Full Hunter, Half Hunter and Open Face
Look at the front. A full hunter has a solid hinged cover over the dial; a half hunter has a cover with a small window and a ring of numerals, so you can read the time without opening it; an open-face watch has no cover at all. This guide explains each, the rarer demi-hunter, double hunter and pair case, and what matters when you sell.
Not sure which case yours is?
Free, no obligation, returned at our cost if you decline.
- Read our Google reviews (opens Google)
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- A reply within one working day
- Paid the same day after inspection
The full hunter
A spring-loaded solid cover closes over the dial and flies open when you press the crown. It protected the glass in a pocket, and gave the maker a surface for engine-turning, engraving or a crest. Check the spring, the hinge and the cover for dents.
The half hunter
A window in the cover, with the hours on an enamel ring round it, lets you read the time with the cover shut. It was a refinement of the full hunter. A perfect, uncracked enamel ring is what buyers look for.
The open face
No cover: the dial sits under glass for reading at a glance. Open-face watches were favoured for dress wear and by the railways, where checking the time quickly mattered.
Rarer forms
See also how we check a watch in our watch guides.
0 of 3 checked
1Double hunter
Covers front and back.
2Demi-hunter
Another name for a half hunter.
3Pair case
An inner case for the movement and a separate outer case, on 18th and early 19th-century watches.
Not sure what you have? Send photos of the case open and closed for a free, honest check.
Free, no obligation, returned at our cost if you decline.
Which case is worth more?
There is no fixed rule: a pocket watch is valued on its maker, movement, condition and recent sales more than its case type. Within that, an undented cover with a working spring, a perfect enamel ring, decoration, and an original, matching case all count in its favour. We never publish figures.
Free, no obligation, and returned at our cost if you decline.
Read our Google reviews (opens Google)
- Maker
- Movement
- Cover condition
- Enamel ring
- Originality
How selling works
- 1
Send photographs
of the case open and closed, the dial, the marks inside the case-back and the movement.
- 2
Free value inspection
We reply within one working day with an estimate, subject to inspection. If our offer differs, you can decline and we return it at our cost.
- 3
Paid the same day after inspection
by bank transfer or in cash, in Mayfair, at our Braintree office, by post or by free collection.
Insured up to £10,000 per parcel when you send to us.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a full hunter and a half hunter?
A full hunter has a solid cover that closes over the dial completely. A half hunter has a cover with a small window and a ring of numerals, so you can read the time without opening it. An open-face watch has no cover at all.
Why is it called a hunter?
The cover protected the glass and dial when riding, and the name is usually linked to hunting on horseback. Whatever its origin, a hunter case is one with a hinged cover over the dial. Ask us if you would like to know more about your own piece.
Is a full hunter worth more than an open face?
Not by itself. Value follows the maker, movement, condition and recent sales. A full hunter with a perfect cover and working spring is attractive, but a fine open-face watch by a great maker can be worth more. Send a clear photograph and we will tell you honestly what we see.
My hunter cover will not close. Can I sell it?
Yes. A weak spring, a stiff hinge or a dented cover is a condition point, not a reason we cannot buy. Please do not force it or have it repaired elsewhere first. Send photographs of the case open and closed.
How do I open the back of a pocket watch?
Many open with a fingernail at a small lip near the hinge; some unscrew. Our guide to opening a pocket watch shows each type. If it will not open easily, stop and send photographs instead, so nothing is damaged. A short message with two or three photographs is all it takes to start.
Where can I sell a pocket watch?
To a buyer who reads the case, marks and movement in person. We buy pocket watches directly: a free value inspection from photographs, then an appointment in Mayfair or at our Braintree office, post or free collection. You are paid the same day after inspection.
Related guides
Not sure which case yours is?
Send a photograph of it open and closed for a free value inspection, with no obligation.
Free, no obligation, returned at our cost if you decline.