Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec
Contents
- Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec
- Specifications
- I must add some history and context here, as this is a reissue of sorts, but the original watches were produced for the military starting in the early 70s, and that’s where Mil Spec comes in, as they were made with very specific design and function specifications. Benrus, the original company, started in 1921, but by the end of the 1970s, was reeling from the invention of quartz watches, as were many brands at this time, and filed for bankruptcy in 1977. It was bought by other brands or entities for over 30 years, until a few people decided to not only buy the name but also bring back the watches that made Benrus popular.
- In 2017, Benrus Holdings LLC was born, and in 2020, they, the new Benrus, released the first of the many reissues of the Benrus Type 1 and 1 Mil Spec watches. For those that are unaware, the original watches were only made for the military and never sold to the public or civilians, if you will. So in later years, they were highly sought after by watch collectors, and many brands started to make their own versions of this watch, some straight up copies, others using the same style asymmetrical case, but with different dials and such.
- But now we have these reissues, these modern versions of these military watches, with the brand that made them in the 70s. Well, I mean sort of. It is the same name, but of course, it is not the same company, though that could be said for so many resurrected brands that I have reviewed here, and that many enthusiasts are buying currently.
- Like the original models, the Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec has that distinct asymmetrical case, which is not only visually appealing for a watch, as it does make it stand out, but it was done with purpose. Unlike traditional crown guards, the extended side of the case not only protected the crown, but also prevented anything on the watch from easily snagging on other items, whether that meant shirt or coat cuffs, or branches, equipment, or anything else that could be encountered out in the field or water. And that is important, as this is both a dive watch of sorts and a field watch, a do-it-all type watch, again, made to military specs for Navy SEALs and Green Berets alike.
- The case of the latest version follows the original in a lot of ways, with a stainless steel bead-blasted case, which gives less reflection than a polished or brushed case, and a screw-down crown, which helps contribute to the 1200 feet of water resistance, but the case back does differ, as this current interaction is screw-down, whereas the originals utilized a monocoque case, where the movement and dial were assembled through the front and not the back. These days, most consider monocoque cases a thing of the past, as while they were effective for extreme water resistance and keeping out dust and debris, they were also very difficult to service; hence why most brands have screw-down case backs, with modern gaskets and seals, to achieve the same, if not greater, water resistance.
- As you can see with the case back photo of the Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec above, Benrus wanted to stay true to as many original design elements as they could, and the case back is not a list of specs as you would see on a modern watch, or non-military watch; instead, it has the full model name and number, serial number, and date of completion, in this case, April of 2025. Depending on the government entity that ordered this watch, the case back could have been even more minimal, if not completely sterile.
- Speaking of completely sterile, that is what the dial is on the Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec, and the same for the Type 1 as well. Becuase the originals were made for the military, they did not want any branding or text on the dial at all, and the reissue follows suit. To someone who had no idea about the history or design of these watches, as famous as they might be in the watch collector world, some would just consider this to be some kind of generic watch or some kind of knockoff.
- Now, before everyone grabs a pitchfork to come after me, let me preface with I knew most of the history of this watch, the original, and that many prefer the dial to be left sterile, as that’s how they were originally made. But did you ever see a pair of shoes on someone and say, ” Man, those are great-looking shoes, but then you put them on, and you’re like, “These do not look good on me at all”?
- That’s kind of what I feel with this Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec. The dial is all matte black, with stark white hands, numbers, and markers, and I do love the simple contrast of black and white. While I love a dial that has less clutter, the no branding does throw me for a loop. Every time I look down at it, I think, something is missing. Yes, it is straightforward, which is the intention, but it also keeps circling in my head that this is an $1800 watch, and that I want more.
- I am also aware that I am probably in the minority on this rationale of mine, but it is what it is, and how I feel. The Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec, along with the Type 1, has ladder hands, but switches out applied indices for printed numerals, along with 24-hour time as well. Both models are no-date, and this latest reissue has a date delete on the movement, unlike previous versions under the new company. I guess while this dial is exactly what it is supposed to be, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Benrus name at the top of the dial, which is what the Type 2 non-Mil Spec has, but for some reason that watch is only made in a bronze PVD case. That model shown below also does have a date; I just don’t know why they made it in bronze (and bronze PVD instead of actual bronze), instead of just making this same watch in blasted steel but with a logo and date.
