J W Benson Half Hunter Pocket Watch for George VI Coronation
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1937
Maker / issuer
J.W. BensonThis J W Benson half hunter pocket watch is a commemorative timepiece produced in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI. and is housed in a sterling silver case with a plain finish, featuring the engraved Royal cypher, initials, and crown of George VI on the reverse.
The white dial is signed "J W Benson, London" and includes black hands, with one hand featuring a dual-swell design to facilitate reading the time without opening the case. The watch is stem-wound and stem-set, incorporating a 15-jewel, 3/4 plate movement equipped with a lever escapement. It functions as an historical commemorative object associated with the 1937 coronation of the British monarch.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1937
- Type
- Half hunter pocket watch
- Maker
- J W Benson
- Movement
- 15-jewel, 3/4 plate, lever escapement
- Case Size
- 52mm
- Case Material
- Sterling silver
- Dial Signature
- J W Benson, London
- Place recorded
- England
- Maker / attribution
- J W Benson
Design
- Visible features
- • Case back features engraved Royal cypher, initials, and crown • Front cover has blue enamel Roman numerals • Dial signed 'J W Benson, London' with sub-seconds dial • Stem-wound and stem-set mechanism
- Historical Context
- produced to mark the 1937 coronation of King George VI. The inclusion of the monarch’s specific cypher and the year on the case back links the object to this historical event. The manufacturer, J W Benson, was an established firm founded in 1847 with a known history of serving members of the British Royal family, including Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales, which the auction description references to provide context for the maker's status.
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch features a sterling silver half hunter case with a plain, smooth finish. The exterior front cover is accented with blue enamel Roman numerals, allowing for time reading through the small central aperture. The reverse side of the case is engraved with the Royal cypher of King George VI, the Royal crown, his initials, and the date 1937. The dial is white and signed "J W Benson, London," with a separate sub-seconds track positioned at the bottom. The hands are black, with one featuring a dual-swell profile intended for visibility when the watch remains closed. The auction description notes some surface unevenness on the case back.
- Movement and Function
- The timepiece is powered by a 15-jewel movement constructed with a 3/4 plate layout. The watch is both stem-wound and stem-set, with the winding crown positioned at the 3 o'clock mark. This configuration allows the user to operate the watch without requiring the case to be opened, consistent with its half-hunter design.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The source does not provide the serial number or specific hallmarks for the silver case
- Research required: The extent of unevenness on the case back is subjective