Sterling silver Longines pocket watch retailed by the quality London based watchmaker, "J. W. Benson" (watchmaker to Queen Victoria). Dating from 1913.
Solid sterling silver case with snap-on bezel and hinged back and inner dust cover. Back of case decorated with a engine turned decoration (slightly worn). Inside back stamped with a full English, sterling silver import hallmark corresponding to the year 1913. Also stamped with the initials, "J.W.B." (J. W. Benson) and "A.B" (Arthur Baume - A director of Longines who had sole rights to the U.K. Longines agency). "Nail " hand setting button mounted on the edge of the case at the 11 o'clock position. Fitted with an acrylic U.B. crystal. Case diameter (not including pendant) : 48.5mm. Case condition : 80%.
White enamel dial with subsidiary seconds. Black Roman numerals. Signed, "J.W.Benson - London". Blue steel hands. Dial condition : 100%.
Gilt, 7 jewel, Longines
movement (calibre 18.69N). Signed, "J. W. Benson, 62 & 69 Ludgate Hill,
London. By Warrant to H.M. the Late Queen Victoria". Bimetallic
compensation balance wheel. Movement condition (appearance) : 90%. Recently
serviced. Time keeping : good.
J.W. Benson was a highly regarded London based watch & clock making company which traded between 1849 and 1973. During the 19th century it was watchmaker to the Admiralty and also held a number of royal warrants including Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales. The company was founded by James William Benson (born in 1826 in Reading) and his older brother (or cousin?) Samuel Stuckley Benson (born 1822). 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. 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, Cyma/Tavannes and Longines. Benson continued until 1973 when the name was sold, 'supposedly' to the Royal jewellers, Garrards.
The Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon S.A. was formed in the 1830s by Ernest Francillon at Saint-Imier, Switzerland and has always been renowned for design and precision. Famous aviators, explorers and pioneers have all consulted Longines. The company provided timers used at the first modern day Olympics in 1892 and has been closely associated with the worldwide development of sport timing ever since. It has been responsible for timekeeping at no less than fourteen Olympic Games.
For more information on the Longines, please click on the following link :
Inventory No. 203