Benrus Watches

Benrus

A field watch with real field time.

Benrus isn’t a hype brand. It’s a history brand. One of those names that might not get a ton of love in Instagram flex culture — but if you’ve ever handled a Vietnam-era MIL-W-3818

or seen a Type I in the wild, you know. These watches were built for war zones, not boardrooms. And they’ve earned their place in collecting history.

Brand History

Benrus was founded in 1921 by three Romanian brothers — the Lazars — in New York City. The name came from one of them: BENjamin LAzaRUS. See what they did there?

Originally importing Swiss movements and assembling them in the U.S., Benrus built a solid reputation through the 1930s–50s for affordable but reliable timepieces. But the

real legacy kicked in during the 1960s and 70s, when they became a go-to supplier for the U.S. military.

These weren’t watches for suits. These were watches for soldiers.

Collector Highlights

Benrus is catnip for vintage military collectors. Especially:

  • Benrus Type I and Type II – Commissioned by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1970s. Sterile dials, parkerized cases, and serious tool-watch energy. Worn by Navy SEALs and special forces. These are the grail pieces for mil-watch fans.

  • MIL-W-3818B Field Watches – Issued during the Vietnam War. 34–36mm, hand-wound, with tritium dials and no-nonsense layouts.

  • Benrus Sky Chief – A 1940s chronograph beloved by pilots and collectors alike. Often compared to the Universal Genève Compax, but way easier on the wallet.

  • Clamshell and Calendar Models – Mid-century dress and tool watches with real charm and often Swiss movements.

Many of these models flew under the radar for years — but lately, the collector market is waking up.

Why Collectors Care

Because Benrus made real tool watches. Not reissues. Not tributes. The actual gear used by military personnel in combat.

And there’s something undeniably cool about that. These watches weren’t about flexing. They were about surviving. And the fact that so many are still ticking decades later?

That says something.

They’re also criminally underrated. Compared to other mil-spec pieces (like the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC or Rolex MilSub), Benrus models deliver serious historical

weight without requiring a second mortgage.

Modern Watches & Current State

Benrus was dormant for a while, then relaunched with new ownership and a push into heritage-inspired reissues — including the Type I reissue, which stayed surprisingly

true to the original. Great specs, Swiss automatic movement, proper case shape.

The modern catalog leans heavily on that military legacy, with updated field and dive watches that punch above their price. Some purists only want the vintage stuff

but honestly? A few of the new releases are legit.

Especially if you want that look — without having to baby a 1974 issued piece.

Fed’s Take

I’ve bought and sold a bunch of Benrus watches over the years, and they always get respect from collectors who know their history.

I’m partial to the Type I — that sterile dial just hits different. But even the simpler Vietnam-era field watches have this raw honesty to them. No fluff. No shine. Just purpose.

If you want a watch that actually did the thing instead of just pretending to? Benrus is it.

Explore Benrus at Delray

Delray Watch is always on the lookout for Benrus watches — especially Type I, Type II, and Vietnam-era field models.

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

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