It’s About Time Inc. is now an authorized Benrus retailer. Starting today, you can visit our Johns Creek showroom to see the full current Benrus lineup in person—a brand with over a century of American watchmaking history and one of the most compelling stories in the field watch category today.
If you follow the watch press, Benrus is not a new name. Featured at Watches & Wonders 2026 in Geneva and covered by Hodinkee, Fratello Watches, GQ, InsideHook, and Teddy Baldassarre, this is a brand having a significant moment. We are excited to bring it to our customers locally and nationally.
About Benrus
Benrus was founded in 1921 by Benjamin Lazrus and became one of the top three watch brands in the United States by the 1950s. The brand’s defining chapter is military: Benrus was the first manufacturer to fulfill the U.S. Army’s MIL-W-3818B field watch specification in 1962, producing watches issued to soldiers in Vietnam. That provenance is documented and traceable.
After a period of dormancy, Benrus has relaunched with all current watches designed, engineered, and manufactured in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland using Swiss ETA movements. Read more about the legacy and craftsmanship of Benrus watches or explore the Benrus Ultra-Deep.
The Models We Carry
The current Benrus collection covers field watches, a military-spec dive watch, a pilot’s chronograph, and a heritage-inspired everyday piece. Here is a closer look at the models available through our showroom.
DTU-2A/P Field Watch
The DTU-2A/P is the flagship model and a direct reissue of the original Vietnam-era military contract watch, built to the same MIL-W-3818B specification that Benrus fulfilled in 1962.
The current production model maintains the historically accurate 34mm case size and sterile dial. Benrus pairs it with both a brown leather bund strap and a green NATO strap, two formats with direct ties to the original issue configuration.
| Case | 34mm sandblasted 316L stainless steel, screw-down crown |
|---|---|
| Crystal | Double-domed sapphire with double anti-reflective coating |
| Movement | Swiss ETA 2671 automatic, 25 jewels, 38-hour power reserve |
| Water resistance | 100m (10 ATM) |
| Lume | BGW9 Super-LumiNova on dial markers and hands |
| Straps | Brown leather bund strap + green NATO strap included |
| Price | $990 USD |
Type 1 Mil Spec
The Type 1 Mil Spec is the dive watch in the Benrus lineup. The original Type 1 was produced between 1972 and 1980 for U.S. Navy SEALs, EOD teams, Army Rangers, Green Berets, and CIA operatives under the MIL-W-50717 specification.
The modern reissue preserves the sterile dial and bi-directional 12-hour bezel of the original while upgrading the internals to a Swiss ETA 2892 automatic. Its 39.5mm fully sandblasted case delivers 365 meters of water resistance.
| Case | 39.5mm sandblasted 316L stainless steel, screw-down crown, crown guards |
|---|---|
| Crystal | Double-domed sapphire with double anti-reflective coating |
| Bezel | Bi-directional rotating bezel with aluminum insert and coin-edge grip |
| Movement | Swiss ETA 2892 automatic, 21 jewels, 42-hour power reserve |
| Water resistance | 365m (36.5 ATM) |
| Lume | BGW9 Super-LumiNova on dial markers and hands |
| Strap | Black rubber strap with pin buckle |
| Price | $1,795 USD |
DTU Shield
The DTU Shield is a refined, daily-wear interpretation of the military DTU platform. Where the DTU-2A/P preserves the compact 34mm original, the Shield steps up to 38mm with a light silver dial that reads as more versatile across different settings.
Launched on Veterans Day 2025 as a tribute to the brand’s military heritage, the DTU Shield carries the Benrus coat of arms engraved on its monobloc caseback. Old Radium Super-LumiNova gives the watch a warm vintage tone while maintaining strong low-light legibility.
| Case | 38mm sandblasted 316L stainless steel, screw-down crown |
|---|---|
| Crystal | Double-domed sapphire with double anti-reflective coating |
| Movement | Swiss ETA 2892 automatic, 21 jewels, 42-hour power reserve |
| Water resistance | 100m (10 ATM) |
| Lume | Old Radium Super-LumiNova on dial markers and hands |
| Strap | Khaki fabric strap with leather lining and pin buckle |
| Price | $1,595 USD |
Sky Chief
The Sky Chief is the chronograph in the Benrus lineup and the most recent addition to the collection. Named after the original 1940s pilot’s chronograph, the 2026 reissue is a faithful recreation built to modern Swiss standards.
