1940s Cyma Wrist Watch for J W Benson

1940s Cyma wrist watch for J W Benson.

The watch has a calibre R424 15-jewel hand-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement is signed with the name of the original retailer, J W Benson, 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, usually Cyma.

The watch measures 22mm wide excluding the winding crown and 32mm high excluding the lugs. The case is chrome plated while the case back is stainless steel. The inside of the case back is signed with the J W Benson name. The case is in good condition with just general light surface marks, nothing serious at all.

The lens has light marking but looks good to the naked eye.

The signed dial is in its original finish with original hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and outer minute markers.

A new leather strap has been fitted.

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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