Ww1 Silver Half Hunter Gents Watch, J W Benson

A WW1 Electa silver half hunter gents wrist watch from J W Benson.

The watch has a hand-winding movement, identified as an Electa from a 1914 sales catalogue. The movement is working nicely and keeping good time to within around five minutes over 24 hours. The bridges and cocks are decorated with striped decoration called Côtes de Genève.

The watch measures 35mm diameter excluding the onion winding crown and the fixed wire lugs. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside the covers for London 1917 (import mark) with an importer's mark for Arthur Rendell.

In 1907, an act came into force which meant that all imported watches had to be assayed in a UK assay office and marked with British import hallmarks. For this, a sponsor's mark was required. In this particular case, Arthur Rendell was an employee, and probably in charge, of the department that handled imported watches at a company called Pringles, the UK's largest wholesalers of jewellery, silverware, clocks and watches, so it was deemed relevant to use his initials.

Along with the hallmarks, there is also a patent number of ?71363 which relates to a 1915 patent for the spring action of the front cover. This inventor and applicant was a Mr Charles Zurbruegg.

The front of the case has Arabic numbers surrounding a central lens – usually these lenses are quite small but this is a larger size lens making it a more desirable piece. There is a thin line of wear around the chapter ring and a little unevenness to the screw-on case back.

The button to open the front cover is between the bottom lugs. The cover springs upwards and reveals a glass lens which is in good condition.

The white enamel dial is signed 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. JW 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. From a collector’s point of view, both the British and Swiss made J W Benson movements are desirable and comparable in quality.

A new black leather strap has been fitted.

The watch 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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