Full Hunter Pocket Watches

Full Hunter Pocket Watches

A hunter case is one with a hinged metal lid covering the dial. Press the crown and it springs open; close it and the glass is shielded from keys, coins and everything else that lives in a pocket. The style takes its name from the hunting field, where a closed lid meant a watch could survive a day on horseback, and it is still the most protective way to carry one, as well as the largest case style we stock.

Full hunter, half hunter or open face

A full hunter lid is closed all the way across, so you open it every time you check the time, and that is much of the pleasure of owning one. Half Hunter Pocket Watches have a window cut into the lid so the hands can be read with the case shut, and an open face has no lid at all. If you want to see the movement as well as the case, many of the watches here have a cut-away dial behind the lid and also appear under Skeleton Pocket Watches. The rest of the collection sits under Vintage Style Pocket Watches.

Movements and finishes

This category splits fairly evenly between two kinds of movement. The hand-wound mechanical pieces want a daily turn of the crown, clockwise until you feel firm resistance, and take no battery, which is what most buyers are after in a traditional full hunter. The rest are Swiss quartz from our Classique collection, worth a look if the watch is for someone who would not remember to wind it; those are gathered under Swiss Pocket Watches. Either way the movement carries a 12-month warranty. Finishes are plated and tone finishes rather than precious metal, in silver-tone, gold-plated, brass, black and rose gold-tone.

Buying one as a gift

Full hunters are our steadiest wedding and milestone sellers, particularly for groom and groomsmen gifts, retirements and significant birthdays, and the lid gives the recipient something to open on the day. A chain is not included, though every watch has a matching one available and orders over $100 include a free matching chain. A bamboo presentation box is free with the code BAMBOOBOX on orders over $80 and is added automatically on orders over $200. A large part of this category is made to order, so allow extra time on those pieces; in-stock watches are dispatched from Brisbane within 1 to 2 business days and unworn watches can be returned within 60 days.