Benrus GI Watch

There are some watches that scream at you from the wrist, blasting their provenance and their precious-metalness from miles away.  Then there are watches that prefer to stay half in the shadows; horological ninjas executing their perfect timeliness with understated poise.  In our opinion, the Benrus G.I. watch is about as ninja as a wristwatch can get.  

The General Issue wristwatch, ordered by the Department of Defense in 1964 for the ramp-up to Vietnam, was designed to resist the exposure that combat in inhospitable environments presented.  Built from a corrosion-resistant steel, the uni-body case excelled at protecting the movement from debris, moisture, and shock.  The spartan dial design, reminiscent of the Rolex Explorer I dial, was daubed with Tritium luminous paint to be legible in low and modified light conditions.  The manual wind movement was equipped with a hacking feature - a mechanism that stopped the second hand from moving when setting the time - enabling soldiers to synchronize their timepieces to incredible accuracy for elite operations and coordinated movement.

Although the mechanical G.I. watch was produced under contract by a number of manufactures (Hamilton and Benrus, most notably), and went through a handful of modifications during its war-time production, it remained virtually unchanged during the 30 or so years it was made - a testament to it's stalwart form-follows-function engineering.  

This particular piece, manufactured by Benrus with a contract date of July 1973, is in excellent overall condition with a lovely anti-corrosion case and clean, unmolested dial and handset, making it a stunning military-issue timepiece ready for action! 

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.