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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

J. W. Benson silver open-face pocket watch with fitted box

Partially verified

This open-face pocket watch was retailed by J. W. Benson of London, housing a Swiss-made nickel three-quarter plate lever escapement movement with 15 jewels. According to the seller, the movement was cased in England in a Dennison silver open-face case bearing Birmingham hallmarks for 1923. It features coin-edged sides, engine turning, and a stem-wind and stem-set configuration. The white enamel dial is marked 'J. W. Benson, London' and 'Swiss Made', featuring Roman numerals, blued steel hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock. Measuring 50 mm by 15 mm, the watch is fitted with a bevelled mineral glass and is housed in its retailer-signed red presentation box.

Front view of J. W. Benson pocket watch seated in its fitted red retailer box
Front view of J. W. Benson pocket watch seated in its fitted red retailer box — Atlam Watches. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.antiquesboutique.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
J. W. Benson
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
itm269767
Source-reported date
c. 1923
Source-reported place
Switzerland and United Kingdom

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Visual Presentation

The pocket watch features a white enamel dial with black Roman numerals, an outer track, and a subsidiary seconds display at 6 o'clock. Hands are of blued steel, with a spade-style hour hand observed beneath a clear crystal reported by the dealer to be bevelled mineral glass.

The dial is signed 'J W Benson, London, Swiss Made'. The watch is accommodated in a red leather box lined with silk and velvet, with visible interior silk printing detailing the retailer as 'J.W. Benson Ltd. Watchmakers, Jewellers & Silversmiths, 62 & 64, Ludgate Hill, E.C.4.'.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial with black Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds track at 6 o'clock.”
  • “The watch has a bevelled mineral glass”
  • “The watch comes in its original red leather box, lined with silk and velvet, signed “J W Benson, Ltd””
  • “Dial – the white enamel dial has a full set of blue steel hands and is signed “J W Benson, London, Swiss Made”.”

Case Construction and Hallmarks

According to the dealer, the watch is housed in an English silver open-face case manufactured by Dennison, featuring a hinged inner cover, back cover, and bezel. Dimensions are reported as 50 mm in diameter by 15 mm in depth.

The case exterior is stated by the seller to have coin-edged sides and engine turning, with hallmarks for Birmingham 1923. Because the provided visual record only shows the face of the watch resting in the retailer box, the engine turning, case edge profile, and internal silver hallmarks are not visible in the photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “English silver open face case by Dennison, which has a hinged inner, back cover and bezel.”
  • “The watch measures 50mm x 15mm deep”
  • “The case is decorated with coin edged sides and engine turning”
  • “English silver case which has clear hallmarks for Birmingham 1923”

Reported Movement and Mechanism

The interior mechanism is not depicted in the source imagery. The listing describes it as a Swiss-manufactured nickel three-quarter plate lever escapement movement containing 15 jewels.

The movement is stated to be stem-wound and stem-set, bearing the engraved signature 'JW Benson, 15 Jewels, Swiss Made'. The dealer indicates the movement was produced in Switzerland before being cased and sold in England.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement – the nickel ¾ plate movement has a lever escapement and is signed “JW Benson, 15 Jewels, Swiss Made”.”
  • “The watch is stem wound / stem Set”
  • “This pocket watch was made for J W Benson of London in a Swiss factory. The movement watch was sent back to England where it was cased and sold.”

Open research questions

  • What specific Dennison serial numbers and Birmingham hallmark symbols are stamped inside the hinged silver case back and inner cover?
  • Which Swiss manufacturer produced the 15-jewel three-quarter plate movement supplied for J. W. Benson?
  • What is the pattern and condition of the engine turning across the exterior back of the silver case?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for J. W. Benson silver open-face pocket watch with fitted box
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case HallmarksBirmingham 1923“English silver case which has clear hallmarks for Birmingham 1923”
Movement InscriptionJW Benson, 15 Jewels, Swiss Made“signed “JW Benson, 15 Jewels, Swiss Made””
Case MakerDennison“English silver open face case by Dennison”
Dimensions50mm x 15mm deep“The watch measures 50mm x 15mm deep”
EscapementLever escapement“nickel ¾ plate movement has a lever escapement”
Dealer Code4.104 (AB-269767)“Code 4.104 (AB-269767)”
Winding and Setting MechanismStem wound / stem set“The watch is stem wound / stem Set”
Crystal TypeBevelled mineral glass“The watch has a bevelled mineral glass”
Case ConstructionHinged inner, back cover and bezel“which has a hinged inner, back cover and bezel.”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with black Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds track at 6 o'clock.
  • Blued steel spade-style hands set beneath a clear crystal.
  • Fitted within an open dark velvet-lined presentation box bearing retailer text on the inner lid silk reading 'J.W. Benson Ltd. Watchmakers, Jewellers & Silversmiths, 62 & 64, Ludgate Hill, E.C.4.'.

Research qualifications

  • The movement and interior hallmarks are not visible in the presented photograph and rely on seller description.
  • The rear case decoration and engine turning are not visible in the front-facing box view.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

English Silver J W Benson pocket watch with original box c1923 in Antique Mens Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record e105c3c414

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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