1920s Cyma Half Hunter Pocket Watch for J W Benson

A 1920s Cyma half hunter pocket watch for J W Benson.

The watch has a Swiss stem-winding movement by Cyma, reference 938, and it is working nicely. The movement is signed with the J W Benson name.

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.

Up until the first World War, 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. 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.

The watch itself measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is the 10ct gold plated Moon model from the Dennison Watch Case Company. The company supplied cases to many watch assemblers. Overall the case is in good condition, just a small nick to the front where the loop has rubbed on the case, and three “dings” to the back. The front cover has a small lens surrounded by enamel filled Roman numerals. The winding crown pushes in to open the front cover.

Inside there is a glass lens which is in good condition.

The white enamel dial is signed J W Benson, London. It is in beautiful condition and has blued steel hands, including the special hand for half hunter watches so that the time can be read even when the front cover is down.

The watch comes with a single chain, 31cm long including the T-bar and the clasp.

The watch and chain will be sent 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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