Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Benrus Sky Chief Chronograph, a Historic Pilot’s Watch Reborn
A classic, compact pilot's chronograph for aviation enthusiasts.
Founded in New York in 1921 by Romanian-born brothers Benjamin, Oscar, and Ralph Lazrus, Benrus relied on Swiss production, centred in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and during the 1930s and 1940s, it became known for its pilots and military watches. Early models such as the Flyer and Airman were popular among the airline pilots, helping establish the brand’s reputation.
One of the emblematic 1940s Benrus watches was the Sky Chief, a dedicated pilot’s chronograph. Those watches in compact cases with thin bezels were equipped with the Venus 172, Venus 178, and, later the Valjoux 72 movements. The Sky Chief featured a classic tri-compax chronograph layout and an unusual detail on the minutes counter: markings at four-minute intervals, a feature linked to celestial navigation calculations used by pilots and navigators. More than eighty years after the original, Benrus revives this historic pilot’s watch with the new Sky Chief Chronograph.
The new Sky Chief Chronograph is presented in a 36mm stainless steel case, measuring 11.9mm thick with a 42.5mm lug-to-lug; the proportions remain faithful to vintage 1940s chronographs and align well with modern sensibilities. The design element of the original model, the prominent crystal and slim bezel, is recreated here with a double-domed box sapphire crystal, treated with AR coating. The case features a screw-down crown, rounded rectangular pushers and an open sapphire caseback. Water resistance is 100m.
The Sky Chief Chronograph is available in two dial colours, Stratus Grey and Cirrus White. Both feature a glossy lacquered sunburst finish, azuré-decorated subdials, and a historic Sky Chief logo. Large Arabic numerals and the syringe-like hour and minutes hands are coated with BGW9 Super-LumiNova, ensuring good legibility in low-light conditions. The layout remains classic and functional, with the chronograph indications arranged in a 3-6-9 configuration that echoes the vintage Sky Chief models, only the small seconds and 30-minute chrono counter (note the 4-8-12 minute markings used for timing Long Range Navigation signals or manual, old-fashioned sextant) trade 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.
Powering the watch is the Swiss-made ETA 2894, a compact automatic movement with a chronograph module based on the ETA 2892, COSC-certified. Operating at 28,800 vibrations/hour, the movement offers a 42-hour power reserve and can be viewed through the sapphire caseback.
The Sky Chief is worn on a grey leather strap with a polished pin buckle; other options are available from the brand. The price is CHF 3,469 or USD 3,950, tax excluded. For more, visit benrus.com.
9 responses
That’s a beautiful watch, at a perfect size. I can’t afford it, and I don’t need the functions a chronograph offers, but I hope Benrus sells a lot of these.
Perfect proportions!
Nice, but the Longines Bigeye can be had for half lightly used and it has a column wheel.
The watch comes in nicely proportioned and with the standard purposeful functions and registers, all with a comfortable familiarity with this kind of chronograph. But it loses me with the all too familiar price gouging technique that has overtaken the industry. This is not a $4,000 watch. This is more of a $3,000 watch, at best. After some time passes you’ll find it for less, and on the secondary market, it’ll go for much less.
unfortunately, too expensive indeed, and 36mm is a niche market, especially for pilot chronos – and again, there are competitors which are better priced and offer more (Hanhart with column wheel and flyback costs almost 1/3 less)
Nice watch for €2,000. €4,000 is a nonsense.
absolutely beautiful but this is not a $4K watch, I am sorry.
Miniscule. Tiny watches only look good in social media wrist shots. On the street it just looks like youre wearing your girlfriends watch. People are taller and larger than they were in the historical times of the 36mm Explorer etc… to a point watches got bigger for a reason. Then came the ludicrous Invicta trend of 50mm watches and now we have the backlash trend to tiny watches because everything is about social media these days and a wrist shot adds 5mm just like the old Hollywood saying “the camera adds 10 pounds”. Wear a watch that is proportional to your overall size, and does not overhang your wrist but big guys should not be bullied into wearing tiny watches that look just as dumb on them as a 50mm caricature of a watch would.
“De gustibus”…Perfect size, super cool fit, was able to try it in D.C. this 36mm chrono totally rocks. Never felt tiny…at all…and am not tiny…at all, sadly.
COSC , ETA movement for a non-group brand, yeah well, appreciate all the comments comparing it to Longines, but this is not a reality Indies face. Congrats to them. Great brand.