Benrus is the prototypical search and rescue watch. Designed for divers in the 1970s, it features a bold black and white face with fencepost hands. It is, in short, the very definition of a tool watch.

Now the company is reissuing its famous Type II, a 42.5mm diver with a sandblasted case, Soprod P024 automatic movement, and black nylon strap. It is completely and utterly genera and nearly unmarked, which makes it amazing.

The watch is based on Mil-Spec MIL-W-50717, a specification that defined the water and shock resistance and feature set of military watches. The Type II added a 24 hour track on the face, allowing for faster military time reading.

To be clear this is a standard three-hander for $1,495 but you’re getting a Swiss-made limited-edition piece that hearkens back to the heyday of mechanical watches. It’s a lovely piece and it should be amazing when it ships.

ByJohn Biggs

John lives in Brooklyn and has loved watches since he got his first Swatch Irony automatic in 1998. He is the editor of WristWatchReview.

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