Antique Thomas Russell Half Hunter Pocket Watch

An antique Thomas Russell half hunter pocket watch.

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.

This particular watch has a good quality Swiss movement by Vertex which is working nicely. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is 10ct gold plated and was made by the English case manufacturer Aaron Dennison, a prolific maker who supplied various watch manufacturers. Overall the case is in good condition with just light surface marks. The front cover has enamel filled Roman numerals around a central lens.

The winding crown pushes in to open the front cover. Inside there is an acrylic lens which has darkened very slightly with age.

The white enamel dial is signed with the Thomas Russell & Son Tempus Fugit logo. It is in good condition with 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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