- And then there is the bezel. I am not going to beat around the bush; I do not understand this bezel at all. The insert is matte black aluminum, which I like the matte look of, as at least one previous version of reissue had a glossy aluminum insert, and since this watch is meant to be a combo of field and diver, the combo bezel markings make sense. Even though it is a bi-directional bezel instead of a unidirectional bezel, I find it to be ok. But the bezel on this Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec is a friction bezel, not a ratchet bezel, and it just does not have any resistance or tactile feedback at all whatsoever. It doesn’t move loosely just by swinging your arm around while wearing it, but a shirt cuff, going into your pants, even just changing the time and screwing back down the crown, will move it out of alignment. It is puzzling to me, and the absolute opposite of the crown, which has a wonderful feel and action, probably in part to the ETA 2892 movement being used.
- In the dark, this Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec is a little mixed as well. The lume is green, and I assume it is its C3 lume (the website has it incorrectly labeled as BGW9), and the bezel, hour, minute, and even second hand tip glow really bright and vibrant. The same cannot be said for the numerals or the triangles above them. The 24-hour time does not have any lume applied, and it looks like the numbers just need another layer or two of lume to match up with the rest. I now find myself wondering how the Type 1 with the larger applied indices would fare in the dark, in real-world testing.
- But now the time comes for my biggest gripe on this watch, maybe even more so than the friction bezel, and that is the default strap of the Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec. I imagine the original watches from the 70s had a NATO strap, or maybe even some came with leather straps, depending on the use case, but this comes with a silicone strap. Not a natural rubber, not an FKM, but a Silicone strap, but it feels as awful as it looks, with all the lint and dust that clings to it better than Saran Wrap clings to a bowl. I cannot fathom why they chose this strap for an $1800 watch. It is somewhat short as well, with only holes left on my 7 1/2 inch (19.05cm) wrist.
- I do like the look of the watch on my wrist though, even though I am not totally sold on the sterile dial. The asymmetrical case really does wear wonderfully and is so comfortable, and with the 14.4mm of thickness, which includes the double domed (and sometimes too reflective) sapphire crystal, this watch sits flat on the wrist, and I am a sucker for bead-blasted watches, so overall the design does work well for me, and I find it to wear really well. The 39.5mm measurement is not the entire case either; that is the measurement of the bezel, and measuring the case from 9-3 (without crown) and 10-4 actually gets you just about 42mm.
- How do I summarize this Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec? Well, I think it’s clear that the watch is not for me, for a few reasons, but I will say I am glad to see Benrus is back, and that they are bringing back their original designs and the most iconic designs, and that, for the most part are staying true to the original design and layout. The thing that is nagging me is the price. Just like everyone else, I am well aware of price hikes for everything, tariffs, import fees, and all the other costs these days, and I appreciate this latest model having an ETA 2892, a movement rarely seen outside of Swatch watches. And this watch is marked Swiss Made, which adds to the cost as well. But take away my personal subjectivity on the sterile dial. The friction bezel lacks friction, and who decided to put this strap on an $1800 watch? I love the lore and history of this design, and the asymmetrical case really is a joy to wear, but I would personally like to see more being done for $1800 on this watch, or, of course, a lower price tag.
- Benrus
Most of the time, I have a pretty good idea what to expect when a watch arrives, and with the Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec, I expected a tough, hard-use watch with an iconic asymmetrical case design. And for the most part, that is what this watch is, but there are a few things that troubled me a bit, especially since this watch is a reissue of a very iconic military watch, and the originals are so highly coveted. Seeing how this Benrus has a price tag of $1,795, I figured I would really be blown away by this latest reissue, and frankly, I was not. The design is definitely both iconic and vintage, and there have been some changes to this latest reissue over previous versions, but are they enough to justify the price tag?
