Thomas Russell Silver Half Hunter Pocket Watch

A Thomas Russell silver half hunter pocket watch.

The watch has a signed Swiss stem-winding movement made for Thomas Russell which is working nicely. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover.

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 Russell & Son achieved a Royal Warrant as makers to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. In 1881 they started importing watches from Switzerland.

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

The watch itself measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside the three covers for London (import mark) 1919 with a sponsor’s mark for William Sparrow, a Birmingham based watch importer. The case is in good condition with just the odd minor mark, and the dark blue enamel filled Roman numerals around the central lens are in lovely condition.

Closer inspection reveals that the case and movement are not original to each other, although they are a good match and are probably approximately of the same age.

The winding crown pushes in to open the front cover. Inside there is an acrylic lens. The original glass lenses were often replaced with acrylic lenses as they are more durable and look very similar.

The signed white enamel dial is in good condition and has blued steel hands, including the special half hunter hour hand, 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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With regards to appraisals / valuations, we receive a huge number of information requests each day and unfortunately do not have the manpower to deal with them all individually. Our advice would be to contact a local auctioneer for a full appraisal.