Antique Cyma Hunter Pocket Watch for J W Benson.

Antique Cyma hunter pocket watch for J W Benson.

The watch has a Cyma stem-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement is signed J .W. Benson, 15 jewels, Swiss made and the calibre number 938. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover.

The watch measures 50.6mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is gold plated and is the Star model made by the Dennison Watch Case Company. The case has light surface marking from use but overall it is in nice condition for a 1920s piece.

The winding crown pushes in to open the front cover. Inside there is an acrylic lens which is in good condition with only minor marking from use. The dial is signed with the name of the original retailer, J W Benson of London.

J W Benson originated in 1847, founded by James William Benson and Samuel Suckley Benson. They were regarded as one of Victorian London’s most prestigious retail jewellers and they also manufactured their own watch movements. The company flourished and proudly boasted an elite client base made up of both British and European royalty and a selection of well heeled industrialists and business figures including the King of Siam, the King of Portugal, the King of Denmark, the Emperor of Japan, the Tsar of Russia and the King of Greece. J W Benson also supplied watches to Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales.

As with many watch manufacturers, J W Benson embraced the newly introduced wristwatch during the first World War. Up until this point, the company was still manufacturing its own movements in the UK but after its factory at Belle Sauvage Yard was hit during a bombing raid in 1914, it purchased mechanisms from a number of quality movement producers in Switzerland, mainly Cyma such as the watch we have here. From a collector’s point of view, both the British and Swiss made J W Benson movements are desirable and comparable in quality.

The signed dial is in nice condition.

The watch has blued steel hands.

The watch will be sent in a new presentation box.

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Please contact us regarding international shipping.

All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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