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UNIVERSAL GENÈVE
POLEROUTER JET
J.W. BENSON LONDON
CIRCA 1959
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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.
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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".
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In 1872 a shop was opened on Bond Street which was followed by one in the Royal Exchange in 1890 as well as a new steam works at La Belle Sauvage Yard, close to 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 in the 1880s incorporated platinum into its gold and diamond jewelry. In 1888, they launched the 'The '88' Jewellery collection' with pieces such as brooches, bracelets and cufflinks, all featuring two figure-of-eight designs superimposed and intertwined. These have been advertised as the perfect wedding or anniversary gift and displayed alongside their regular stock of diamond pendants, fancy brooches and stick pins.
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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.
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Pictured here is an elegant Universal Genève watch, designed by Gerald Genta, who was only in his twenties at the time. The Polerouter is the model that literally launched her career as a designer. He went on to design, among the most famous, Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak, Omega's "Pie pan" Constellation and Patek Philippe's famous Nautilus.
This example features a dial with a slightly eggshell colour, with applied and fractional indexes and large indicators with numerals at 6 and 12 o'clock. Universal Genève's iconic logo, the letter "U" on a small brass square, as well as the indexes, are small enough not to encumber the refined character of the overall dial design. The dial is marked "Universal Genève Polerouter jet J.W. Benson London" at the top and the famous "Automatic Microrotor" indication at the bottom. The inscription "Polerouter Jet" has faded slightly over time, which nevertheless adds a certain charm to it. All of this is original and this example has developed a beautiful patina over the last sixty years.
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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 calibre 215-9. It is a reliable and durable movement that was used in many Universal watches of this era. The movement of this example bears the inscription "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.
