2.1152 SMITHS ASTRAL ‘BLACK LINEN’, ENGLAND 1950s

Pure Made in England – rare and collectible Smiths Astral with unusual black linen pattern dial. All components made in England including the movement. Traditionally finished gilded English made manual movement from the Smiths Cheltenham factory. The watch has undergone full servicing with disassembly in our Bristol workshop. Comes with a 12-month warranty as well as a brand new genuine leather strap.

About Smiths

Smiths were the last English producers of quality watches. Their watches aren’t very well known outside of collector circles today because it has been over 30 years since they ceased production, but the quality of their watches bears comparison with anything the Swiss were producing. Starting in London as Samuel Smith in 1851, progressing down the years to becoming S.Smith & Sons(Motor Accessories), receiving it’s first Royal Warrant in 1907. The company then became S.Smith & Sons (England)Ltd, which split into Smiths Motor Accessories Ltd, Smiths Aircraft Instruments Ltd, Smiths English Clocks Ltd and Smiths industrial Instruments Ltd. The factory in Cheltenham that eventually manufactured the high quality timepieces featured here was built at the start of the Second World War. By the end of the Second World War The Smiths Group comprised of over 20 companies. By the time Smiths Aviation Division had become the main focus in the late 1970’s, the Clock and watch Division had broken up. From the 1980’s onwards Smiths Industries had successfully moved on into Avionics, Smiths being instrumental in the development of automated aircraft flying and landing controls, and finally in the 1980’s the Aerospace division was extending its reach far into the jet age.

Key Features

• Well preserved condition, barely worn, original gold plating
• Rare pattern dial
• Size ~34 mm, strap width 16 mm
• Traditional English gilt finishing on plates and bridges with ruby jewel setting, akin to Roger Smith’s watches
• Serviced and is ready to wear, a 12-month warranty is applied