Watch company
Benrus
Also recorded as: Benrus Watch Company · Benrus Watch Co.
New York watch company of the Lazrus brothers, known for mid-century sports watches and the Type I and Type II divers made for the US military.
Benrus was founded in New York in 1921 by Benjamin Lazrus with his brothers Oscar and Ralph; the name joins his first name and surname. Like other American brands of its kind it assembled watches from Swiss movements and parts, and by the mid-century it was one of the largest watch companies in the United States.
For collectors its best-known pieces are military: the Type I and Type II diving watches made to a US military specification in the 1970s, and the DTU-2A/P field watch. The brand has since been revived under new owners.
- Country
- United States
- City / centre
- New York
- Founded
- 1921
- Status
- Active (brand revived)
- Key people
- Benjamin Lazrus; Oscar Lazrus; Ralph Lazrus
Innovations & specialities
- Type I and Type II military diving watches (1970s)
- Sky Chief and other sports and dress watches
Timeline
- 1921Founded in New York
- 1970sType I and Type II military divers
Works by Benrus in the catalogue
All 29 records →
Wristwatches · 1940s
1940s Benrus Shock Absorber 17J U.S. Zone Germany 32mm Runs
LiveAuctioneers auction archive
Wristwatches · 1950s
1950s Benrus “Dial-O-Rama” Jump Hour 17J Manual Wind Watch, 33 mm – Runs
LiveAuctioneers auction archive
Wristwatches · c. 1950s
Vintage Benrus Shock-Absorber Field Watch Black Dial Manual Wind Stainless Steel circa 1950s
LiveAuctioneers auction archive
Wristwatches · 1960s
Benrus Wristalarm (Ref. 3021) "Bullitt", 1960s
Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Wristwatches · 1965
Benrus Military Field Watch DTU-2A/P 'MIL-W-3818B', 1965
Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Wristwatches · 1970s
1970s Benrus Citation Electronic HS19 7J Day-Date Wristwatch, Gold-Tone Case, New Battery, Running
LiveAuctioneers auction archive
Wristwatches · 1973
Benrus Type 1
Collectors Corner NY (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · 1973
Benrus Type II Class A, 1973
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Wristwatches · 1976
Benrus Type 2 with Striking Patina
Collectors Corner NY (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · 1976
Benrus Type II Class A, 1976
Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · c. 1978
Benrus Type I Class A, 'Sterile' Dial Military Issued
Oliver & Clarke (dealer), United Kingdom
Wristwatches · 1979
Benrus Type 1
Collectors Corner NY (dealer), New York
Linked through the Atlas maker authority list, which reconciles the spellings used by different institutions. Attributions are as stated by each holding institution or auction house.
Read and see more
Academy lessons
- Buying a vintage watch: how to check one before you buy
18 min · What to look at before buying a vintage wristwatch: the seller and their guarantee, the dial and hands, luminous paint, the case and its metal, the movement and its numbers, service history and documents — with real examples from dealer and auction records in the Atlas catalogue and a checklist to take with you.
