1930s Cyma Pocket Watch and Chain for J W Benson

1930s Cyma pocket watch and chain for J W Benson.

The watch has a Swiss 15-jewel stem-winding movement, identified as a Cyma, which is working nicely. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which has a little scratching and an indentation.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is the gold plated Star model from the English watch case maker Aaron Dennison. There is a small bruise to the side of the watch and a slight indentation to the back but overall the condition is good.

The glass lens has a couple of small marks but nothing too serious.

The dial is signed with the retailer’s name, 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. 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 case.

The dial has a couple of hairline cracks radiating from number 4, and another towards the edge of the dial between 7 and 8.

The watch comes with a double albert with each chain measuring 22cm long including the T-bar and the clasp.

The watch and chain come in a new presentation box.

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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