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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Half hunter pocket watch

Thomas Russell & Son Half Hunter Pocket Watch with Up/Down Indicator

Partially verified

This 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.

Thomas Russell & Son half hunter pocket watch, 1907, with 18-carat gold case and silver engine-turned dial.
Thomas Russell & Son half hunter pocket watch, 1907, with 18-carat gold case and silver engine-turned dial. — Zamanito. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Half hunter pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Thomas Russell & Son
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1907
Source-reported place
England

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

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “قاب هف هانتر طلای ۱۸ عیار ساده قرار دارد که درب جلویی آن دارای یک دریچه شیشه‌ای بزرگِ نامتعارف و حلقه مدرج مینای آبی‌رنگ است”
  • “صفحه نقره با طرح موتورچین (engine turned) دارای صفحات فرعی برای نشانگر ذخیره انرژی (up/down) و ثانیه‌شمار مستقل”

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت از نوع بدون کلید با ساختار سه چهارم پلیت طلاکاری‌شده و بشکه فنر گردان (going barrel) ساخته شده است”
  • “رقاصک تعادلی با فنر رویه‌پیچ (overcoil) فولادی آبی، مهار لور نوع غلتکی انگلیسی”

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “نشانه عیار شهر چستر (Chester) به سال ۱۹۰۷”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific relationship between the 'TR' mark and Thomas Russell & Son?
  • How rare is this specific configuration of a large-aperture half hunter with power reserve indicator in the context of 1907 English production?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Thomas Russell & Son Half Hunter Pocket Watch with Up/Down Indicator
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Material18-carat gold“طلای ۱۸ عیار”
EscapementEnglish table roller lever“مهار لور غلتکی انگلیسی”
Dial typeEngine-turned silver“صفحه نقره با طرح موتورچین (engine turned)”
Case typeHalf hunter with large glass aperture“هف هانتر (Half Hunter) با دریچه شیشه‌ای بزرگ”
Movement constructionThree-quarter plate gilt“سه‌چهارم پلیت طلاکاری‌شده”
Box descriptionBrown Moroccan leather with stand“محفظه با روکش چرم مراکشی قهوه‌ای دارای پایه ایستاده”

Visible details

  • 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

Research qualifications

  • 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
  • The specific functional state of the movement is not confirmed by the source

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

Consulted source

Unusual Half Hunter with up/down Dial

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record de3ade3a24

Terms in this record

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

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