ID Dent Early Wristwatch

[Sandra Sargeant]

I have Dent Gold Half Hunter Wristwatch Dent 61 Strand & 34 Royal Exchange London 37262. I am told it is one of the first wristwatches made. Date and any information, approx value etc will be appreciated Thank you

 

[eddywatch]

Dear Sandra
I have researched the invention and early history of the wristwatch.
Gold Half hunter wristwatches that I have seen were made between 1887 and 1921.
We need more information to give an exact date. Can you supply;
Photograph of movement
Photograph of case
Photograph of marks inside OUTER case-back
Movement number (numbers on cases are no use)
Diameter of case in mm. excluding winder and lugs.
Use any camera with a macro setting. Most phones are unsuitable but some iPhones focus close enough. Take photos by good daylight (very important) and make sure it is in focus!

Open gold case-backs with a fingernail or get an experienced person to do it.

Most Dent wristwatches date from between the Wars but given that address yours might be earlier.
Dent is an interesting and important company and any wristwatch with their name on it is rare and valuable.
We cannot give valuations on this site and only an auction house would be qualified to do so fee of charge.
Regards, Richard.

 

[Sandra Sargeant]

Hi I have found a thread of my original inquiry re the date of the watch I have . I am amazed as I didn't remember this tread (it is a number of year later and I am getting old lol) I found this through a google search . I wonder if you could help me again as I have photos I can send. I purchased this watch from a Watch specialist shop in the Burlington Arcade 30 years ago. I was told it was one of the first wrist watches made by Dent.

 

[Sandra Sargeant]

Dear Sandra
I have researched the invention and early history of the wristwatch.
Gold Half hunter wristwatches that I have seen were made between 1887 and 1921.
We need more information to give an exact date. Can you supply;
Photograph of movement
Photograph of case
Photograph of marks inside OUTER case-back
Movement number (numbers on cases are no use)
Diameter of case in mm. excluding winder and lugs.
Use any camera with a macro setting. Most phones are unsuitable but some iPhones focus close enough. Take photos by good daylight (very important) and make sure it is in focus!

Open gold case-backs with a fingernail or get an experienced person to do it.

Most Dent wristwatches date from between the Wars but given that address yours might be earlier.
Dent is an interesting and important company and any wristwatch with their name on it is rare and valuable.
We cannot give valuations on this site and only an auction house would be qualified to do so fee of charge.
Regards, Richard.

Hi I have found a thread of my original inquiry re the date of the watch I have . I am amazed as I didn't remember this tread (it is a number of year later and I am getting old lol) I found this through a google search . I wonder if you could help me again as I have photos I can send. I purchased this watch from a Watch specialist shop in the Burlington Arcade 30 years ago. I was told it was one of the first wrist watches made by Dent.

 

[Sandra Sargeant]

Hi I have found a thread of my original inquiry re the date of the watch I have . I am amazed as I didn't remember this tread (it is a number of year later and I am getting old lol) I found this through a google search . I wonder if you could help me again as I have photos I can send. I purchased this watch from a Watch specialist shop in the Burlington Arcade 30 years ago. I was told it was one of the first wrist watches made by Dent.

More Photos

 

[novicetimekeeper]

Is that really a wristwatch and not a converted pocket watch?

 

[gmorse]

Hi Sandra,

Is that really a wristwatch and not a converted pocket watch?

I think Nick is right, because the date letter in the hallmarks is for 1879/80, which is far too early for this to have been made originally as a wrist watch. The case was originally a half-hunter, which has had the strap lugs added, albeit very professionally, at a later date when wrist watches became fashionable, probably some time after the 1930s, since they are designed for spring bars. The earliest wrist watches had fixed or wire lugs; spring bar lugs like this only appeared later on into the 20th century.

Some good pictures of the movement itself would be helpful.

Regards,

Graham

 

[Sandra Sargeant]

Is there anyone who can help me identify the approximate year of this Dent watch. I was on a forum back in 2011 on this site but I did not have photos at the time.

At the time there was a mixed view on the age of this watch however if there is someone who can help me establish the approximate Age of this Wrist Watch I would be very grateful . I am currently in a Rural area in Australia a conciderable distance from a major city so being able to get expert opinion on this watch is difficult.

I was told it at the time of purchase from Watch Specialist shop in the Burlington Arcade in London 30 years ago that the watch is an original Dent Wrist Watch not adaption. The watch is working. I was told it was one of the early wristwatch manufactured by Dent. Given the reputation of the shop where it was purchased, who specialises in antique watches, I believe the information given me at the time to be correct.

I attach some photos. I cannot get the back off the Watch as I am disabled and my hands are not good.

I had a Valuation done in Australia in 1994 when the watch was dated in the 1920's by a local jeweler. Not a watch expert.

However I believe this date is wrong as it should be much earlier, 1850's, when Dent address on watch face was at 61 the Strand & 34 Royal Exchange . I know the date on the casing gold stamp is later around 1870's however I am also aware that the trademark Triangle was introduced shortly after this time.

If anyone can assist me that would be great. I have tried Dent directly but they tell me their records were destroyed by fire and they couldn't help me.

Thank you for your consideration

 

[gmorse]

Hi Sandra,

I think this thread should be merged with your other thread on this same watch, to avoid confusion and duplication of posts; I'll ask a moderator to merge them if you're agreeable.

The date in the case has been established as 1879/80, and I believe that whilst the case is from very early in its life, it isn't the original one as I had thought, for reasons I explain below, although it has subsequently been converted to a wrist watch by the addition of strap lugs. However, we're fortunate that Dent's history of their business addresses and trading names is well documented, even though their archives of individual watches haven't survived. One date of interest is 1876, when the company began to use its distinctive trademark of the name 'Dent' in a triangle; as you know, this isn't present on the dial of your watch, so we can be fairly sure that it pre-dates 1876. Another fact apparent from the dial signature is the company addresses, "61 Strand & 34 Royal Exchange", which was only in use briefly from 1853 by Frederick Dent according to the Dent website. This narrows the date of your watch to 1853 until possibly 1856. This is the best I can offer given the information you've been able to post at the moment I'm afraid, and it does confirm what you've already surmised about the date.

Regards,

Graham

 

[Tom McIntyre]

The newer posts are now part of the earlier thread.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Sandra,

To fill out the details a little, the gold half-hunter case was made by George Augustus Potter at 19 Green Terrace, New River Head, Clerkenwell, London, (in the heart of London's watch and clock making district), first registered on 20th June 1871 and then again with the same mark on 18th August 1871, 4th January 1872 and 3rd April 1882. (Information from Philip Priestley's book on British case makers).

Regards,

Graham