How do you set the time?

Most late nineteenth-century examples use a stem-set mechanism. You simply pull the crown up and turn it to move the hands. Others feature a small pin near the dial. You press this pin down with a fingernail while turning the crown simultaneously. Earlier watches rely on a key. You open the front cover and fit a key directly onto the central square arbor.

I inherited one of these from my grandfather and the front lid is stuck fast. What should I do to get it open safely?

Never force a stuck lid with a blade. The case metal is soft and scratches easily. Dirt often builds up around the latch mechanism inside the crown. A quick press of the winding button usually activates the release, but old oil can gum up the internal spring. Take it to a watchmaker. They can dismantle the pendant safely and clean the release catch without bending the hinge.

Can you polish the outer cases?

Silver and gold cases respond well to light polishing. A simple jeweller's cloth removes tarnish without damaging the underlying metal. Heavy machine polishing ruins the character. It flattens the crisp engine-turned patterns and softens the edges of any engraved monograms.

The dial on my piece has several fine dark lines running across the white surface. Can these marks be cleaned off?

Those lines are cracks in the glass enamel, known in the trade as hairlines. They happen when the copper dial plate flexes under the rigid enamel coating. You cannot clean them off. Dirt settles into these microscopic fissures over the decades, making them appear darker against the white background. Some collectors don't mind minor hairlines. They represent normal age rather than neglect.

Home > Watches > Hunter Pocket Watches > Page 2

Antique Hunter Pocket Watches

← Page 2 of 3 →

An antique hunter pocket watch features a sprung metal lid covering the dial, originally designed to protect the fragile glass crystal from knocks during rough riding and field sports.