Benrus Shock-Absorber - WWII Era Military Style - Tropical Radium Dial - Circa 1942-1945

Benrus Shock-Absorber - WWII Era Military Style - Tropical Radium Dial - Circa 1942-1945

This Benrus comes straight out of the WWII period, 1942 to 1945, when legibility and durability mattered more than decoration. The dial follows military style from the time period with bold gold plated Arabic numerals, triangle hour markers with original lume, and a clean railroad minute track for fast reading under stress.

The dial is the defining feature of this watch. The original radium lume has transformed over eighty years into something that photographs cannot fully capture, a deep tropical amber-bronze that shifts between warm copper, burnt gold, and rich brown depending on how the light finds it. This is genuine radium aging, the kind of color transformation that only decades of undisturbed chemistry produces, and it gives the dial a living, luminous depth that no refinished or redailed watch could replicate. Against the bold Arabic numerals and triangle markers, the effect is striking and completely original.

This watch shows all the best signs of honest aging. The case is much larger than most for the time period and its design reinforces that purpose-built feel. The distinctive gold horned lugs are textbook early 1940s, paired with a roamer-style case, signaling Benrus's push toward more waterproof, rugged civilian and military-adjacent watches during the war years. Inside, the manual-wind movement winds, sets, and runs well.

Dial, hands, and case show age consistent with an eighty-year-old watch. The watch is fitted with a suede strap and will also include the original black NATO strap it came with.

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.

I am happy to service any unserviced watch listed on the site — please inquire about service charges when purchasing.

All sales final.