Silver Cyma Pocket Watch and Chain, J W Benson, 1934

Silver Cyma pocket watch and chain, J W Benson, 1934.

The watch has a Swiss 15-jewel stem-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement has been identified as by Cyma, and it is signed with the name J W Benson, the original retailer of the watch.

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.

The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which has a few short scratches.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside the two case backs for Birmingham 1934 (together with the mark commemorating the Silver Jubilee of HM King George V and HM Queen Mary), with a case maker’s mark for Aaron Dennison. Dennisons was an English case manufacturer and supplier to various watch manufacturers. The case is in good condition, just some gentle unevenness to the back but nothing too serious.

To sum up, the movement was brought in from Switzerland, the case made within the UK (often to avoid expensive import duties) and the watch was assembled in the UK to be sold under the J W Benson name.

The glass lens is in good condition, just a couple of little nibbles to the bevelled edge.

The signed dial is in very nice condition with original blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and outer minute track.

The watch comes with a single chain, each length of chain measuring 23cm including the T-bar and the clasp. Hallmarked for Chester 1924. The chain weighs 45g.

The watch and chain come in a new presentation box.

ALL PRICES INCLUDE UK POSTAGE (excluding Northern Ireland).

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.

We are a VAT registered company and all purchases are covered by Consumer Regulations.

Credit / debit card purchases up to £300 can be made over the telephone on 01386 750238 or you can proceed via the 'Purchase Antique' button on each listing page. Alternatively, there is a Paypal payment link if you scroll down the page and we also accept bank transfers.

We are an on-line only business and do not have facilities for callers. Our offices are open from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

With regards to appraisals / valuations, we receive a huge number of information requests each day and unfortunately do not have the manpower to deal with them all individually. Our advice would be to contact a local auctioneer for a full appraisal.