Benrus Day/Date

New. Old. Stock. Three little words that, to a collector of vintage goods, are a dream come true.

When it comes to vintage timepieces, it really doesn't matter if the watch in question is of the brand-name luxury variety or something relatively pedestrian; an unworn, unused decades-old timepiece is a time machine, a window into a bygone era.

What we've discovered here is by no means an exotic, but we'll be damned if it isn't cool.  Benrus, the American company that was founded right here in New York City in 1921, has long been linked to its war-time wristwatches that were produced for both WWII and Vietnam.  But in the midst of those conflicts, Benrus was producing a wide array of consumer-grade timepieces ranging from simple, time-only dress pieces to more functional tool watches.

This piece, a diver-styled tool watch with both day and date functions, epitomizes the kind of work that helped to make Benrus one of the more successful American watch brands.  Sadly, the brand was sold off in 1967 and subsequently diluted.  By the time the burgeoning quartz revolution washed over Benrus, every part of the former company had been dismantled.  Little remains of the Benrus today save some of the watches that have gone unused since they were produced.    

With ultra-crisp lines and classical stylings, this particular Benrus is an absolute survivor.  Housed in a razor-sharp steel case with slightly curved, wrist-hugging lugs and topped with a pristine steel bezel, this one is about as immaculate as they come.  The inclusion of both day and date functions with quickset mechanisms make this one a no-excuses daily wear piece that you can feel good about rocking.