Benson Silver Hunter Pocket Watch, Chain & Box

Boxed 1933 J W Benson / Cyma silver half hunter pocket watch and chain.

The watch has a 15-jewel stem-winding movement by Cyma which is working nicely. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover.

Originally J W Benson manufactured their own movements 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 watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside all three covers for Birmingham 1933 with a case maker's mark for Aaron Dennison, the Dennison Watch Case Company supplied many watch makers with cases. The case has a small lens to the front, surrounded by enamel filled numbers.

The case has a little gentle unevenness to the back and light surface marks but overall the condition is good. The winding crown pushes in to open the front cover.

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

The dial is signed J W Benson, London, the original retailer.

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.

The dial is in lovely condition and it has its original blued steel hands, including the special half hunter hour hand.

Also included is a single silver albert, 30cm long including the T-bar and the clasp. Each link has the lion passant silver mark. There is also a silver fob.

The watch and chain comes in a J W Benson presentation box.

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ALL PRICES INCLUDE UK POSTAGE (because of GPSR legislation, we no longer post items less than 100 years old to Europe, including 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.

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