At 36mm with a slim 11.9mm profile, the Sky Chief keeps its proportions period-appropriate while improving wearability. The tri-compax dial is capped by a double-domed box sapphire crystal, and inside is a COSC-certified ETA 2894 automatic visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback.
| Case | 36mm 316L stainless steel |
|---|---|
| Crystal | Double-domed box sapphire with double anti-reflective coating |
| Movement | Swiss ETA 2894 automatic, COSC-certified |
| Functions | Chronograph with tri-compax layout |
| Water resistance | 100m (10 ATM) |
| Caseback | Sapphire exhibition caseback |
| Strap | Grey leather strap with polished pin buckle |
| Price | $3,950 USD |
#3061 BU
The #3061 BU is the civilian counterpart to the military-issued DTU-2A/P. The original Series #3061 was the dressed-up version of the combat watch, with a polished case and Benrus branding on the dial. It became famous when Steve McQueen wore one throughout the 1968 film Bullitt.
The modern reissue steps up to 39.5mm from the vintage 34mm original, with a vertically brushed mid-case and polished bezel. At just 9.95mm thick, it is the slimmest watch in the collection, and its sapphire exhibition caseback puts the ETA 2892 movement on display.
| Case | 39.5mm 316L stainless steel, vertically brushed mid-case, polished bezel and caseback |
|---|---|
| Crystal | Double-domed sapphire with double anti-reflective coating |
| Movement | Swiss ETA 2892 automatic, 21 jewels, 42-hour power reserve |
| Water resistance | 100m (10 ATM) |
| Lume | BGW9 Super-LumiNova on dial markers and hands |
| Caseback | Sapphire exhibition caseback |
| Strap | Black leather strap with pin buckle |
| Price | $1,895 USD |
Quick Comparison: Benrus Collection at a Glance
Each model takes a different path through the same military and American watchmaking history.
| Model | Category | Case | Movement | Water resistance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTU-2A/P | Field watch | 34mm | ETA 2671 | 100m | $990 |
| DTU Shield | Field watch | 38mm | ETA 2892 | 100m | $1,595 |
| Type 1 Mil Spec | Dive watch | 39.5mm | ETA 2892 | 365m | $1,795 |
| #3061 BU | Field watch | 39.5mm | ETA 2892 | 100m | $1,895 |
| Sky Chief | Chronograph | 36mm | ETA 2894 (COSC) | 100m | $3,950 |
See the Full Benrus Lineup in Person
Visit our Johns Creek showroom to try any Benrus model on your wrist. Our team can walk you through the history, specifications, and differences between models. Call 770-442-9854 to ask about a specific model before making the trip.
Authorized Benrus Retailer
See the models in person, compare the details, and speak with a watch specialist.
Why Buy Benrus Through It’s About Time Inc.?
- See every model in person before you commit. No buying blind from a website photo.
- Knowledgeable staff. We can speak to the history, specifications, and differences between models.
- On-site watch service. Future servicing is handled in-house by WOSTEP- and Swiss-certified watchmakers.
- National reach. Not local to us? Call and we will work something out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you carry the full Benrus lineup?+
Yes. Every model in the current Benrus collection is available through our Johns Creek showroom, including the DTU-2A/P, Type 1 Mil Spec, DTU Shield, #3061 BU, and Sky Chief.
Can I buy a Benrus if I don’t live near Johns Creek?+
Yes. We work with customers nationally. Call us at 770-442-9854 to ask about a specific model or to arrange a purchase.
What happens if my Benrus needs service later?+
We handle Benrus service on-site. Our watchmakers are WOSTEP- and Swiss-certified and work with Swiss ETA movements daily.
Are Benrus watches actually Swiss made?+
Yes. All current Benrus watches are designed, engineered, and manufactured in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. They use Swiss ETA movements and carry the Swiss Made designation on the dial.
Which Benrus model is the best entry point?+
The DTU-2A/P at $990 USD is the most accessible model in the lineup and has the deepest historical connection, built to the same MIL-W-3818B military specification Benrus fulfilled in 1962.
Can I see the movement on any of these watches?+
The #3061 BU and Sky Chief have sapphire exhibition casebacks. The DTU-2A/P, Type 1 Mil Spec, and DTU Shield have solid casebacks consistent with their military-specification heritage.
Talk to a Benrus Specialist
Whether you are a longtime watch collector who has been eyeing Benrus, or someone who just discovered the brand through the press coverage, we would enjoy talking watches with you. Stop in anytime, visit the workshop, or call to speak with our team.