Benrus Type I and Type II Military Watch Review

amanico's comprehensive review of the Benrus Type I and Type II military watches offers an invaluable look into these robust timepieces. His detailed examination, particularly of the 'sterile' versus 'non-sterile' case backs, provides crucial insights for collectors interested in the nuances of military watch history and design. This article serves as an excellent resource for understanding the practical and historical context of these iconic Benrus models.

Here's a pair of watches I own for several months, now, and that I appreciate a lot, the Benrus Type I and II

The Benrus Type I was chosen by the US Navy, just after the TR 900, at the end of the 60ies, very beginning of the 70ies, and then was replaced by the Benrus Type II.

Here, the Type I and the Type II together: ( Type I is on your left )



Some of the Type I have been called " Stérile ", while the others are not.

Why is the Type I sometimes called " Stérile " ?

As you will see, there is no marking at all on the dial, which is normal for all the Type I, but also on the case back - other than the serial number - not even the name of the luminous material ( promethium 247 ? ) used for the hands and indexes - which is exclusive to the so called stérile version.

The Stérile Case Back:



The Non Stérile Case Back:



Some say that the total lack of marking was due to the fact that the watch was in dotation for some secret services, like the CIA, or some Special Forces, which will, in case they were made prisonners, make any identification to a Country impossible.

Some others say, which is more probable, that these " Stérile " versions were some kind of prototypes or pre production watches, tested before the final " non stérile " Type I.

Anyway, let's go back to Reality and to the Watch...

The Type I, stérile or not, is an eye catching watch.

The dimensions are unusally generous for a watch of this era, as the case is around 42 mm big, and 14 mm thick, with 20 mm fixed lug bars which are very close to the case, so be careful when you choose your strap, as it won't pass under the lugs and the case if it is too thick.

The assymetrical stainless steel case is sandblasted and offers a light grey look, very propice to the use it was destined for.





It has to be precised that the construction of the case is monobloc, which means that if you want to have an access to the movement, you first have to remove the bezel, then the plexy, which is fixed to the case with a " Baionnette " system ( Once again, sorry but I don't know who to credit for this superb picture ) :



The screw in crown ( male / female construction ) is almost integrated in the assymetrical case:



The plexy is superdomed, with a nice integration to the case via the bezel, as shown here:



The dial is another very interesting part on this watch, a kind of " signature ".



Credit pic: Zaf.



Don't know who to credit for this last picture, so if you know, please tell me.

It has no writing at all, as previously said, hence a great purity and strength.

Its layout is very close to its Sister, the TR 900, showing triangular( at 12 ), rectangular ( at 3, 6 and 9 ) and round indexes, and similar hands.

Here, the Benrus in great company ( Benrus / Rolex Submariner 5508 / Tornek Rayville ) :



It simple look greatly deserves the legibility of the watch.

As for the luminous material used on the hands and indexes, I'd say it is Promethium 247, the same than on the TR 900, but I saw one coming with a with a T- Swiss - T dial, as shown below, with a big flaw: The case has been polished...





Note that this is the only one I saw with such a dial, so I'm not sure about its authenticity...

The bezel is bi directional, non ratchet, with the triangular index which is the only one ot be luminous.

The funny thing, when you look at the bezel and at the dial, is that the bezel looks much more charged, busy than the dial, but the graduation till 20 may be more useful for Military in action, than without graduation other than each 5 minutes, like on the TR 900.

The movement was provided by ETA, a Cal 2620, which is a 17 jewels automatic winding, made and modified under military specifications ( as well as the dial ), with an hacking second, 42 hours power reserve, and signed "GS1D2 " ( I don't know what it means ) :



On the wrist, its simple and brutal look does it all:





The Benrus Type II shares all these characteristics, less the dial, which is the only different thing.

Indeed, the dial is much more charged, as, instead of the round and rectangular indexes , you have minutes indexes which are separated, each five minutes, by triangular indexes, then you have a 12 hours indication, and, if it wasn't enough, another indication of the 24 hours, just above the 12 hour numbers:





Charged and different, yes, actually it is not charmless.

The military look is still here, as well as the brutal look of this watch.





One thing I didn't say about this Benrus is that you have 2 kind of Type 2:

The Class A, with some luminous material on the dial, and the Class B, which has no luminous material at all.

But Type I or II, you will have a nice watch, and as an extra, History behind!

Hoping that you will enjoy this post,

Best to All.

Nicolas