Benrus Military Models

Military Models

Benrus closed out the 1960s by releasing two of the most iconic military dive watches of the era: the Benrus Type I and Benrus Type II. Developed to acquire a large military contract, these dive watches met the MIL-W-50717 specifications as outlined in the Type II figure below.

The case design was different from most watches of the time as Benrus opted for a “monocoque” case, meaning the case itself was all machined from one block of steel. In fact, the only way to access the movement is by taking the domed crystal, hands and dial off. This design allowed for the watch to be far more durable and increased the depth rating of the watch considerably. Finally, the fixed spring bars matched other military issued dive watches as they added security and removed a common weak point of dive watches.

The Type I and Type II became the military standard for the UDT (Underwater Demolitions Team), the predecessors to the Navy Seals, the Army and even the CIA. These watches today wear incredibly well and have a soft spot in the hearts of many collectors.