This watch

A truly exceptional and rare find: an all-English solid 9ct gold half hunter pocket watch made by the esteemed J.W. Benson of London, dating to circa 1924. This magnificent timepiece is presented in amazing, collector-grade condition, a testament to high-quality British horology.

The heavy, highly polished solid 9ct gold half hunter case features a pristine enamelled front chapter ring with bold black Roman numerals encircling a central viewing aperture. The case is finished with a large, finely knurled gold crown and bale. When opened, the watch reveals a clean white enamel dial with Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock, paired with elegant Breguet-style hands.

The heart of the watch is a high-grade, fully signed 3/4 plate English lever movement. The gold-plated movement is beautifully finished with blued steel screws and is clearly signed "J.W. Benson Ludgate Hill London" and "The Bank. West London Make" with the serial number T.6304. This rare, solid gold timepiece is also complete with its original presentation box, making it a superb and highly collectible example.

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

As I sat at my workbench at 19 Clerkenwell Road servicing this magnificent timepiece, I couldn't help but feel a profound connection to the history it represents. J.W. Benson wasn't just another watchmaker; they were the titans of London horology, holding the Royal Warrant to Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales.

What makes this watch particularly special to us is the geography. J.W. Benson’s historic factory and showroom were located on Ludgate Hill, a mere 15-minute walk (less than a mile) from our own shop here in Clerkenwell. For over a century, this small pocket of London was the beating heart of the world's watchmaking trade.

Servicing this "Bank" model was a genuine privilege. Unlike the mass-produced Swiss calibres that would later dominate the market, this is a traditional 3/4 plate English Lever movement. It was built to a standard, not a price. When you wind it, you are feeling the same mechanical resistance and hearing the same strong, reassuring tick that its original owner felt in 1924.

At Antique Watch Co., we see ourselves as guardians of this fading craft. By preserving watches like this—keeping them ticking and accurate—we are keeping the spirit of Clerkenwell and traditional English watchmaking alive. This isn't just a beautiful object; it is a piece of London’s industrial soul.

• See J.W. Benson in the British Museum: J.W. Benson Collection & Biography

• Royal Observatory Greenwich: History of Timekeeping

Spec Stuff