The history of horology is littered with iconic military watches, from the Rolex MilSub to the Breguet Type 20. One of the most beloved by collectors, at least on this side of the world, is the Benrus Type 1.
The watch was originally issued to U.S. Special Forces fighting in the Vietnam War by Benrus, which at that time was still producing watches in America. The company has changed hands several times since the 1970s, with an American-based investment group taking over ownership earlier this year (the brand’s watches are now produced in Switzerland).
Under its new direction, Benrus has shown a willingness to go beyond its bread and butter of producing faithful reissues of its vintage military watches, and that’s never been more evident than with the new Benrus Type 1 M1.

It’s not just for soldiers anymore
Benrus has completely reimagined the M1 to turn it into a more versatile everyday watch while also giving it several upgrades that tilt the model toward luxury status.
Starting with the case, Benrus has beefed up the size from 39.5mm to 41.5mm for a more contemporary profile and greater wrist presence. The case has also received a cosmetic makeover, with the utilitarian sandblasted finish giving way to a mix of satin brushing and high-polished chamfering.