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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Military dive watch

Benrus Type I Class A Military Dive Watch

Partially verified

This Benrus Type I Class A is a military-issued dive watch dating to approximately April 1979. It was produced by Benrus under the United States Department of Defense MIL-W-50717 specification, intended for use by military personnel including Navy Seals. The watch features an asymmetrical 42.5mm case with a parkerized finish and a bi-directional rotating bezel fitted with a 12-hour black acrylic insert. The watch displays a matte black 'sterile' dial lacking brand markings, featuring Tritium elements and a white-painted handset. It includes a screw-down crown with hash marks and is accompanied by a single-pass black nylon strap with a PVD buckle. The caseback bears engravings documenting its military service. The vendor notes that the watch remains in an unpolished condition.

The Benrus Type I Class A features a matte black dial and a bi-directional bezel with a 12-hour acrylic insert.
The Benrus Type I Class A features a matte black dial and a bi-directional bezel with a 12-hour acrylic insert. — Oliver & Clarke. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
oliverandclarke.com
Category
Wristwatch · Military dive watch
Maker / attribution
Benrus
Reference
Type I Class A
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
circa 1979
Source-reported place
United States

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Bezel Construction

The watch features an asymmetrical case measuring 42.5mm in diameter. The vendor reports that the exterior finish consists of original parkerized surfacing and that the case is in unpolished condition, retaining signs of wear from its service life.

A bi-directional rotating bezel is mounted to the case, which incorporates a black acrylic insert marked with a 12-hour scale. The crown is a screw-down type identified by its hash-marked grip pattern.

Evidence for this section
  • “The 42.5mm asymmetrical case is one of the nicest that we have seen, offered in unpolished condition with excellent original 'parkerized' finishing”
  • “It even retains its original 'hash' marked screw-down crown. The bi-directional rotating bezel matches the condition of the case, with a very nicely-preserved black acrylic 12-hr insert.”

Dial and Hands

The dial is a matte black 'sterile' version, characterized by the absence of brand signatures or logos. The hour markers are treated with Tritium, which the vendor describes as evenly patinated.

The handset consists of white-painted hands, which complement the dial aesthetics. The dial shows signs of faint surface wear consistent with the watch's age and use.

Evidence for this section
  • “The matte black 'sterile' dial within shows only faint wear on the surface with evenly patinated Tritium elements and a matching white-painted handset.”

Military Provenance and Markings

This watch was produced to meet the MIL-W-50717 specifications required by the United States Department of Defense. It was manufactured for military use between 1972 and 1980, with this example dated to April 1979.

The caseback features engravings intended to identify the piece's military origin and production year. The watch retains a black single-pass nylon strap equipped with a PVD-coated buckle.

Evidence for this section
  • “Benrus made these pieces exclusively for the military from 1972 to 1980, with this particular example dating to circa 1979 (April of 1979 to be exact).”
  • “Flip it over, and the engravings on the caseback denoting it's military provenance and year of manufacture are crisp and clear.”

Open research questions

  • What are the specific alphanumeric characters engraved on the caseback?
  • Does documentation exist to confirm the April 1979 production date for this individual unit?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Benrus Type I Class A Military Dive Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerBenrus“Benrus made these pieces exclusively for the military from 1972 to 1980”
ReferenceType I Class A“Benrus Type I Class A”
Case diameter42.5mm“The 42.5mm asymmetrical case”
Datecirca 1979“dating to circa 1979 (April of 1979 to be exact)”
Dial typeMatte black sterile dial“matte black 'sterile' dial”
Luminous materialTritium“evenly patinated Tritium elements”
StandardMIL-W-50717“issued the MIL-W-50717 standard”

Visible details

  • Asymmetrical case design
  • Bi-directional bezel with black 12-hour insert
  • Sterile matte black dial with Tritium indices
  • Screw-down crown with hash marks

Research qualifications

  • Specific month and year attribution provided by vendor without stated documentary evidence
  • Condition described as unpolished without independent verification

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Benrus Type I Class A - Matte Black 'Sterile' Dial Military-Issued

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record d88086927f

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.