Belforte Watches

Belforte Watches

Belforte is one of those under-the-radar vintage names that keeps popping up in estate finds and watch rolls — often mistaken for a generic brand, but in reality? It’s a side

project from Benrus, one of America’s most important mid-century watchmakers.

If you’re into vintage U.S. military watches, clean dress pieces, or just the kind of sleeper brands that fly under most collectors' radar — Belforte is a name worth knowing.

A Little History

Belforte was introduced as a secondary brand by Benrus, likely in the 1950s or early 1960s. It was used for budget-friendly or export-market pieces, helping Benrus

expand its reach without diluting its core name.

The watches were typically manual-wind, with Swiss or American ebauche movements, and cased in a mix of base metal, plated, or steel cases. Dials often followed the

clean midcentury aesthetic of the era — slim indices, small seconds, domed crystals, and minimal branding.

Because Benrus already had a foothold in the U.S. military and dress watch segments, Belforte became the outlet for entry-level timepieces and private-label runs

while still benefiting from the parent company's movement sourcing and production infrastructure.

What Collectors Love

Belforte watches are simple, elegant, and full of that vintage American-meets-Swiss charm. Common themes include:

  • Slim 34–36mm cases — with clean lugs and thin bezels

  • Domed acrylic crystals and curved dials with applied markers

  • Swiss manual-wind movements — mostly ETA or A. Schild calibers

  • Minimalist dials — often just “Belforte” and “17 Jewels,” occasionally with “Shock-Resist” or “Antimagnetic”

They’re often found in excellent condition because many were given as gifts or used for dress, not daily wear — and they fly under the radar, keeping prices surprisingly affordable.

Why Belforte Deserves a Spot

Because it represents a time when Swiss movements met American distribution, and the result was an elegant, affordable, well-made watch that still holds up today.

These aren’t collector grails, but they’re great entry points into vintage, especially if you want something you can wear regularly without babying — and with a story

that ties back to Benrus and mid-century American watch history.

What’s Out There Now

Everything is vintage:

  • Manual-wind dress watches — typically 34–36mm, with 17-jewel Swiss movements

  • Occasional automatics — though less common, and usually late 1960s production

  • Dial variants — silver sunbursts, linen textures, and gold-tone accents

  • Condition spectrum — from nearly NOS to fully patinated with aged lume and acrylic character

Most Belforte watches trade in the $100–$300 range, making them one of the best vintage values still largely untouched by hype.

Fed’s Take

Belforte is a perfect example of vintage with value. You’re getting a watch built with the same movement quality as Benrus — often in the same factory — just without the brand premium.

They wear well, clean up nicely, and offer a quiet kind of cool. You won’t turn heads at a watch meetup, but you will have a great story when someone asks about it.

If you’re collecting for character, not clout? Belforte delivers.

Check Out Our Belforte Inventory

Delray Watch is always on the lookout for unique Belforte watches — especially manual-wind dress models, early Swiss-made examples, and original dials in clean condition.

If you have a Belforte watch you’re ready to sell or trade – reach out. We’re always buying.

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