Gents 9ct Gold Cyma Watch for J W Benson, 1960

A 1960 9ct gold Cyma wrist watch for 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. JW Benson also supplied watches to Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales.

As with many watch manufacturers, JW 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. From a collector’s point of view, both the British and Swiss made JW Benson movements are desirable and comparable in quality.

This particular watch has a Cyma 17-jewel hand-winding movement, R458, which is working nicely.

The watch itself measures 30mm diameter excluding the winding crown and the lugs so it would suit a slim wrist. The case is 9 carat gold and there are hallmarks inside the case back for Birmingham 1960, with a maker's mark for Aaron Dennison, a prolific case maker who supplied various watch manufacturers. The inner back is also signed with the J W Benson name.

The lens is in good condition.

The signed dial is in very nice condition with feuille shaped hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and outer minute markers.

A new leather strap has been fitted.

The watch comes in a vintage 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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