UNIVERSAL GENÈVE POLEROUTER JET J.W. BENSON LONDON CIRCA 1959

SOLD

A rare watch stamped and sold by the prestigious firm of J.W. Benson which was one of the most respected watchmakers in London during the second half of the 19th century and was one of the very few wristwatch houses owned by English rather than Swiss.

The company was originally established in 1847 by brothers James William Benson and Samuel Suckley Benson who set up shop as watchmakers, silversmiths and goldsmiths in Cornhill, London. In addition to making their own watches and jewelry, they were also importers and retailers of fine diamonds, goldsmiths and silverware. After only eight years, the partnership was dissolved in 1855 and J.W. Benson continued alone. He then took additional premises at 33 Ludgate Hill and as the business grew, he expanded to number 34 next door. In the 1860's he advertised his large and well-stocked store with an adjoining workshop specializing not only in the manufacture of watches and clocks, but also in their repair. He began to participate in national and international exhibitions, including London in 1862, Paris in 1867 and the 1885 Exhibition of Inventions, where he unveiled the "Patent Dust and Damp Excluding Band for Watches".

In 1872, a store was opened in Bond Street which was followed by one in the Royal Exchange in 1890 as well as a new steam factory in La Belle Sauvage Yard, near the Ludgate Hill premises. In 1878, J.W. Benson died, leaving his sons Alfred and Arthur to continue the business. The following year, they received a royal warrant from Queen Victoria, to which they added those of the Prince of Wales and the Kings of Siam and Denmark. Although best known for its watches, the company also sold jewelry and by the 1880s was incorporating platinum into its gold and diamond jewelry. In 1888, they launched "The "88" Jewellery" collection with pieces such as brooches, bracelets and cufflinks, all featuring two overlapping and intertwined figure eight designs. These were advertised as the perfect wedding or anniversary gift and displayed alongside their regular stock of diamond pendants, fancy brooches and stick pins.

In 1889, the company took over the Hunt & Roskell company and continued successfully until the Second World War. Unfortunately, during this period the factory was bombed, destroying thousands of watches and from that point on the company no longer manufactured its own watches, but continued as a retailer. The watches bearing the company's name used high qualitySwiss movements supplied by manufacturers such as Vertex (Revue), Universal Genève, Cyma/Tavannes, Longines and by the English manufacturer, S. Smith and Sons.

J. W. Benson Ltd continued until 1973 when the name was sold to the royal jewellers, Garrards. Today they are best remembered for their watches, now collectors' items from a wonderful period in British watchmaking history.

This is an elegant Universal Genève watch designed by Gerald Genta when he was only 20 years old. The Polerouter is the model that literally launched his career as a designer. He went on to design, among the most famous, the Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet, the Constellation "Pie pan" by Omega and the famous Nautilus by Patek Philippe.

This example features a dial with a slightly eggshell color, with applied and split indexes and large indicators with numerals at 6 and 12 o'clock. The iconic Universal Genève logo, the letter "U" on a small brassy square, as well as the hour markers, is small enough not to clutter the refined character of the overall dial design. The dial is marked "Universal Genève Polerouter jet J.W. Benson London" on the upper part and the famous indication "Automatic Microrotor" on the lower part. The inscription "Polerouter Jet" has slightly faded with time, which nevertheless adds a certain charm. All this is original and this watch has developed a nice patina over the last sixty years. 

The case is a chrome plated metal base, with a stainless steel screwed back. There is some wear on the case commensurate with age, but nothing that detracts from the overall beauty of the watch. The glass has a slight crack at 4 o'clock. The case back has the original reference number, 20355/2, and the serial numbers 1906479 on the case back dating the watch to around 1959. It is embossed inside with the typical logo of that time.

The watch is powered by a Swiss-made automatic movement: the 28-jewel caliber 215-9. It is a reliable and durable movement that was used in many Universal watches of this era. The movement on this example is marked "Patented rights pending", due to a dispute with Büren at the time.

Overall, a beautiful and rare reference stamped by a recognized jeweler. The overall condition is very good, and the dial is really the part that makes this watch stand out.

Manufacturer: Universal Genève
Model: Polerouter Jet
Reference: 20355/2
Year: Circa 1959
Materials: Steel
Dimensions: Diameter 33.90 mm Total height 42.80 mm Thickness 8.30 mm
Caliber: Universal Genève, Automatic Microrotor, cal.215-9
Strap: Condor black buffalo 18mm
Case/paper: no