Antique Silver Sir John Bennett Longines Watch

Antique silver Longines pocket watch for Sir John Bennett.

The watch has a stem-winding movement, identified as being manufactured by Longines, which is working nicely. The movement is not signed as it would have been produced as a private label item to be sold under the Sir John Bennett name.

The movement is protected by an inner dust cover which is beautifully engraved with the wording, ‘Maker to the Royal Observatory, Sir John Bennett Ld, 65 Cheapside, London, Swiss Made’. This inner cover also has a couple of date marks believed to be from when the watch was pawned.

Sir John Bennett (1814 – 1897) was one of the most controversial characters in British horology and, in many aspects one of the most advanced. He greatly advocated the Swiss methods of manufacture where parts were interchangeable rather than being made for each individual watch. This put him in conflict with many of his colleagues. It was even said that the establishment of the British Horological Institute was designed to protect decent watchmakers from “new brooms” like Bennett.

The watch measures 49mm excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are Continental hallmarks for 935 silver inside both of the case backs. The case is in lovely condition, just a couple of minor marks to the side, and the engine turned detail to the back is still lovely and crisp with a vacant cartouche to the centre.

The watch glass is in good condition, just one small chip about 2mm wide, to the edge.

The dial looks good to the naked eye. If viewed through a magnifying loupe there are a couple of faint hairlines. Pin-set blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch comes 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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