This watch

A classic, all-English solid silver open-faced pocket watch from the pre-eminent London maker, J.W. Benson, featuring their highly reliable "The Bank" English Lever movement.

This handsome solid silver open-faced pocket watch is a quintessential piece of high-grade British horology, crafted by the esteemed J.W. Benson of Ludgate Hill, London. Dating to circa 1912, it represents the pinnacle of machine-assisted English watchmaking just prior to the First World War.

The substantial solid silver case features a plain, polished back suitable for personal engraving, with hallmarks confirming the purity of the silver and its date. The highly visible white enamel dial is in pristine condition, signed "J.W. Benson, London", and features bold black Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. Elegant spade and whip hands complete the traditional look.

The watch is powered by a high-quality 3/4 plate English Lever movement. This movement is one of Benson's renowned "THE BANK" grades, designed for robust accuracy and reliability. It is fully signed "J.W. Benson, Ludgate Hill, London" and "The Bank, Best London Make". The movement is keyless, meaning it is set and wound via the crown at the 3 o'clock position (top winding).

This is a beautiful and functional piece from the master of English watchmaking, perfectly combining industrial quality with classical London design.

Chain sold separately

Extra Points

Starting in the mid eighteenth century, JW Benson is one of the longest serving, all-British watchmaking companies, with a reputation to boot. The company acquired Royal patronage in 1879. Clerkenwell, home to Antique Watch Co. for nearly 50 years, is well known for its horological past, and part of its history extends to the JW Benson factory being opened in Ludgate Hill in 1892. JW Benson is now a subsidiary of Mappin and Webb, but their celebrated watches have stood the test of time.

What We Think

Here at Antique Watch Co. in Clerkenwell, we hold J.W. Benson in particularly high regard. As a London firm, Benson was one of the very few who successfully managed the transition from traditional bench-made movements to more efficient, machine-made calibres in the late 19th and early 20th century, enabling them to compete with the emerging American and Swiss industrial giants.

The "THE BANK" grade English Lever movement inside this watch is a testament to that success. It is a finely finished movement, built to be a reliable timekeeper for the working gentleman or professional. While many other firms had already begun importing Swiss movements by 1912, this watch proudly carries the stamp "Best London Make," a declaration of quality and domestic origin.

It's important to note the keyless, top-winding mechanism. This was a crucial modern advancement that eliminated the need for a separate winding key, making the watch far more convenient and a popular choice in the Edwardian era.

Owning this watch is owning a piece of London’s industrial heritage—a timekeeper that was, quite literally, one of the best British watches available in its day. The solid silver case ensures it has a pleasing weight and feel of quality in the hand.

Spec Stuff