An Antique Thomas Russell Full Hunter Pocket Watch

An antique Thomas Russell full hunter pocket watch.

The company name of Thomas Russell & Son was established in 1859 when Thomas Russell (who was listed as a watchmaker in 1848) handed over the control of the business to Thomas Robert Russell and Alfred Holgate Russell. The company was very well respected and successful and they earned a Royal Warrant, ‘Makers to Queen Victoria’… they continued to benefit from this Warrant even after it ceased upon Victoria’s death in 1901 although its continued use was only tolerated for a short while.

After the partnership split, Alfred Russell continued as Thomas Russell & Son, achieving a Royal Warrant as makers to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. In 1881 the company started importing watches from Switzerland.

By 1938, the firm had become Thomas Russell & Son Watch Co Ltd.

This particular watch has a Swiss stem-winding 10-jewel movement which is working nicely. The movement is fully signed, including Tempus Fugit (time flies), and it is protected by an inner hinged cover.

The watch itself measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case was made by the Dennison Watch Case Company and it is the Moon model, 10ct gold plated which was originally “guaranteed to wear 20 years”. The case is in good condition for its age with just the odd small mark.

The winding crown pushes in to open the front cover. Inside there is an acrylic lens which is in good condition. It is very common for the original glass lenses to be replaced and we see this often… it is difficult to tell the difference as they look so similar but they are a lot more durable.

The signed white enamel dial is beautifully detailed and it is in beautiful condition. Blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch will be sent in a new presentation box.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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