Smiths Watch Company
The Smiths watch company was founded in 1851 by Samuel Smith - a maker of precision instruments for a number of industrial sectors. Smiths later produced instruments for the expanding aviation and car industries supplying gauges and instruments for cockpits and dashboards. Smiths was probably best known at the onset of the second world war as a clock maker - accounting for 50% of the UK clock market!
Only after the second world war – did Smiths begin to manufacture wristwatches – supported by British government finance - to fill the gaping absence of a quality watchmaker in the UK. From 1946-1970 Smiths produced a range of high quality watches from its Cheltenham factory including; the De Luxe, Astral and later the Imperial and Everest ‘range’ of watches. Smiths holds an important part of English horological history as the last English watch company of any size in a world of watches dominated by Swiss, and Japanese manufacturers.
Smiths’ brand was elevated most famously as the first watch up Mount Everest (Smiths co-sponsored the Everest expedition. My Smiths collection includes the actual watch model (the A404) ‘carried’ - not worn by Sir Edmund Hillary. Smiths also enjoyed a long established contract with British Rail (BR) to produce retirement watches, in 9 carat gold, as a thank you for retirees after 45 years service to BR!
ITEM 1 - Smiths A409. The watch model supposedly carried by Sir Edmund Hillary in his ascent of Everest, but actually gifted to him after his descent! The A409 was the watch supplied to most of the Everest team members totalling 13 in number, and therefore one of the Holy Trinity of the Smiths Everest expedition range beside the A404 and A408. This model has a 33.3mm dial excl crown, Chrome-plated bezel and screw-back Dennison case as was typical of the robust Smiths’ expedition watches. The bezel and case are in near unblemished condition. The movement is the same as the A404 - the high grade 15 jewel 12.15 with a power reserve of 41 hours and f=1800 A/h/. Price £1650
Smiths A404 SOLD
Smiths 25 Jewel Automatic watch, SOLD
Smiths W10-WWW the rarer 1967 Army issue with full markings. Steel bezel and case at 36mm excl the crown - a good size for modern tastes.
The last Smiths model ever made this fine example fine has a near mint dial and unblemished case. The Smiths w10’s movement is the same as the earlier Astral range, 17 jewel plus the hacking function - the cal 60466E, f = 18000 A/h power-reserve 41h.
Smith w10’s in this pristine and original condition are undoubtedly rare.
PRICE SOLD.
Smiths W10-1968
PRICE SOLD
Smiths A409-The actual watch model supposedly carried by Sir Edmund Hillary in his ascent of Everest, but actually gifted to him after his ascent! The A409 was the watch supplied to most of the Everest team members totalling 13 in number, and therefore one of the Holy Trinity of the Smiths Everest expedition range beside the A404 and A408. This model has a 33.3mm dial excl crown, Chrome-plated bezel and screw-back Dennison case as was typical of the robust Smiths’ expedition watches. The bezel and case are in near unblemished condition. The movement is the same as the A404 - the high grade 15 jewel 12.15 with a power reserve of 41 hours and f=1800 A/h/.
Price SOLD
Smiths A454
SOLD
Smiths A404.
Arguably the Holy Grail for Smiths watch collectors. The A404 is the actual watch model carried by Sir Edmund Hillary in his ascent of Everest and therefore THE first watch atop Everest! This expedition watch with serial number C262313 dates to 1954 with a factory original dial which has aged to a mellow cream patina. The Chrome-plated bezel is 33.3mm (exc’ crown) and the desirable Dennison ‘Aquatite’ screw-back case -number 142426 dates to 1954 and is original to the watch (this is not always the case) and typical of the early Smiths expedition watches, both are in very good condition with minimal wear. The deluxe grade refined movement is the high grade 15 jewel 12.15 with a power reserve of 41 hours and f=1800 A/h/.
This is an increasingly rare and highly collectible piece.
SOLD.
Smiths 19 jewel Everest, in excellent condition. Gold-plated bezel-steel case, 33mm dial excl crown. The pinnacle of Smiths mechanical watch production saw the arrival of the high grade 19 jewel Everest watch range in the early 1960’s. Indeed the Everest 19 jewel watch movement was the basis for the much-admired 25 jewel automatic Smiths watch below. This outstanding example dates from 1963.
price, SOLD
Smiths -15 jewel deluxe model in 9 carat gold. This British Rail presentation watch is very clean the dial is in excellent condition with a soft vanilla patina highlighting the blue anodised steel hands.
