Antique Silver Cyma Pocket Watch for J W Benson, 1935

Antique silver Cyma pocket watch for J W Benson, 1935.

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.

This particular watch has a Swiss 15-jewel stem-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement carries the calibre number 939a which confirms that it was made by Cyma.

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.

The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which has general light marking and a scratch.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside both of the case backs for London 1935, together with the mark to commemorate the silver Jubilee of George V. There is also a maker’s mark for J W Benson. The case is in good condition, just general light surface marking but nothing too detrimental.

The acrylic lens has light marking but again is very acceptable.

The signed dial has three hairlines but they are very faint, two are just about visible through a magnifying loupe. Blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and outer minute track.

The watch comes in a new presentation box.

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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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