Benrus Dive Watches

[Penn]

Dear Veteran,
I am reaching out on behalf of BENRUS Watch Company, a historic American watch brand that has recently been re-launched.
For the past year, we have been working on the development of a very historical and iconic military timepiece that holds much merit still to this day – the BENRUS Type I.
I am sure you may be familiar with the story behind this particular watch, which is one of the most sought-after historic military timepieces today.
As we prepare to reissue this watch in limited quantity, we are searching for those who have been issued an original Type I and may want to tell their story of wearing it.
We are hoping to feature select stories from the past about Type I on our digital platforms, in order to help educate and retell our past.
Should you wish to learn more about BENRUS’ military history or understand better the specific deliverables we are looking for, please view the document below.
Thank you in advance, The BENRUS Team

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
With the experience gained through the beginning of the Vietnam War and the increasing use of covert and specialized military teams such as the UDT, the department of defense determined that our troops needed a more robust field and dive watch that would be purpose built to meet the highest standards of the military and its operatives. As a result, the military wrote Mil Spec MIL-W-50717, that specified the design details for the Type I diving / field watch. For the first time, the military really wrote a specification heavy requirement with details previously never requested. This was to be a larger, shock proof, highly legible, waterproof and self- winding watch that was truly durable enough for the military divisions to whom they would be issued. The new specifications included a depth rating of 1,200 feet, which was unheard of prior to the Type I, and an automatic movement that could resist physical and temperature shock. This had to be a truly rugged watch. Interestingly, the specification of this watch essentially became the standard for what a tool watch should be: purpose built, rugged and simple.
During the Vietnam War, the practice of issuing all soldiers a watch was discontinued, meaning soldiers needed to procure their own watches. Although the military did continue to procure watches, they were limited in their
distribution. Watches were issued only to personnel whose mission required purpose built, rugged timepieces. Approximately 16,000 Type I and II and Class A and B versions were produced. They were issued to the Elite Forces Army Rangers, Green Berets, UDT Divers and even CIA agents throughout the Vietnam War, making the Types I and II some of the most famous and coveted U.S. military dive watches ever.
Before the Type I, BENRUS had been producing the DTU-2A Field Watch for the military since 1964, so when the concept of the Type I arose, BENRUS was in prime position to bid for the Type I contract. One can find countless photos of our
brave soldiers wearing the original simple field watches which were sought after in both their steel and plastic versions. The plastic DTU2 is believed to be the first military watch constructed in plastic.
BENRUS was awarded the Mil-Spec contract and began production of the Iconic Type I. As a result of both adaptation to the military's needs, as well as different applications, the contract led to the Type I (A and B) and Type II (A and B). The original dial design in the Mil Spec is simple with only block markings for the hours and minutes, and no other markings on the dial whatsoever. The later Type II was the same watch, but with a modified dial which showed standard and military time. The last differentiation for each model was the designation of Class A or B. Class A

watches had tritium hands and markers for visibility at night, while the Class B was designed without any lume or radioactive material as they might be used in locations containing delicate instruments that were sensitive to even the smallest amounts of tritium contained in the lume (for example, on nuclear-powered submarines). While not for a specific branch of the services, the Type I was most commonly issued to the UDT teams where dive operations required this type of watch, but also found its way to the field and even the CIA.
The Type I and Type II in all their variants were produced from 1972 through 1980 with no changes to the design in that time signaling the importance of the design. In total, there were roughly 16,000 produced which with much fewer circulating today.
It is important to note that unlike many of the now "collectible" military pieces, the BENRUS Type I and II were never made available to the public or designed as such. It was a purpose built tool that many years later became recognized for it's advanced design and merits. The watch itself remains fully contemporary in design, but at the same time a mystery to many since this wasn't a watch you could just go out and
buy.