English 18K yellow gold half hunter pocket watch Circa 1890

Yellow gold lever watch
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An English 18 carat yellow gold half hunting cased pocket watch made by Parkinson & Frodsham in London, circa 1890. This watch has a mechanical manual wind movement with a lever escapement and winding system through the crown. The white enamel dial shows black Roman numeral hour markers, a simple outer minute track, sunken 30 hour power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock, matching sunken subsidiary seconds at 6 and blued steel double spade hands designed for half hunter readability. The case features a finely reeded, gadrooned band and a hinged front lid decorated with an engine turned barley grain pattern. A further central glass aperture on the spring lid with an inlaid dark blue enamel Roman numeral chapter ring surrounding it.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 142.2 g
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Signed: Parkinson & Frodsham London
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Parkinson & Frodsham was a leading 19th-century London watchmaker, renowned globally for marine chronometers, pocket watches, and clocks. Based at 4 Change Alley in London’s financial district, they became trusted by scientists, navigators, and royal admiralties worldwide.
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Founded in 1801 by William Frodsham and William Parkinson, the firm drew on Frodsham’s horological family lineage. His technical skill led to becoming Master of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1836. The founders focused on improving maritime navigation accuracy.
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They quickly gained international fame by supplying precise marine chronometers to the British Admiralty and shipping companies. Their instruments were used by key exploration fleets, such as the U.S. Exploring Expedition (1838–1842). During the 1874 Transit of Venus, scientists reported a Parkinson & Frodsham chronometer as the most accurate timekeeper.
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The company showcased its expertise at world exhibitions, earning global accolades.