Pocket watches · Case
Hunter-Case Watches
VerifiedPocket watches with a hinged metal cover protecting the crystal and dial, sprung open by a push of the crown.
Mechanism
Case engineering rather than movement design: a leaf or coil spring in the hinge is tensioned by a lever connected to the crown.
Typical characteristics
- Spring-loaded front lid with a catch opposite the pendant
- Traditional savonnette layout usually has the crown at 3 and small seconds at 6 on the dial; other layouts exist
- Heavier and better protected than an open-face watch of the same size
Construction and interpretation
A hunter case adds a hinged cover over the dial and crystal. In the familiar antique savonnette layout, the pendant and crown are at three, the hinge is opposite and small seconds is at six. Some later cases put the crown at twelve instead, so the lid, rather than a fixed crown position, is the defining feature. A sprung opening catch is part of the case mechanism and should be assessed separately from the winding and setting system.
The case's protective function creates additional condition evidence: lid hinges, the catch, rim wear and the relationship between the lid and bezel all deserve examination. A lid that sits unevenly can reflect wear, distortion or replacement; matching metal and decoration alone cannot resolve which. Record the movement number separately from case marks, because a watch movement and its case can have different makers and distinct histories.
| Case form | Front of watch | Inspection priority |
|---|---|---|
| Full hunter | Solid protective lid | Hinge, catch and lid fit |
| Half-hunter | Lid with central viewing aperture | Window and outer chapter ring |
| Open-face | Crystal without metal lid | Bezel and exposed crystal |
| Double-hunter | Opening covers front and rear | Distinguish rear lid from inner dust cover |
Never force a lid or push an unfamiliar crown harder to make it open. Case damage is not evidence of a movement fault.
Identification characteristics
- Hinge and lid catch; check for a replacement lid by comparing hallmarks on all case parts
- Movement seconds position relative to the winding stem distinguishes hunter from converted open-face
Collector significance
Case configuration is a primary identification axis; mismatched movement and case configuration is a common sign of a re-cased watch.
Known variations
- Half-hunter (demi-hunter) with glazed aperture
- Double-hunter with lids front and back
- Double half-hunter
Photographs
Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.
Sources & references
- Cutmore, M., Watches 1850–1980
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_watch
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.