DELUXE

DELUXE ENGLISH MADE WATCHES WITH BETWEEN 15 AND 18 JEWEL MOVEMENTS AND HIGH QUALITY POLISHED ESCAPEMENTS, AND EX-FACTORY WITH SCREW FITTED BALANCES. THESE WERE ADVERTISED AS BRITAIN'S FINEST WATCH. DATING FROM 1951/52 IN CATALOGUES, THEIR MAIN PRODUCTION YEARS WERE PROBABLY 55/56 A FEW YEARS LATER THE ASTRALS SPLIT THE MAIN PRODUCTION LINES FOLLOWED STILL LATER BY WHAT SMITHS FELT WERE  A SUPERIOR RANGE OF WATCHES BASED ON THE IMPERIAL 19 JEWEL MOVEMENTS. 

MOST OF THE FAMOUS EXPEDITION WATCHES WERE DELUXE GRADE, AS WERE THE MILITARY ISSUED WATCHES FROM 1955 UP UNTIL 61. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DELUXE RANGE WERE THE 18 JEWEL MOVEMENTS. SOME J W BENSON , SILVER  CUSHION ICI WATCHES AND BRAILLE WATCHES CONTAIN THE 16 JEWEL  UPGRADE. 

GARRARD VERSIONS CAN BE EITHER 15 OR 18 JEWEL.