Lot 298

J.W. Benson

A collection of 3 gold half hunting case pocket watch and 1 gold hunting case pocket watch by James William Benson
An English half hunting case pocket watch with English lever escapement and original box

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The London maker James William Benson came from a watchmaking family which had run its own company since 1749. Benson worked as a watchmaker from 1857 to 1887; around 1865 he began describing himself as "Watchmaker to the Prince of Wales". At the time the company was very well-established and offered a product range of pocket watches of all kind, complications, and pocket and marine chronometers; Benson used movements by Victor Kullberg, Mercer, and Usher & Cole amongst others. Clocks and church clocks were produced - the town hall of Portsmouth for example has one of Benson's clocks. Later Arthur H. and Alfred Benson took over the running of the company.