Smiths for JW Benson (1955)

This is a super 9 carat gold cased English-made J W Benson watch. Although J W Benson is the name on the dial they were actually the retailer - the watch movement was manufactured by Smiths and the case by BWC (British Watchcase Company). The movement is Smiths’ highest quality 18 jewel movement - unusually for Smiths the balance spring has a Breguet overcoil, and there are also cap jewels on the escape wheel, both of these require considerable extra effort in the manufacturing process and are designed to increase the accuracy of the movement.

The silvered dial is crisp and clean, with no discolouration from age; it has a couple of very small scratches around the 7 o'clock marker. The dial has applied 9 carat gold markers and gold hands. The case back has no engraving and is clean aside from a very small dent.The case have rather stylish faceted lugs and is in good, worn condition - it has marks of use, but nothing serious and the edges of the case and the lugs are sharp, meaning it's not suffered from undue polishing.


The watch has been serviced and is keeping excellent time, the case has been ultrasonically cleaned but as with all our vintage watches is has not been polished and we’ve fitted a nos vintage pigskin strap.

Case diameter (excluding winding crown): 32mm
Case material: 9 carat gold (hallmarked Edinburgh 1955)
strap width: 16mm
time keeping: grade A