Euro Antique Watches

Description

Gold 9ct J.W. BENSON Half Hunter Pocket Watch
London, 1917


You are bidding original J. W. Benson 9ct 0.375 gold half hunter pocket watch made in London in 1917.

Dial: The white enamel dial has black Roman numerals, outer minute divisions and a subsidiary seconds dial at the six. The dial has blued hands. The dial is signed:" J.W. Benson, London" in the upper centre.

Movement: The English Benson movement is signed "G6202, BEST LONDON MAKE, TO H.M. THE QUEEN, J.W. BENSON, LUDGATE HILL, LONDON." The movement is in good working condition. However, we cannot guarantee accuracy for an antique pocket watch.

Case: The watch lies in a 9ct gold case. The inner side of the case has the 9ct gold stamp .375 and is signed: "JWB". The case number is 6202. The back of the case has a monogram.


Diameter 48 mm Weight 89.30g
Signed J.W. Benson, Hallmarked London 1917
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BENSON HISTORY:
J.W.Benson started up as a partnership between Samuel Suckley Benson and James William Benson. They traded as S.S. & J.W. Benson until 1855. From this time on James William continued the business under his own name, J.W. Benson.
J.W. Benson was a highly regarded London based watch and clock making company which traded between 1849 and 1973. They also produced fine jewellery, although are better known for their watches and clocks.
During the 19th century Benson was watchmaker to the Admiralty and also held a number of royal warrants including Queen Victoria in 1879, and the Prince of Wales.
Three grades of high quality watches were made, The Field, The Bank and The Ludgate, intially being made in key-wind and later as keyless models.
In 1878 James William Benson died aged 52, and his sons Alfred and Arthur continued the business. The company's premises were: Cornhill (1849-64), Ludgate Hill (1854-1937), 25 Old Bond Street (1872-3) and 28 Royal Exchange (1892-1937). Their original workshop was at 4-5 Horseshoe Court (at the rear of their Ludgate Hill premises) and in 1892 they became a limited company and moved to their new 'steam' factory at 38 Belle Sauvage Yard.
During W.W.I. the factory was bombed and from this point on the company no longer manufactured its own watches, but continued as a retailer. The timepieces, bearing the company name, used high quality movements supplied by Swiss manufacturers such as, Vertex and Longines.
Bensons continued until 1973 when the name was sold to Garrards, the Royal jewellers.

As always, all my shipping items are sent out with Royal Mail signed for and registered Post, with tracking available.