1930 Silver Pocket Watch, W Hinds, London

A 1930s Swiss silver pocket watch, W Hinds, London with albert.

The Hinds family history in the jewellery and watchmaking industry started in 1825 when Joseph Hinds opened a clockmaker's shop in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Over the following years, various members of the Hinds family became involved in the jewellery and watch making world.

Following the first World War when two members of the family were killed, the remaining two brothers decided to split the business as they had different ideas of how it should be run. They had six shops each and despite their Hammersmiths shops being in close proximity to each other, they remained on good terms.

William continued with his jewellery shops, then called W Hinds, and diversified into other areas such as barbers and cycling shops. He also bought seaside theatres and went on the stage under the name of Will Hammer. He also started making films under the name Hammer Productions which became a world famous studio with a large cult following.

His brother Frank, however, successfully concentrated on the jewellery business and the company is still trading today.

This particular watch has a high grade Swiss jewelled stem-winding movement (with whiplash / snailcam regulator) which is working well.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside the case back for Chester 1933 with a case maker's mark for the Birmingham based company Smith & Ewen. The case and movement are not original to each other but approximately of the same age. Overall the case is in good condition, just a couple of small bruises. The engine turned detail is still nice and crisp.

The watch glass has light marking, nothing serious at all.

The white enamel dial is is signed W Hinds Ltd, London. Blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch comes with a single silver chain, 36cm long including the clasp and the T-bar, cleverly formed from a hoof shaped winding key.

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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