Antique J W Benson Pocket Watch, Boxed

Antique J W Benson pocket watch.

The watch has a Swiss 15-jewel stem-winding movement, identified as a Cyma, which is working nicely. The movement 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. J W 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 as we have in this particular watch. From a collector’s point of view, both the British and Swiss made J W Benson movements are desirable and comparable in quality.

The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which has some scratching where it has been opened in the past.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is the gold plated Star model from the Dennison Watch Case Company, a prolific case maker who supplied various watch manufacturers. The case has light surface marks and a gentle indentation to the back but overall is in good condition for its age.

The main face of the watch glass is in lovely condition. If viewed closely then there is a small chip to the bevelled edge.

The signed dial is in lovely condition and has blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch comes in a J W Benson presentation box. It is a little tatty and has remains of some writing inside the lid but still nice to have nonetheless.

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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