Sir John Bennett English Silver Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1894
This Victorian open-face pocket watch features an English silver case that the source states bears London hallmarks for 1894. The white enamel dial is signed 'SIR JOHN BENNETT LTD LONDON' below twelve o'clock and displays black Roman numerals, an outer minute track, and a subsidiary seconds dial at six o'clock with gilt hands.
According to the seller, the watch houses a gilt three-quarter plate lever escapement movement with a compensated balance, signed and numbered 59396 on the plate. The inner silver cover is engraved with the maker's details and Royal Observatory attribution.
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 watch
- Dimensions
- 49mm wide x 17mm deep
- Case Hallmarks
- London 1894
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- Sir John Bennett Ltd
- Winding and Setting
- Stem wound / stem set
- Movement Inscription
- Sir John Bennett Ltd London, No 59396
- Inner Cover Engraving
- Maker to the Royal Observatory, Sir John Bennett, 53 Cheapside, London
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial signed 'SIR JOHN BENNETT LTD LONDON' beneath XII. • Black Roman numeral hour markers with an outer minute track and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock. • Gilt spade-style hour hand, slender minute hand, and small seconds pointer. • Ribbed winding crown topped by a smooth rounded bow at 12 o'clock, with a small pin or lever projection adjacent on the bezel rim.
- Dial and Visual Appearance
- The pocket watch displays a white enamel dial featuring black Roman numeral hour indices, an outer minute ring, and an inset subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. The dial is signed 'SIR JOHN BENNETT LTD LONDON' beneath the twelve o'clock marker and is fitted with a set of gilt hands, including a spade-shaped hour hand, an elongated minute hand, and a small subsidiary seconds pointer. The open-face case is fitted with a ribbed winding crown enclosed by a smooth circular bow at 12 o'clock, with a small pin or lever projection visible adjacent on the bezel rim. The seller also notes that the front is fitted with a synthetic glass.
- Reported Movement and Internal Markings
- Internal components are not visible in the provided exterior photograph, but the vendor describes the movement as a gilt three-quarter plate configuration featuring a lever escapement and a compensated balance. According to the seller's description, the plate is inscribed 'Sir John Bennett Ltd London, No 59396'. The inner silver cover is similarly reported by the dealer to bear an engraved logo alongside the inscription reading 'Maker to the Royal Observatory, Sir John Bennett, 53 Cheapside, London'.
- Case Construction and Dealer Condition Notes
- The watch is housed in an English silver case measuring 49 mm in width and 17 mm in depth. The seller states the case features a snap-on bezel along with a hinged inner and back cover, and reports clear London silver hallmarks dating to 1894. A vacant cartouche is noted on the back, and the dealer records general wear and tear along with missing gilt wire on the winder. Operationally, the listing notes the watch as stem wound and stem set. The seller states that the watch ticks but does not keep time, and it is offered in their restoration section without warranty.
Identification
- Reference
- WE49 (AB-129762)
- Serial number
- 59396
- 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 internal movement, inner cover engraving, and case hallmarks are not visible in the supplied single photograph and rely on dealer description.
- Research required: The dealer explicitly notes that the watch ticks but does not keep time and is offered in a restoration section without warranty.