QUICK ANSWER
A Hunter Caseback is a type of watch case with a hinged metal lid that covers and protects the watch face, often used in pocket watches to prevent damage to the glass crystal during activities like hunting.

A hunter caseback is a solid, hinged cover that closes over the watch crystal, protecting the dial from scratches and impacts. Originating in pocket watches where riders needed protection during hunts, the design requires the cover to be opened manually to read the time. Today, hunter and demi-hunter casebacks appear on select wristwatches as a nod to traditional pocket watch aesthetics.
A full hunter caseback completely covers the crystal with a solid hinged lid that must be fully opened to see the dial. A demi-hunter (half-hunter) features a central aperture or cut-out in the cover, allowing the time to be read without fully opening the lid. Demi-hunters were practical innovations that maintained protection while improving usability, especially popular in Victorian-era pocket watches.
Yes, though relatively rare. Some brands produce hunter caseback wristwatches as collector pieces referencing pocket watch heritage. IWC and Patek Philippe have produced hunting-style cases in limited editions. More commonly, the term is seen in pocket watch collections from brands like Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne, and Breguet, where the tradition remains central to their heritage product lines.

.avif)