Makers to Her Majesty Queen Victoria

British Watches
Since 1811

Two centuries of horological excellence, revived. From the Lancashire watchmaker's bench to the collieries, docksides and steel furnaces of Northern England — every Thomas Russell & Son timepiece carries the weight of history on the wrist.

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THOMAS RUSSELL & SON Tempus Fugit LONDON EST. 1811
Royal Warrant Holders 1880 Handmade & Limited Edition Certificate of Provenance Designed & Made in the UK

1811

Founded in Lancaster

200+

Years of British horology

∞

Stories to tell

Our Heritage

Two Centuries of Craft

From a single watchmaker's workshop in Lancaster to Royal Warrant holders serving the Crown and the Admiralty — the story of Thomas Russell & Son is the story of British industrial ambition at its finest.

1811

The Founding, Lancaster

Thomas Russell opens his watchmaker's workshop in Lancaster, beginning a dynasty that would span two centuries and earn the highest honours British horology could bestow.

1848

Liverpool & the Time O'Day

The business moves to 20 Slater Street, Liverpool. At the heart of the world's busiest maritime port, the famous Time O'Day pocket watches are launched. Ships' chronometers become a cornerstone of the firm's trade.

1859

Thomas Russell & Son

Control passes to Thomas Robert and Alfred Holgate Russell. The name Thomas Russell & Son is formally adopted. The iconic Tempus Fugit crest — Time Flies — appears on movements from 1870.

1877

Cathedral Works, Church Street

The company moves to grand new premises, with additional offices in Piccadilly, London and Toronto, Canada. The Russell Watch and Chronometer Manufactory becomes an empire-spanning enterprise.

1880

Royal Warrant — Makers to the Queen

The firm receives its Royal Warrant: "By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen, H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh and the Admiralty." The pinnacle of Victorian horological recognition.

Today

The Revival, 65 London Wall

Thomas Russell & Son Ltd is reborn at 65 London Wall, London EC2M 5TU. The heritage is restored. The craft continues. The Industrial Series honours the communities that built this nation.

"Every watch tells a story — one of resilience, heritage, and craftsmanship passed down through generations. A reminder of where we come from and the greatness we strive to rebuild."
Thomas Russell & Son Ltd — Founding Statement
Thomas Russell & Son Tempus Fugit crest — winged wheel with compass star over waves, TEMPUS FUGIT on a ribbon banner
Our Story

Built on the Shoulders of Giants

Thomas Russell & Son Ltd is more than a watch company. It is a personal mission, rooted in the South Yorkshire soil that shaped the Industrial Series we are now creating.

In the 1930s, our founder's grandfather relocated to South Yorkshire in search of work as a miner. In his spare hours, he cultivated a passion for watches — repairing them with the same precision and care he brought to his work underground. He left behind an unfinished pocket watch: waiting to be repaired, and ultimately lost to time.

That unfinished watch became the founding idea of this revival. Not just to find and restore a Thomas Russell pocket watch — but to restore the heritage of British watchmaking itself, and to give the communities that built this country a timepiece worthy of their story.

"It is not just a revival of a name, but a celebration of the industries — mining, steel, and manufacturing — that my father, uncle, and grandfathers worked in with pride."
Founder, Thomas Russell & Son Ltd
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Trading NameThomas Russell & Son Ltd
Registered Address65 London Wall, London EC2M 5TU
Founded1811, Lancaster, England
Royal WarrantMakers to HM Queen Victoria, 1880
TrademarkTempus Fugit — in use since 1870
Contactinfo@thomasrussellwatches.com