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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

Sir John Bennett Longines silver pocket watch, 1886

Partially verified

This late Victorian silver pocket watch dates to 1886 according to London hallmarks recorded by the seller. The watch was retailed by London watchmaker Sir John Bennett and houses a Swiss movement supplied by Longines. The white dial features black Roman hour numerals, blued steel hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock. The silver case features a top-wind crown with an adjacent side press button to adjust the hands, alongside a bevelled-edge crystal. The source reports an engraved Sir John Bennett logo on the inner dust cover and Longines winged hourglass trademark on the regulator.

Sir John Bennett open-face silver pocket watch with Longines movement, 1886
Sir John Bennett open-face silver pocket watch with Longines movement, 1886 — Spencer James Antiques / Antiques Atlas. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.antiques-atlas.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Sir John Bennett
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
as703a336 / 987
Source-reported date
1886
Source-reported place
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 Case Configuration

The pocket watch is configured as an open-face timepiece fitted with a white dial displaying black Roman numerals, an outer perimeter track, and a subsidiary seconds dial positioned at 6 o'clock. Visible elements include dark blued steel hands, among them a spade or pear-form hour hand, framed by a smooth silver bezel protecting a crystal with a bevelled edge.

Manual winding operates via a top-wind fluted onion crown integrated with a pendant bow at 12 o'clock, accompanied by an adjacent push pin along the upper case rim to set the hands.

Evidence for this section
  • “clean white dial with black numerals and dark blue steel hands ,small sweep 60 second dial, top wind ,with side press button to set the hands, watch glass with Bezelled edge”
  • “Open-face pocket watch with white dial, black Roman numerals, and an outer minute track.”
  • “Fluted onion-form winding crown with pendant bow at 12 o'clock and a hand-setting push pin located on the upper case rim.”

Retailer Attribution and Movement Marking

The watch is associated with Victorian London watchmaker and retailer Sir John Bennett, whom the vendor credits with importing Swiss-made movements into London. While internal components are not visible in the primary photograph, the listing reports that the inner dust cover bears an engraved Sir John Bennett logo.

The movement is stated by the seller to be a Longines calibre. The vendor reports that the balance regulator carries an engraved Longines winged trademark, though specific calibre reference and serial numbers are not documented in the listing text or visible in the imagery.

Evidence for this section
  • “Rare Silver pocket watch by Sir John Bennett Victorian London watchmaker and retailer with a Longines movement”
  • “He was one of the first to import these famous Swiss made movements into London”
  • “Sir John Bennett engraved logo on the inner dust cover, the watch regulator with the famous Longines wings engraved "their trade mark"”

Hallmarking and Dimensional Records

The silver casing is reported to carry full London assay hallmarks dating to 1886. The vendor listing categorizes the piece under Late Victorian Antiques and assigns an English origin.

Physical dimensions in the listing note a "Size 50 cms diameter," which represents a clerical error for 50 millimetres. Casemaker sponsor marks and internal case serial numbers are not recorded in this source.

Evidence for this section
  • “Full London Hallmarks for 1886”
  • “Period Late Victorian Antiques”
  • “Size 50 cms diameter, really nice pocket watch quite rare to find, nice to have the history of the watchmaker”

Open research questions

  • What specific Longines calibre is fitted to the watch, and what serial number is engraved on the movement plates?
  • Which casemaker sponsor's mark accompanies the 1886 London assay hallmarks on the silver case?
  • What is the precise verified diameter of the silver case in millimetres?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Sir John Bennett Longines silver pocket watch, 1886
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerSir John Bennett“Maker Sir John Bennett”
Movement supplierLongines“with a Longines movement”
Hallmark year1886“Full London Hallmarks for 1886”
MaterialSilver“Material Silver”
OriginEnglish“Origin English”
Item codeas703a336 / 987“Item code as703a336 / 987”
Dealer reported runtimeAround 30 hours on a full wind“runs around 30 hours on full wind and keeps very good time”
Listing period classificationLate Victorian Antiques“Period Late Victorian Antiques”

Visible details

  • Open-face pocket watch with white dial, black Roman numerals, and an outer minute track.
  • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned above 6 o'clock with black Arabic markers.
  • Dark blued steel hands including a spade/pear hour hand.
  • Fluted onion-form winding crown with pendant bow at 12 o'clock and a hand-setting push pin located on the upper case rim.
  • Smooth silver bezel holding a bevelled-edge glass crystal.

Research qualifications

  • Source cites 'Size 50 cms diameter', which represents a clerical error for 50 mm.
  • Serial number 439289 is not present in the listing text.
  • Inner dust cover and movement details are reported by the seller but not visible in the provided primary photograph.

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

Consulted source

Antiques Atlas - Silver Pocket Watch Sir John Bennett Longines 1886 as703a336 / 987

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 098c79100b

Terms in this record

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

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