Subsidiary Seconds Watch
A subsidiary seconds watch brings mechanical timekeeping with a dedicated dial for the second hand.
Subsidiary Seconds Watch
A subsidiary seconds watch places a smaller dial, usually positioned at the six o'clock mark, to track the passing seconds independently from the main hour and minute hands. Collectors seeking a subsidiary seconds watch encounter pocket watches and occasional wristwatches spanning the nineteenth century through the 1940s.
The pieces appearing on this page originate from periods including the Victorian era, Edwardian years, and the Art Deco decades of the 1920s and 1930s. Pocket watches dominate the selection, appearing in open-faced, full hunter, and half hunter configurations alongside accompanying chains and alberts.
Makers and retailers represented across the eras include established names such as Elgin, Waltham, Zenith, and Cyma, alongside pieces commissioned for retailers like J W Benson and H Samuel. Buyers find both British and Swiss horology ranging from simple nickel cases to heavy silver and gold plate.
How they were made
Watchmakers utilised robust metals for the exterior casings, constructing them from sterling silver, gold plate, steel, nickel, brass, and solid gold. Glass protected the primary dial face, while enamel frequently formed the smooth white or cream dial surfaces where markers and numerals were painted or fired.
Movements relied on intricate brass and steel gear trains, driven by mainsprings wound via stems, buttons, or keys depending on the era. Workers fitted porcelain or enamel dials with subsidiary sunken seconds circles, integrating the secondary mechanism directly into the movement layout.
Subsidiary Seconds Watch Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for subsidiary seconds watch among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
What varies in quality
The standard of a watch rests in the refinement of its movement and the integrity of its case construction. Heavy silver or gold plating, crisp hallmark stampings, and complex jewelled lever movements distinguish finer examples from basic utility pieces.
Dial condition heavily influences the character of the piece, particularly where enamel remains free from hairline fractures or chipping around the subsidiary sub-dial. The precision of the case closure and the weight of the metal indicate the original grade of manufacture.
Kendal and Dent·Elgin·J W Benson·Revue·Minerva·H Samuel·Urania·Horos·Vertex·Zenith·Record·Bravingtons Renown·Limit·Lonville·Meyer and Studeli·Doxa·Phoenix Indestructible·Pioneer·Tavannes·Pimco·Waltham·J G Graves Sheffield·Tissot
The Subsidiary Seconds Watch Glossary
- Subsidiary seconds
- A small auxiliary dial on a watch face used to measure seconds independently of the main hour and minute hands.
- Full hunter
- A pocket watch featuring a spring-loaded metal cover that protects the dial face from dust and scratches.
- Half hunter
- A pocket watch case lid equipped with a glass or open central aperture that allows the wearer to read the hands without opening the cover.
- Albert
- A chain attached to a pocket watch, designed to secure the timepiece to a waistcoat or buttonhole.
- Stem winding
- A mechanism allowing the watch to be wound using the crown at the top of the case rather than a separate key.
Subsidiary Seconds Watch: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I wind a pocket watch?
Most pieces on this page utilise a stem or button winding mechanism located at the crown. Turn the crown gently clockwise until resistance indicates the mainspring is fully tensioned.
Older examples from the nineteenth century may require a separate key applied to a square arbor on the back plate or dial to tension the spring.
What is the difference between open faced and hunter watches?
An open faced watch exposes the glass and dial directly to view without any exterior metal protection. This configuration allows immediate reading of the time at a glance.
A hunter watch encloses the dial behind a hinged metal lid that springs open via a button release on the crown. Half hunter variations include a small window in that lid to check the hands quickly.
How do I wear a pocket watch with a chain?
The attached albert chain secures the timepiece to a garment, typically passing through a waistcoat buttonhole with the watch resting inside the pocket. The remaining length of the chain can anchor a fob or pocket knife in an opposing pocket.
For daily wear, ensure the T-bar or clasp of the chain fastens securely through the fabric to prevent accidental drops.
How can I tell the age of a silver pocket watch?
British silver cases carry hallmark stamps indicating the assay office, standard of silver, and a date letter corresponding to the year of testing. These marks appear inside the rear cover alongside the maker's sponsor mark.
Swiss and other continental pieces often rely on movement serial numbers, style traits, and inscriptions inside the case back to narrow down the decade of production.