English gold half-hunting cased minute repeating lever watch Circa 1900

Gold half hunter by James Benson
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An English 18 carat gold half-hunting cased minute repeating lever pocket watch, circa 1900. ¾ Plate movement, two hammers, two gongs, English lever escapement, gold screw compensation balance. White enamel dial with Roman hours, outer minute divisions and subsidiary seconds. Plain case. Movement signed and numbered. Comes with the original presentation box.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 133 g
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Signed: J.W. Benson 25 Old Bond Street London By Special Warrants to H.M. the Queen and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales
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The English 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 and 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 kinds, 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.