If you love the fine engineering of a hunter pocket watch, you are certainly not alone, as many men collect these unique timepieces. Designed specifically for the English gentleman hunter, the watch has a protective cover that is hinged in the 9 o’clock position, which enables the hunter to open the cover with his left hand, while keeping his right hand on the horse’s reins.
Antique Hunter Watches
Older hunter pocket watches have the crown, stem and bow of the watch at the 3 o’clock position, which facilitates single hand use, and if you are wondering why the huntsman would wish to know the time, they would have already made an arrangement to rendezvous with the beaters and dog handlers, therefore it was essential they arrived on time.
If you are looking for a catalogue of affordable antique pocket watches, Kalmar Antiques provides a glimpse of their antique jewellery online as well as antique watches and other accessories. Their fine selection of genuine hunter pocket watches can be browsed at your own pace. If you are looking at hunter pocket watches, later models have the crown and bow at the 12 o’clock position, while older units have these directly opposite the 9 o’clock hinged position at 3 o’clock.
Respected Hunter Watch Makers
As you would expect, there are many makers of fine antique timepieces, which include the following:
- Rolex
- W Bennet & Co
- J Hargreaves & Co
- Waltham
- Thomas Gaunt & Co
- John Cross
Of course, some hunter pocket watches are rarer than others, and if you are planning to start a collection, you are advised to forge an alliance with a reputable antique dealer, as they would have a nationwide network of other dealers, and can source specific items.
Free Online Resources
The Internet offers unlimited resources for those that wish to become very knowledgeable with the hunter style pocket watch, of which there are so many makes. The design is rugged and with the expertise of the watch maker, each handcrafted timepiece is a marvel of fine art and engineering, and you can learn so much about individual watch makers, their habits and more importantly, the markings they made on their watches.
Regular Care & Maintenance
Your hunter pocket watch should be wound every day, according to the maker’s guidelines regarding tension, and the outer case should be cleaned with a dry cotton cloth. Avoid using any solution with chemicals, as these could damage the delicate metal surfaces. Never put your pocket watch in the same pocket as anything hard, such as car keys of your mobile device. You likely have the fob pocket, which is designed specifically for the pocket watch, and when the timepiece is in this pocket, it is completely protected.
When you are on the hunt for a pocket watch to add to your collection, avoid private sellers, as there are good replicas about, rather you should strike up a working relationship with a local antique dealer, whom you can call on for advice and appraisal when necessary. Besides, the antique dealer is part of a national network of dealers, which means you can view a lot more pieces, and all from the comfort of your own home with online solutions.
This article is published in partnership with Mediabuzzer
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