Benrus Type 2 Mil Spec
Some watches arrive with a story, and others were forged in one. The Benrus Type 2 sits firmly in the latter camp. Born at a time when tools weren’t lifestyle accessories but literal survival equipment, this watch didn’t have the luxury of being anything less than exceptional. It was built to keep pace with individuals operating in silence, secrecy, and danger, and decades later, that spirit still clings to it like salt to a wetsuit.
When it comes to genuine military pedigree, this thing isn’t playing dress-up. Back in ’72, it wasn’t collectors or enthusiasts this watch had to impress, it was the people stepping out of submarines in the dead of night, running covert missions, and operating in conditions most of us will thankfully never experience. The Type 2 wasn’t dreamed up as a style piece; it was engineered as a lifeline. Built to meet strict government requirements, it had one job: stay readable, stay reliable, stay alive, no matter how brutal the environment or how high the stakes. This wasn't simply issued, it was trusted by the best of the best.
Fast-forward to today and Benrus has brought that DNA roaring back with the new Type 2 MIL Spec, a faithful resurrection sharpened with modern teeth. The proportions hit that sweet spot between purpose and comfort: 39.5mm x 47.66mm x 14.4mm, sitting confidently without overstaying its welcome, and packed with features designed for real-world use rather than marketing fluff.
The sapphire crystal has just the right amount of double dome, giving you clarity without glare. (That’ll be the double AR coating). The lume? Bright enough to light up a room when your torch dies. And that friction bezel, all business, bi-directional, tactile, and tough, feels like it was machined with mission briefings in mind. Water resistance clocks in at a serious 1,200 feet (365m), because if you’re going to nod to military diving heritage, you may as well commit properly.
The stainless steel case has been bead-blasted to a muted matte texture, the kind that looks ready for hard use rather than a display cabinet. It carries a purposeful, angular form, and the case flares subtly on the crown side, an asymmetric ridge designed to protect the screw-down crown without interrupting the clean lines elsewhere.
Ticking away inside is the ETA 2892, a movement chosen by people who value reliability over trends. Smooth, accurate, and built for endurance, it's the horological equivalent of a trusted service rifle: understated, dependable, and quietly excellent. The 42-hour power reserve, should just be enough for that weekend mission to B&Q.
Slide it onto your wrist and the history hits you almost immediately. The sterile, no branded dial, with both 12- and 24-hour scales, whispers more than it shouts, and underwater or after dark, that lume cuts through shadows like a spotlight. It's a watch you don’t just wear, you feel it. Like a companion, not an accessory.
At £1,500, it’s punching so far above its weight that you’d be forgiven for double-checking the price. In a world where faux-military pieces command eye-watering premiums and marketing-heavy field watches barely survive a weekend hike, this is the real thing, reborn.
And honestly? Sending this one back is going to sting. Sometimes you strap on a watch and immediately know it belongs in your rotation, this is one of those moments.
If you’ve ever wanted a true, no-nonsense military watch, one with history in its veins and grit under its nails, this might be the one to beat.