Benrus was founded in New York in 1921 by the Romanian-born brothers Benjamin, Oscar and Ralph Lazrus and relied on Swiss production based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In the 1930s and 1940s the company became known for its pilot and military watches. Early models such as the Flyer and Airman were popular with airline pilots and helped solidify the brand's reputation.
One of the iconic Benrus watches of the 1940s was the Sky Chief, a special pilot's chronograph. These watches in compact cases with thin bezels were equipped with the Venus 172, Venus 178 and later Valjoux 72 movements. The Sky Chief featured a classic tri-compax chronograph layout and an unusual detail on the minute counter: markers at four-minute intervals, a feature related to the celestial navigation calculations used by pilots and navigators. More than eighty years after the original, Benrus is reviving this historic pilot's watch with the new Sky Chief Chronograph.
The new Sky Chief Chronograph is presented in a 36mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 11.9mm and a lug-to-lug width of 42.5mm. The proportions remain true to vintage 1940s chronographs and fit well with modern sensibilities. The design element of the original model, the distinctive crystal and narrow bezel, is recreated here with a double-domed, box-shaped sapphire crystal treated with an AR coating. The case features a screw-down crown, rounded rectangular pushers and an open sapphire crystal back. Water resistance is 100 m.
The Sky Chief Chronograph is available in two dial colors: Stratus Gray and Cirrus White. Both feature a glossy lacquered sunburst finish, azure-decorated subdials and a historic Sky Chief logo. Large Arabic numerals and the syringe-like hour and minute hands are coated with BGW9 Super-LumiNova, ensuring good legibility in low light conditions. The layout remains classic and functional, with the chronograph displays arranged in a 3-6-9 configuration reminiscent of the vintage Sky Chief models. Only the small seconds and 30-minute chronograph counters (note the 4-8-12-minute markers used for timing Long Range Navigation signals or manual, old-fashioned sextants) swap places on this Revival edition, now at 3 and 9 o'clock respectively, while the 12-hour chronograph counter remains at 6:00, with central chronograph seconds.
The watch is powered by the Swiss ETA 2894, a compact automatic movement with a chronograph module that is based on the ETA 2892 and is COSC certified. The movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, offers a power reserve of 42 hours and can be viewed through the sapphire crystal back.
The Sky Chief is worn on a gray leather strap with a polished pin buckle; Other options are available from the brand. The price is CHF 3,469 or USD 3,950, excluding taxes. For more information, visit benrus.com.
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