Benrus - Diamond and Ruby Dial - Circa 1950

By 1950 the hard years were over. The Depression was a memory, the war was won, and for the first time in a generation an American paycheck stretched past the necessities. Downtown the neon stayed lit late, dinner meant a suit, and the bands played live. A man's one piece of jewelry went on his wrist.

In the middle of those years, Benrus set real stones into the dial of this watch: a diamond at twelve and a ruby at each of the quarters, three, six, and nine. The company was a New York house with its own movement works in Switzerland, and every watch came back across the ocean to be finished at home. The inside of this caseback carries the proof in its own stamp: cased and timed in U.S.A. by the Benrus Watch Co.

The dial is silvered in two finishes, a bright outer ring and a soft center parted by a thin gold circle. Gold batons mark the hours between the stones, the seconds keep to a small register above the six, and gold dauphine hands carry the time across all of it. The diamond throws white light, the rubies hold their dark red, and a few light specks of age show on the silver, plain in the photographs.

Inside, a Benrus movement, the model BB4, winds by hand and runs on seventeen jewels.

The lugs curl into gold scrolls, a pair at each end of the case. The bezel is 10k rolled gold plate on a stainless steel back, stamped so on the outside of the case. The gold shows light wear, and scratches cross the steel back. It comes on a brown leather strap. The watch runs, and its service history is unknown.

Terms: Please review all photos carefully as they are a part of the listing. This is a vintage timepiece. Accuracy, power reserve, and water resistance are not guaranteed. Vintage watches may require periodic service. Performance can vary with wear, temperature, and position.

All sales final.