Arguably the most popular Smiths watch these British Rail retirement watches are very collectable and increasingly rare - especially in this condition.
Price SOLD.
Smiths W10-WWW British Army issue 1969 with full markings. Steel bezel and case at 36mm excl the crown is a good size for modern tastes.
The last Smiths model ever made this fine example fine has a near mint dial and minor case markings.. price SOLD
ITEM 2. Smiths 15 jewel deluxe
Smiths -British Rail presentation 15 jewel deluxe model in 9 carat gold bezel and (snapback) case. The watch is very clean the 30mm dial excl crown is in good condition with a creamy patina highlighting the anodised steel hands.
British Rail retirement watches are very collectable and increasingly rare - especially in this condition. Price £650.
ITEM 4. Smiths `de luxe’ 17 presentation watch.
This 17 jewel deluxe model with a 9 carat gold bezel and (snapback) case has a Smiths Industrial appreciation dated April 1957-a rare piece of Smiths’ horological history . The 32mm dial and case (excl crown) is very clean the dial features the distinctive red sweep seconds hand. Smiths Industry retirement watches are particularly rare and especially collectable in this condition.
Price £695 ono.
ITEM 3b.
Smiths Hillary Benson Pattern case detail.
ITEM 3a.
Smiths Hillary Benson Pattern Dial-detail..
ITEM 3.
Smiths Hillary Benson Pattern Dial.
This A404 variant, actually a transitional RG-De Luxe model has a subsidiary seconds with no outer ring and the ‘Made in England’ is inside the minute track. It is the closest watch model to the actual model carried by Sir Edmund Hillary in his ascent of Everest and donated to the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers collection in Autumn 1953. The Chrome-plated 34mm bezel (exc’ crown) and screw-back Dennison Aquatite case are in excellent condition with minimal wear. The factory original dial has aged to a lovely mellow vanilla patina. The deluxe grade refined movement is the high grade 15 jewel cal 27cs with a power reserve of 41 hours and f=1800 A/h/.
This is a particularly rare and highly collectible piece as the almost exact replica of the Hillary watch, as such this item is priced at: £1850
Smiths A454-Deluxe - SOLD
ITEM 5.-Smiths - J W Benson ‘Tropical’ tribute expedition watch.
This early expedition watch dates from 1955. The Chrome-plated 33.3mm bezel (exc’ crown) and screw-back Aquatite-Dennison case are typical of the earlier Smiths’ expedition watches, both are in good condition with minimal wear. The factory original dial has aged to a lovely mellow coffee patina. The deluxe grade refined movement is the high grade 16 jewel cal 27cs with a power reserve of 41 hours and f=1800 A/h/.
This is a particularly rare and highly collectible piece, as part the expedition range was only produced between 1953-55 as such this item is priced at:
Price £975
Smiths A404
Arguably the Holy Grail for Smiths watch collectors. The A404 is the actual watch model carried by Sir Edmund Hillary in his ascent of Everest and therefore THE first watch atop Everest! This expedition watch is a later 1963 10th anniversary model that comes with welcome shock proofing. The Chrome-plated 33.3mm bezel (exc’ crown) and screw-back post-Dennison case are more typical of the later Smiths’ expedition watches, both are in good condition with minimal wear. The factory original dial has aged to a lovely mellow coffee patina. The deluxe grade refined movement is the high grade 15 jewel cal 27cs with a power reserve of 41 hours and f=1800 A/h/.
This is a particularly rare and highly collectible piece, as the Everest range was only produced in 1963/4 as such this item is priced at: SOLD.
ITEM 6,
Smiths A454-Deluxe - The original Antarctic watch from the Smiths Everest range dating from 1955 and now one of the rarest of all Smiths models. This all original model has a the 17 jewel deluxe movement with a 28mm dial, 32mm case excl crown. (slightly larger than its closest relative the Smiths A454 26mm dial). The stunningly Chrome-plated stepped bezel and screw-back Dennison case are in near unblemished condition. The heavy Aquatite screw-back-case is typical of the robust Smiths’ expedition watches. The movement is the -the high grade 17 jewel cal 27cs. with a power reserve of 41 hours and f=1800 A/h/.
A453 examples, in this condition, rarely come to market, this collectible piece as such is priced at: £1650.