Thomas Russell & Son Half Hunter Pocket Watch with Up/Down Indicator
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1907
Maker / issuer
Thomas Russell & SonThis 18-carat gold half hunter pocket watch, manufactured in England and hallmarked in Chester in 1907, features a distinctive front cover with a large glass aperture surrounded by a blue enamel scale.
The silver engine-turned dial displays black Arabic numerals, blued steel hands, a power reserve (up/down) indicator, and a subsidiary seconds dial. The movement is a keyless, three-quarter plate gilt construction with a going barrel, English table roller lever escapement, and a compensated balance with a blued steel overcoil balance spring. The inner cuvette is plain gold, stamped with the maker's mark 'TR' in a rectangular frame.
The half hunter design allows for time-reading through the aperture without requiring the cover to be opened, protecting the dial while indicating the time.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Half hunter pocket watch
- Material
- 18-carat gold
- Case type
- Half hunter with large glass aperture
- Dial type
- Engine-turned silver
- Escapement
- English table roller lever
- Place recorded
- England
- Box description
- Brown Moroccan leather with stand
- Maker / attribution
- Thomas Russell & Son
- Movement construction
- Three-quarter plate gilt
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in an 18-carat gold half hunter case characterized by an atypical, large glass aperture on the front cover. This aperture is framed by a blue enamel ring, allowing the user to view the hand positions without opening the case. The cover is designed to protect the dial while maintaining visual access. The interior dial is crafted from silver and features an engine-turned pattern. It is appointed with black Arabic numerals and blued steel hands. Two subsidiary dials are present: one for the seconds and one for the power reserve (up/down) indicator.
- Visible features
- • Blue enamel scale on the half hunter cover • Engine-turned silver dial with subsidiary power reserve and seconds • Blued steel hands and Arabic numerals on the main dial
- Signatures and Marks
- The inner cuvette of the watch is made of plain gold and carries the manufacturer’s signature mark. This mark, 'TR' in a rectangular frame, identifies the associated workshop. The case bears the Chester assay office hallmarks, which date the production to 1907. The presence of the serial number on the cuvette, matching the movement, confirms the original integrity of the watch assembly.
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is a keyless, three-quarter plate gilt calibre. It utilizes a going barrel and features a balance assembly with a compensated balance wheel paired with a blued steel overcoil balance spring. The mechanism is regulated by a polished steel regulator. The escapement is an English table roller lever type, fitted with end stones for the escape wheel and lever pivots.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The exact provenance of the 'TR' maker's mark remains contextually linked to the listed watch but specific identification beyond the mark is not fully detailed
- Research required: The specific functional state of the movement is not confirmed by the source