J.W. Benson Open-Face Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1930
Maker / issuer
J.W. BensonThis English open-face pocket watch by J.W. Benson is presented in a gold-filled Dennison 'Moon' case, manufactured in Birmingham. The timepiece features a white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals, an outer minute track, and a subsidiary seconds dial located at the six o'clock position.
The hands are gold-toned and spade-patterned. Power is supplied by a fifteen-jewel stem-winding movement, which the source describes as an in-house mechanism. The watch is accompanied by a thirteen-inch gold-filled vintage bank-style chain. The overall design and construction align with standard pocket-carried timepieces from the early twentieth century. The auction description notes the movement is in good working order and the enamel dial is in excellent condition, with a minor 3mm dent on the bezel near the seven o'clock hour marker.
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
- Type
- Open-face pocket watch
- Maker
- J.W. Benson
- Country
- England
- Movement
- 15 jewels, stem wound
- Case type
- Dennison Moon
- Case diameter
- 46mm
- Date estimate
- Circa 1930
- Dial material
- White enamel
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- J.W. Benson
Design
- Movement
- The timepiece utilizes a stem-winding mechanical movement equipped with fifteen jewels. According to the source, the movement is a proprietary mechanism developed by J.W. Benson. The internal plates are marked with the manufacturer's name and indicate Swiss origin for the components. Technical service history is not provided by the source, though the movement is described as currently being in excellent working condition.
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in an open-face Dennison 'Moon' model case, produced in Birmingham, England. The exterior is gold-filled, featuring a smooth, polished finish. A 3mm dent is reported on the bezel near the seven o'clock position. The white enamel dial displays black Arabic hour numerals and a consistent minute track along the outer periphery. Gold-toned spade-style hands and a dedicated subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position are integrated into the face. The J.W. Benson London signature is prominently displayed on the dial.
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial with J.W. Benson London signature • Fifteen-jewel movement stamped J.W. Benson and Swiss Made • Spade-style hands and sub-seconds indicator • Gold-filled chain with patterned rectangular links
- Provenance and Accessories
- J.W. Benson was an established London-based watchmaker and jeweler during the Victorian era, holding records of service to the British royal family. Their production relied on partnerships with high-quality case manufacturers like Dennison to supply watches for domestic and international markets. The watch is accompanied by a thirteen-inch vintage gold-filled bank chain. The ensemble reflects the standard aesthetic and functional conventions for English pocket watches of the early twentieth century, with a production date estimated around 1930.
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: Exactness of the circa 1930 production date
- Research required: Confirmation of internal mechanism's in-house status versus externally sourced blank