Antique Cyma Pocket Watch for J W Benson

Antique Cyma pocket watch for J W Benson.

The watch has a stem-winding movement, Cyma calibre 748, which is working nicely.

Up until the first World War, Bensons were still manufacturing their own movements in the UK but after their factory at Belle Sauvage Yard was hit during a bombing raid in 1914, they purchased mechanisms from a number of quality movement producers in Switzerland, including Cyma. From a collector’s point of view, both the British and Swiss made J W Benson movements are desirable and comparable in quality.

The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which is engraved with the wording, ‘W J Cookson, Dec 25th 07, Porter Memorial Church’, believed to be the Baptist church in Lexington, Kentucky.

The watch measures 48mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is gold filled and the beaded detailing is a very handsome feature. There is also a vacant cartouche to the hinged case back but it is quite rubbed. The front of the watch is in good condition. The back has some unevenness.

The movement is later to the case although probably the same calibre as the original, and signed J W Benson.

The acrylic lens is in good condition..

The signed dial is signed with the name of the original retailer, J W Benson of London. The dial has a couple of very faint hairline cracks although only noticeable through a jewellers loupe.

The watch has gold hands and a blued steel sub seconds hand. The hour hand is a later but period replacement.

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.

The watch comes in a new presentation box.

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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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