Benrus
1979 Benrus Type-2 (Class A) "Milsub" W/ Compass, Original Strap, & Patch
This Benrus Type II Class B is built like a tank and for a good reason. In the ’70s, the American military needed a dive watch made to a particular specification outlining their needs for a diving watch under military specification MIL-W-50717. Benrus answered the military's call and came up with the Benrus Type-II.
Being that this was a high-quality piece of equipment built for a specific need, the United States Army as well as the United States Navy, issued these watches to only the most elite military units. Both the U.S. Army's' Rangers and Green Berets as well as the U.S. Navy Seals and UDT (Underwater Demolition Team) divers were issued the Benrus Type II.
The case of the Benrus Type II is referred to as a "monocoque" case, rather than the more ordinarily known "monobloc" style case. "Monocoque" relates to the construction of the case as a sort of vessel that holds the dial, hands, movement while the bezel envelops the domed crystal, ultimately allowing this watch to be taken apart through the top or face of the watch instead of through the back like most dive watches is very unique and adds to the durability and ruggedness of the watch. The Benrus Type II has fixed spring bars like other Issued dive watches which adds extra security and one less failure point, a serial dial meaning that there is no logo or branding, and is bead blasted for the anti-reflective requirements required by the men who wore them. The caseback is stamped with the mil-spec number (MIL-W-50717), the NSN Number as well as the actual military inventory number used to check-in and check-out service equipment similar to what you would find on a firearm and or any other issued technical piece of equipment.
This 1979 Benrus Type-2 (Class A) is particularly special as it came to us from the son of the original owner and remains in very original and excellent condition. The original owner was a squad member of the Navy Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-2, otherwise known as Faireconron Two. The squad members of this recon fleet were commonly referred to as "Batmen" in reference to the Faireconron Two emblem which is a deptiction of a bat flying over the cloud layer at night using sonar, perfectly symbolizing the stealth operations in which the batmen specialized in.
SPECS
| Stock # | BENTYP-2MIL-7 | |
| Brand | Benrus | |
| Style | Military Dive Watch | |
| Model | Type II | |
| Serial | 2210 | |
| Size | Men's | |
| Material | SS | |
| Dial | Matte Black | |
| Millimeters | 42mm | |
| Bracelet | Original Black Nylon Single-Pass NATO Strap |
CASE & BRACELET
The unpolished case is in remarkable condition with light signs of honest use and shows the original factory bead blasted finishing and crisp case profiling. The original bezel is in very impressive condition as it displays honest signs of use with no cracks. The crown is also original to the watch showing the correct dash or ( I ) as it would have come from Benrus. The original crystal exhibits scratches and crazing. The case back displays all of its military markings and contract numbers in excellent condition. The watch comes on its original black nylon single-pass NATO strap. The original compass is also in excellent condition and fully functional.
DIAL & HANDS
The matte black dial is in excellent vintage condition, showing only minimal signs of aging. The tritium lume triangle markers have aged to a creamy ivory patina and exhibit no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. The original tritium hands match the dial perfectly and show no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. The compass retains its original tritium as well.
ACCESSORIES
The watch comes with its original black nylon single-pass NATO strap, compass, and original Faireconron Two patch which was taken off the original owner's flight jacket. The watch was recently serviced and is keeping time perfectly, back by a 1-year warranty of accurate timekeeping.