Specifications
Bead Blasted Stainless Steel 39.5mm Case (bezel) 42mm Width Across 47.6mm Lug to Lug 14.4mm Thick 20mm Lug Width 104 Grams Domed Sapphire Crystal Aluminum Bezel Insert Bi-Directional Friction Bezel 36.5 ATM (1200 Feet) ETA 2892 Automatic Movement 42 Hour Power Reserve Black Silicone Strap MSRP $1,795 https://benrus.com/en-us/collections/type-ii
I must add some history and context here, as this is a reissue of sorts, but the original watches were produced for the military starting in the early 70s, and that’s where Mil Spec comes in, as they were made with very specific design and function specifications. Benrus, the original company, started in 1921, but by the end of the 1970s, was reeling from the invention of quartz watches, as were many brands at this time, and filed for bankruptcy in 1977. It was bought by other brands or entities for over 30 years, until a few people decided to not only buy the name but also bring back the watches that made Benrus popular.
In 2017, Benrus Holdings LLC was born, and in 2020, they, the new Benrus, released the first of the many reissues of the Benrus Type 1 and 1 Mil Spec watches. For those that are unaware, the original watches were only made for the military and never sold to the public or civilians, if you will. So in later years, they were highly sought after by watch collectors, and many brands started to make their own versions of this watch, some straight up copies, others using the same style asymmetrical case, but with different dials and such.
But now we have these reissues, these modern versions of these military watches, with the brand that made them in the 70s. Well, I mean sort of. It is the same name, but of course, it is not the same company, though that could be said for so many resurrected brands that I have reviewed here, and that many enthusiasts are buying currently.
Like the original models, the Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec has that distinct asymmetrical case, which is not only visually appealing for a watch, as it does make it stand out, but it was done with purpose. Unlike traditional crown guards, the extended side of the case not only protected the crown, but also prevented anything on the watch from easily snagging on other items, whether that meant shirt or coat cuffs, or branches, equipment, or anything else that could be encountered out in the field or water. And that is important, as this is both a dive watch of sorts and a field watch, a do-it-all type watch, again, made to military specs for Navy SEALs and Green Berets alike.
The case of the latest version follows the original in a lot of ways, with a stainless steel bead-blasted case, which gives less reflection than a polished or brushed case, and a screw-down crown, which helps contribute to the 1200 feet of water resistance, but the case back does differ, as this current interaction is screw-down, whereas the originals utilized a monocoque case, where the movement and dial were assembled through the front and not the back. These days, most consider monocoque cases a thing of the past, as while they were effective for extreme water resistance and keeping out dust and debris, they were also very difficult to service; hence why most brands have screw-down case backs, with modern gaskets and seals, to achieve the same, if not greater, water resistance.
As you can see with the case back photo of the Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec above, Benrus wanted to stay true to as many original design elements as they could, and the case back is not a list of specs as you would see on a modern watch, or non-military watch; instead, it has the full model name and number, serial number, and date of completion, in this case, April of 2025. Depending on the government entity that ordered this watch, the case back could have been even more minimal, if not completely sterile.
Speaking of completely sterile, that is what the dial is on the Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec, and the same for the Type 1 as well. Becuase the originals were made for the military, they did not want any branding or text on the dial at all, and the reissue follows suit. To someone who had no idea about the history or design of these watches, as famous as they might be in the watch collector world, some would just consider this to be some kind of generic watch or some kind of knockoff.
Now, before everyone grabs a pitchfork to come after me, let me preface with I knew most of the history of this watch, the original, and that many prefer the dial to be left sterile, as that’s how they were originally made. But did you ever see a pair of shoes on someone and say, ” Man, those are great-looking shoes, but then you put them on, and you’re like, “These do not look good on me at all”?
That’s kind of what I feel with this Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec. The dial is all matte black, with stark white hands, numbers, and markers, and I do love the simple contrast of black and white. While I love a dial that has less clutter, the no branding does throw me for a loop. Every time I look down at it, I think, something is missing. Yes, it is straightforward, which is the intention, but it also keeps circling in my head that this is an $1800 watch, and that I want more.
