Gents silver cyma Wrist Watch from J W Benson, 1932

Gents silver Cyma wrist watch from J W Benson, 1932.

The watch has a Cyma 15-jewel stem-winding movement which is working nicely.

The watch is a good size at 35mm diameter excluding the winding crown and the fixed wire lugs. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside the case back for Glasgow (import mark), 1932, with an importer's mark for J W Benson. The case is a good solid case with screw on bezel and case back which is always a nice sign of quality. The case is in good condition for such an early piece, general light surface marks but nothing too serious at all.

The watch glass is in good condition.

The signed white enamel dial has a few hairline cracks radiating out from the centre. Originally there would have been painted detail to the hands and the numbers but this has been removed over the years.

A new leather strap has been fitted.

The watch will be sent in a new presentation box.

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.

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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