Antique Full Hunter Pocket Watch by Thomas Russell

An antique full hunter pocket watch by Thomas Russell.

The company name of Thomas Russell & Son was established in 1859 when Thomas Russell (who was listed as a watchmaker as early as 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, Thomas Russell continued as the proprietor of the Russell Watch & Chronometer Manufactury and Alfred Russell continued as Thomas Russell & Son. Thomas achieved a Royal Warrant as makers to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. In 1881 they also started importing watches from Switzerland.

This particular watch has a stem-winding ¾ plate movement which is working nicely. The movement is signed Thomas Russell & Son, Church St, Liverpool, and it is protected by an inner hinged cover.

The watch itself measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is 10ct gold plated and would have been made for Russells by the Dennison Watch Case Company. The case is in good condition, just the odd light marking.

The winding crown pushes in to open the front cover. Inside there is an acrylic lens. 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 enamel dial has three faint hairline cracks but they are not too noticeable at all.

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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