Duckworth Prestex Watch Verimatic Black Fume D891-01. Duckworth Prestex watches may sound like a new name, but it goes back a very long time in the history of watchmaking. Nearly 100 years in fact. Neil’s family firm, Prestons, was originally founded in 1869 in Bolton and by the 1920s it was making its own pocket watches under the Prestex name, which enjoyed tremendous success all over the world. Over the next few decades, Prestex produced a variety of timepieces including chronographs, pocket watches and some stunning dress watches.