Benrus is once again reaching into their history with the return of the Sky Chief chronograph first introduced in 1940. The diminutive chronograph was originally pitched as an aviation instrument, and the American brand has gone to great lengths to preserve that original character, even at its original 36mm dimensions. The design holds up with plenty of charm in either the Stratus Grey or Cirrus White dial options being offered, and all it seems to be missing in modern guise is a proper bund strap to mount it to.
If you’re anything like me, the Benrus brand brings to mind visions of issued field watches that proved their worth through the second World War and Vietnam. The Type 1, the DTU, all boast an enviable heritage through some of history’s darkest moments. But the brand is more than pure tools for the field, and they always have been. After founding in 1921, the American brand embraced Art Deco trends and even developed pilot’s watches as early as the 30s, with the Sky Chief representing the culmination of those efforts.
Benrus is no stranger to capturing their past in reissues, which they generally take a faithful approach to recreating. We’ve seen it in the DTU and the Ultra Deep, and it is the same approach with the Sky Chief. The classic three register layout remains, with field style numerals marking each hour. It’s a look that’s evolved over the generations, and feels right at home in this execution. What does date the design are the syringe style hands, and 36mm dimensions, and that’s where the real character of the watch shines through.
Recreating this design in a 40mm case would have made it relatively redundant in today’s landscape, so I’m happy to see Benrus committed to the original formula, which offers them a route to build on. A double domed sapphire crystal and modern ETA 2894 automatic movement provide premium touches, though a handwound caliber would have felt more at home in this package. Tough to complain when the total thickness is kept in check at 11.9mm.
The white and dark grey dial options are set against a grey leather strap, but if you want to dial up the mid-century vibes it needs to be mounted to a bund style strap from the brand. The small case size makes it a perfect companion for such a pairing without overwhelming the wrist. It’s the same story with the DTU, which comes of a bund strap, and it’s an important detail to preserve when it comes to recreating not just the look, but the experience of wearing an older design.
The Sky Chief is available now directly from Benrus, and is priced at $3,950. Benrus
