Benrus Military Watch – The Authentic G.I. Watch
Has one of the classic Benrus watches been resurrected?
I was excited to find this offering from Hammacher Schlemmer. It seems that they have an exclusive deal with the current manufacturer of Benrus Watches.
They are offering an authentic reproduction of a classic Benrus military watch. They claim it is an exact replica conforming to all the original military specs.
It should be noted that the original maker of Benrus watches closed in the 1970s. The brand name has changed hands several times over the years. Therefore any new watch that claims to be a Benrus is a replica.
Having said that, I am intrigued by this new watch for several reasons.
- It claims to be an exact replica of the original watch from the 1960s.
- It requires manual winding. Most so called “replicas” include a battery.
- It has a cool hack that lets you freeze the second hand, allowing you to say “Men, let’s synchronize our watches!“
Here is the description from Hammacher Schlemmer:
The Authentic G.I. Watch
This is an exact reproduction of the rugged, dependable hand-wound watch that was supplied in the millions to U.S. Army troops starting in the 1960s. Still requiring manual winding, it is kept as an heirloom by servicemen and their families. This men’s watch has been re-issued by Benrus, the original maker, and still conforms to the military’s rigid specifications with a stainless-steel water-resistant case, 17-jewel Swiss mechanical movement, and luminous dial and hands. It also includes a unique “hack” feature–the ability to freeze its sweep second hand with a simple pull on the crown–which allowed soldiers to synchronize their watches. Face is 1 1/16″ Diam. Watch strap is medium green “tropical weather” canvas. With canvas and leather storage pouch. Requires winding each day. Fits wrists from 7 1/2″ to 9 1/2″ in circumference.
Click here for more information on Hammacher Schlemmer’s Benrus Watches.
