its visual allure. The outer case, made from 18k gold and weighing 70.5 grams, is hand-engraved and remains in pristine condition, a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship of the period. The sprung hunter front operates with its original mechanism, offering an authentic touch to this historical timepiece. With dimensions of 5 mm in height, 1.2 mm in width, and a diameter of 4 mm, this pocket watch is not only a functional accessory but also a sophisticated addition to any collection, encapsulating the charm and sophistication of the Victorian era. This antique Victorian 18ct hunter pocket watch is a true collector’s item. Hallmarked in Chester in 1867, it features a chain-driven movement made by Henry Westrap of Stow and London. The silver watch face showcases intricate gold work at the center and edges, adding to its overall aesthetic appeal. The outer case is hand engraved and in pristine condition, showcasing the intricate craftsmanship of the time. The sprung hunter front still pops up in its original way, adding a touch of authenticity to this antique timepiece. Overall, this pocket watch is a beautiful and rare piece that adds sophistication and charm to any collection. Case Material: 18k Gold Weight: 70.5 g Case Dimensions: Height: 5 mm (0.2 in)Width: 1.2 mm (0.05 in)Diameter: 4 mm (0.16 in) Style: Victorian Place of Origin: England Period: 1860-1869 Date of Manufacture: 1867 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
Pocket watches
The pocket watch was the dominant personal timekeeper from the late seventeenth century until the First World War. Its development tracks the history of the escapement: verge watches with fusees until the late eighteenth century; Thomas Mudge's lever escapement (c. 1755) and the cylinder escapement popularised by George Graham and later by Swiss makers; and the Swiss and English lever watches of the nineteenth century. Lépine's bar-bridge calibre and keyless winding made watches thinner and easier to use.
Industrialisation transformed the trade: American factories such as Waltham (from 1850) and Elgin produced interchangeable parts by machine, and Swiss makers responded with their own mechanisation after the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. By 1900 a reliable watch was affordable to millions; the finest makers continued to produce complications and precision watches.
What to look for
- The escapement: verge (crown wheel), cylinder, duplex, English or Swiss lever.
- Key winding (a square arbor in dial or back) or keyless crown winding.
- Signatures and serial numbers on the movement, dial and inside case back.
- Hallmarks, case maker's marks and gold or silver standards stamped in the case.
- Dial material: enamel, silver, gold, later printed metal.
Dating clues
- Verge watches dominate before c. 1800; cylinder watches c. 1770–1900; lever watches after c. 1820.
- Keyless winding: increasingly common after c. 1860.
- Manufacturer serial number lists exist for Waltham, Elgin, Longines, Omega, Patek Philippe and others.
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:Verge escapementDetached lever escapementFuseeIdentification Centre
Related records
Pocket Watches · 1835–1875
Pocket watch by Cornelius Brooks Holliday, England, 1835–1875
Science Museum Group, London
Pocket Watches · c. 1849–50
Watch by Edward Prior, England, c. 1849–50
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Pocket Watches · 1850-1862; hallmarked 1862
Cylinder watch in silver case by Jno. R. Arnold, London, no.3636, compensated curb, hall marked 1862
Science Museum Group, London
Pocket Watches · hallmarked 1860; 1850-1890
Cylinder watch in silver case, calendar, balance under dial, R.Q., in case. Hall marked 1860
Science Museum Group, London
Pocket Watches · 1850
Gold half-hunter pocket watch presented to William Lloyd Garrison, England, 1850
National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
Pocket Watches · 1850–1860
Sterling silver lever pocket watch in original case, made by Thomas & John Ollivant, Manchester, around 1851.
Science Museum Group, London
Pocket Watches · 1850
Watch movement with pumping keyless winding mechanism, by G. Waterhouse, London, England, 1845-1851.
Science Museum Group, London
Pocket Watches · 1851
Pocket watch by Alexander Watkins, England, 1851
Science Museum Group, London
