Antique J W Benson Pocket Watch and Box

Antique J W Benson pocket watch and box.

The watch has a Revue 15-jewel stem-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement is signed with the name of the original retailer, J W Benson.

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, including Cyma and Revue.

The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which has been engraved with the initials JG.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is the gold filled Sun model from the English watch case maker Aaron Dennison… both both the inside and outside of the case has layers of 14 carat gold filled, originally guaranteed for to wear for 25 years. The case is in lovely condition and the back has the beautiful ornate initials of the original owner, JL.

The glass lens is in lovely condition.

The signed dial is in super condition with blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and outer minute markers.

The watch comes in an original J W Benson 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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