Antique Silver Thomas Russell Pocket Watch and Chain.

Antique silver Thomas Russell pocket watch and chain.

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, such as the watch we have here which has a seven jewel stem-winding movement by Record.

The movement is working nicely and is all protected by an inner hinged cover which has a slight indentation.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside both of the case backs for London (import mark), 1915 with a sponsor’s mark for George Stockwell. From 1 June 1907, Stockwells acted as assay agents, facilitating the import into Britain of foreign gold and silver items which had to be assayed and hallmarked in a UK assay office before being released for retail. The case front and sides of the case are in nice condition, the hinged case back has some unevenness.

The glass lens has a small mark, only about 1mm long,

The dial is signed with the Thomas Russell Tempus Fugit logo. There are a couple of hairline cracks. Blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and outer minute markers.

The watch comes with a single chain, 26cm long including the T-bar and the clasp. The clasp is hallmarked for 1901 and has a maker’s mark H&P for the silversmith Hands & Pearce. There is also a later silver lawn bowls silver fob awarded by SCBBC to J Ashford in 1946.

The watch and chain come in a new presentation box.

ALL PRICES INCLUDE UK POSTAGE (excluding Northern Ireland).

Please contact us regarding international shipping.

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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We are an on-line only business and do not have facilities for callers. Our offices are open from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

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.