J.W.Benson started up as a partnership between Samuel Suckley Benson and James William Benson. They traded as S.S. & J.W. Benson until 1855. From then on, James William continued the business under his name, J.W. Benson. J.W. Benson was a highly regarded London-based watch and clock-making company which traded between 1849 and 1973. They also produced fine jewellery, although are better known for their watches and clocks.
During the 19th century Benson was watchmaker to the Admiralty and also held a number of royal warrants including Queen Victoria in 1879, and the Prince of Wales. Three grades of high quality watches were made, The Field, The Bank and The Ludgate, intially being made in key-wind and later as keyless models.
In 1878 James William Benson died aged 52 and his sons Alfred and Arthur continued the business. The company's premises were: Cornhill (1849-64), Ludgate Hill (1854-1937), 25 Old Bond Street (1872-3) and 28 Royal Exchange (1892-1937). Their original workshop was at 4-5 Horseshoe Court (at the rear of their Ludgate Hill premises) and in 1892 they became a limited company and moved to their new 'steam' factory at 38 Belle Sauvage Yard.
During World War I the factory was bombed and from this point on the company no longer manufactured its own watches, but continued as a retailer. The timepieces, bearing the company name, used high quality movements supplied by Swiss manufacturers such as, Vertex and Longines. Bensons continued until 1973 when the name was sold to Garrards, the Royal jewellers.