SMITHS EVEREST

ENGLISH MADE 15, 17, 19, 25 JEWEL WATCHES, MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC VERSIONS. THE EVEREST WATCHES WERE PRODUCED IN VARIOUS GRADES, THE EARLIEST WERE SIMPLY THE WATERPROOF DESIGNED EVEREST RANGE OF DELUXE WATCHES, THOUGH NOT SIGNED EVEREST ON THE DIALS. THE FIRST TO BE SIGNED EVEREST WERE DELUXE CHROME AND STEEL WATCHES IN THE LATE 50'S, FOLLOWED BY ASTRAL GRADE GOLD WATCHES IN THE 60'S, THEN FINALLY THE EVEREST SIGNED IMPERIAL RANGE SOLD SIDE BY SIDE, WITH FEW INTERNAL DIFFERENCES, SOME EVEREST VERSIONS OF THE IMPERIAL MOVEMENTS ARE PUT IN BEAT, SO EASIER TO ADJUST.

THE SUBJECT MOST OFTEN ENQUIRED ABOUT SMITHS WATCH IS THE MODEL WORN ON EVEREST.

AN EXAMPLE OF THE WATCH WORN BY SIR EDMUND HILLARY IS ON DISPLAY, BUT YOU WOULD BE HARD PUT TO BUY AN EXACT MODEL.

The '53 Hunt Everest expedition was supplied with both Rolex and Smiths watches. The definitive example of one of the 13 or so Smiths supplied wristwatches actually confirmed worn by Sir Edmund Hillary to the summit is illustrated in the George White account of The clockmakers of London ( Worshipful Company of Clockmakers collection.)

That 15 jewel Smiths Deluxe expedition watch as was described by the manufacturer at the time as being a model A409, is a non dress wristwatch with subsidiary seconds dial and has a Dennison Aquatite case with chromed top and steel screw in back.

The 13 watches were in all probability precursors of the full production Smiths A409, as there are small detail differences. The subsidiary seconds track has no outer ring, and Made in England is above the minute track.The almost exact replica is found in watches signed J.W Benson. The actual watches were signed Smiths Deluxe. This Benson pattern may therefore be the most desirable smiths watch made.

From 1953 onwards many different models were advertised by Smiths as being Everest watches, or as worn on Everest.

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