I am also aware that I am probably in the minority on this rationale of mine, but it is what it is, and how I feel. The Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec, along with the Type 1, has ladder hands, but switches out applied indices for printed numerals, along with 24-hour time as well. Both models are no-date, and this latest reissue has a date delete on the movement, unlike previous versions under the new company. I guess while this dial is exactly what it is supposed to be, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Benrus name at the top of the dial, which is what the Type 2 non-Mil Spec has, but for some reason that watch is only made in a bronze PVD case. That model shown below also does have a date; I just don’t know why they made it in bronze (and bronze PVD instead of actual bronze), instead of just making this same watch in blasted steel but with a logo and date.
And then there is the bezel. I am not going to beat around the bush; I do not understand this bezel at all. The insert is matte black aluminum, which I like the matte look of, as at least one previous version of reissue had a glossy aluminum insert, and since this watch is meant to be a combo of field and diver, the combo bezel markings make sense. Even though it is a bi-directional bezel instead of a unidirectional bezel, I find it to be ok. But the bezel on this Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec is a friction bezel, not a ratchet bezel, and it just does not have any resistance or tactile feedback at all whatsoever. It doesn’t move loosely just by swinging your arm around while wearing it, but a shirt cuff, going into your pants, even just changing the time and screwing back down the crown, will move it out of alignment. It is puzzling to me, and the absolute opposite of the crown, which has a wonderful feel and action, probably in part to the ETA 2892 movement being used.
In the dark, this Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec is a little mixed as well. The lume is green, and I assume it is its C3 lume (the website has it incorrectly labeled as BGW9), and the bezel, hour, minute, and even second hand tip glow really bright and vibrant. The same cannot be said for the numerals or the triangles above them. The 24-hour time does not have any lume applied, and it looks like the numbers just need another layer or two of lume to match up with the rest. I now find myself wondering how the Type 1 with the larger applied indices would fare in the dark, in real-world testing.
But now the time comes for my biggest gripe on this watch, maybe even more so than the friction bezel, and that is the default strap of the Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec. I imagine the original watches from the 70s had a NATO strap, or maybe even some came with leather straps, depending on the use case, but this comes with a silicone strap. Not a natural rubber, not an FKM, but a Silicone strap, but it feels as awful as it looks, with all the lint and dust that clings to it better than Saran Wrap clings to a bowl. I cannot fathom why they chose this strap for an $1800 watch. It is somewhat short as well, with only holes left on my 7 1/2 inch (19.05cm) wrist.
I do like the look of the watch on my wrist though, even though I am not totally sold on the sterile dial. The asymmetrical case really does wear wonderfully and is so comfortable, and with the 14.4mm of thickness, which includes the double domed (and sometimes too reflective) sapphire crystal, this watch sits flat on the wrist, and I am a sucker for bead-blasted watches, so overall the design does work well for me, and I find it to wear really well. The 39.5mm measurement is not the entire case either; that is the measurement of the bezel, and measuring the case from 9-3 (without crown) and 10-4 actually gets you just about 42mm.
How do I summarize this Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec? Well, I think it’s clear that the watch is not for me, for a few reasons, but I will say I am glad to see Benrus is back, and that they are bringing back their original designs and the most iconic designs, and that, for the most part are staying true to the original design and layout. The thing that is nagging me is the price. Just like everyone else, I am well aware of price hikes for everything, tariffs, import fees, and all the other costs these days, and I appreciate this latest model having an ETA 2892, a movement rarely seen outside of Swatch watches. And this watch is marked Swiss Made, which adds to the cost as well. But take away my personal subjectivity on the sterile dial. The friction bezel lacks friction, and who decided to put this strap on an $1800 watch? I love the lore and history of this design, and the asymmetrical case really is a joy to wear, but I would personally like to see more being done for $1800 on this watch, or, of course, a lower price tag.
Benrus
