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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Half hunter pocket watch

English 18-Carat Gold Half Hunter Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This English half-hunter pocket watch is housed in an 18-carat gold case. The front cover features a chapter ring with blue enamel and a central glass window, enabling time to be read without opening the case. The front cover is marked with the maker's mark 'EM' in a rectangular frame, while the back cover bears the maker's mark 'FT' in an oval frame alongside a 1900 London hallmark. The white enamel dial is marked with Roman numerals and includes a subsidiary seconds dial and blue steel half-hunter hands. The watch is powered by a keyless, full-plate, gold-plated movement featuring a spring barrel, a simple cock with a garnet endstone, a compensation balance with a blue steel overcoil hairspring, and an English table roller lever escapement with jewelled endstones and screwed-in bearings. The back of the case is engraved with the Dallas family crest and the motto 'Lux Venit Ab Alto'.

Front view of the 18-carat gold half-hunter pocket watch showing the blue enamel chapter ring and glass window.
Front view of the 18-carat gold half-hunter pocket watch showing the blue enamel chapter ring and glass window. — Pieces of Time via Zamanito. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Half hunter pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1887
Source-reported place
England
Source-reported serial
1403

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial

This arrangement allows the wearer to view the positions of the blue steel hands and the time marked on the exterior blue enamel chapter ring without opening the cover. The case exhibits signs of personalization through the engraving of the Dallas family crest on the reverse side, accompanied by the Latin motto 'Lux Venit Ab Alto', translating to 'Light comes from above'.

The dial is composed of white enamel and displays Roman numerals for the hours. A recessed subsidiary seconds dial is positioned at the six o'clock mark. The watch serial number '1403' is visible on the dial, and the source notes that this number matches those found on the internal components, confirming the assembly integrity of the casing and mechanism.

Evidence for this section
  • “ساعت‌های جیبی هف هانتر به گونه‌ای طراحی شده‌اند که دارای یک پنجره کوچک شیشه‌ای در مرکز قاب خارجی هستند”
  • “بر روی درپوش جلویی ساعت، حلقه فصل با لعاب آبی‌رنگ و پاپیون از جنس طلا قرار دارد”
  • “هر دو درپوش دارای شماره‌ای مطابق با شماره موتور و صفحه ساعت هستند”

Movement and Escapement

The internal mechanism is a keyless, full-plate movement finished with a gold plating. It is constructed with a moving spring barrel located beneath the bridge. The regulation system utilizes a compensation balance equipped with a blue steel overcoil hairspring to stabilize timekeeping.

The escapement is an English table roller lever type. The movement incorporates a simple cock with a garnet endstone, and the pivot points of the escapement feature jewelled endstones and screwed-in bearings.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت از نوع تمام‌پلیت با روکش طلا و کوک بدون کلید (keyless)”
  • “مهار اهرمی انگلیسی (table roller) و پیوت‌های مهار با سنگ‌های انتهایی و یاتاقان‌های پیچ‌شده می‌باشد”
  • “بالانس جبرانی با فنر رقاصک مارپیچ فولادی آبی”

Signatures and Marks

Documentation of the object's provenance and manufacture is derived from the marks struck onto the gold case. The front cover bears the mark 'EM' contained within a rectangular border. The back cover features the mark 'FT' within an oval border and is accompanied by a hallmark representing London for the year 1900.

The source identifies the engraved crest as belonging to Sir George Edward Dallas, Bart, of Petsal, Staffordshire.

Evidence for this section
  • “نشان سازنده «EM» در کادر مستطیل است و درپوش پشتی نشان سازنده «FT» در کادر بیضی با علامت هالمارک لندن سال ۱۹۰۰ را به همراه دارد”
  • “در پشت قاب، نشان خانوادگی سر جورج ادوارد دالاس (Sir George Edward Dallas, Bart, of Petsal, Staffordshire) حکاکی شده است”

Open research questions

  • Could the maker's marks 'EM' and 'FT' be identified with specific London-based gold case makers from 1900?
  • Was the movement serial number '1403' produced in a limited series or is it indicative of a standard output for this maker?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for English 18-Carat Gold Half Hunter Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case material18-carat gold“طلای ۱۸ عیار”
HallmarkLondon 1900“علامت هالمارک لندن سال ۱۹۰۰”
Movement typeKeyless full-plate“موتور ساعت از نوع تمام‌پلیت با روکش طلا و کوک بدون کلید (keyless)”
EscapementEnglish table roller lever“مهار اهرمی انگلیسی (table roller)”
Front cover markEM“نشان سازنده «EM» در کادر مستطیل”
Back cover markFT“نشان سازنده «FT» در کادر بیضی”
HeraldryDallas family crest“نشان خانوادگی سر جورج ادوارد دالاس (Sir George Edward Dallas, Bart, of Petsal, Staffordshire) حکاکی شده است”

Visible details

  • Blue enamel chapter ring on front cover
  • Engraved Dallas family crest on case back
  • Keyless winding mechanism
  • Subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position

Research qualifications

  • Exact identity of makers EM and FT remains unverified
  • Specific attribution of the heraldry to Sir George Edward Dallas is presented by the source without independent confirmation

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Gold English Half Hunter

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 940032a54d

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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