The Benrus Sky Chief Chronograph, a Historic Pilot’s Watch Reborn

Based in New York in 1921 by Romanian-born brothers Benjamin, Oscar, and Ralph Lazrus, Benrus relied on Swiss manufacturing, centred in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and through the Thirties and Nineteen Forties, it grew to become recognized for its pilots and navy watches. Early fashions such because the Flyer and Airman had been fashionable among the many airline pilots, serving to set up the model’s status.

One of many emblematic Nineteen Forties Benrus watches was the Sky Chief, a devoted pilot’s chronograph. These watches in compact instances with skinny bezels had been geared up with the Venus 172, Venus 178, and, later the Valjoux 72 actions. The Sky Chief featured a traditional tri-compax chronograph format and an uncommon element on the minutes counter: markings at four-minute intervals, a characteristic linked to celestial navigation calculations utilized by pilots and navigators. Greater than eighty years after the unique, Benrus revives this historic pilot’s watch with the brand new Sky Chief Chronograph.

The brand new Sky Chief Chronograph is offered in a 36mm chrome steel case, measuring 11.9mm thick with a 42.5mm lug-to-lug; the proportions stay devoted to classic Nineteen Forties chronographs and align properly with trendy sensibilities. The design component of the unique mannequin, the outstanding crystal and slim bezel, is recreated right here with a double-domed field sapphire crystal, handled with AR coating. The case encompasses a screw-down crown, rounded rectangular pushers and an open sapphire caseback. Water resistance is 100m.

The Sky Chief Chronograph is out there in two dial colors, Stratus Gray and Cirrus White. Each characteristic a shiny lacquered sunburst end, azuré-decorated subdials, and a historic Sky Chief brand. Giant Arabic numerals and the syringe-like hour and minutes palms are coated with BGW9 Tremendous-LumiNova, making certain good legibility in low-light circumstances. The format stays traditional and practical, with the chronograph indications organized in a 3-6-9 configuration that echoes the classic Sky Chief fashions, solely the small seconds and 30-minute chrono counter (word the 4-8-12 minute markings used for timing Lengthy Vary Navigation alerts or guide, old style sextant) commerce locations on this revival version, now at 3 and 9 o’clock, respectively, whereas the 12-hour chronograph counter stays at 6:00, with central chronograph seconds.

Powering the watch is the Swiss-made ETA 2894, a compact automated motion with a chronograph module based mostly on the ETA 2892, COSC-certified. Working at 28,800 vibrations/hour, the motion provides a 42-hour energy reserve and might be considered by means of the sapphire caseback.

The Sky Chief is worn on a gray leather-based strap with a cultured pin buckle; different choices can be found from the model. The worth is CHF 3,469 or USD 3,950, tax excluded. For extra, go to benrus.com.