Antique Silver Half Hunter Pocket Watch, Military History

Antique silver half hunter pocket watch with military history.

The watch has a Systeme Glashutte stem-winding movement which is working nicely.

Watches from the Glashutte area of Germany were of the highest quality and were much sought after. They were made by some of the finest watch makers including Ferndinand A Lange, Großmann or Assmann, and they were very expensive.

The Glashutte name was held in very high regard and, as such, other watch manufacturers decided they would like to use the Glashutte name for marketing purposes, hence System Glashutte was born but it has no links to original Glashutte manufacturers.

The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which is engraved, ‘Presented by Lieut P Villiers-Stuart, Asst Adjt’ Patrick Villiers-Stuart was a Captain in the Royal Fusiliers, and also a Temporary Lieutenant Colonet in the Royal Fusiliers attached Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infanty.

In his role as Adjutant Adjutant, Villiers-Stuart held the military appointment of an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit.

A photo of Villiers-Stuart is included in the listing photos but this has been taken from the internet and is not included with the watch.

The watch measures 49mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is 935 silver and there are Continental hallmarks inside the three covers. The case front and sides of the case are in good condition with just the odd minor mark.

The case back has some unevenness. The back of the watch has an inscription, ‘4th Bn Royal Fusiliers, Best ……. Shot (the middle word has been cancelled out and is illegible), 1901, Won by Lce Corp Vincent’. This refers to Frederick George Vincent, service number G/34920.

The winding crown pushes in to release the front cover.

Inside, there is a glass lens which is in lovely condition.

The dial is in lovely condition and it has the special half hunter hour hand so that the time can be read when the front cover is closed. One of the hands is a period replacement. The hands are pin-set.

The watch comes in the original presentation box with the British Army crown inside the cover. The box has some wear and marking but is very acceptable.

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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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