Introducing Benrus Revives the Sky Chief with a 36mm Case

Benrus was founded in New York in the early twentieth century. The brand built its name on functional tool watches designed for demanding professional environments. Its portfolio quickly expanded from military timing instruments to aviation chronographs, creating timepieces that prioritized clarity, robustness, and mechanical reliability. Over the decades, many of these watches became closely tied to the golden age of aviation, when cockpit instruments and wristwatches were essential companions for pilots navigating long-distance flights.

Among those aviation models, the Sky Chief became one of the most recognizable. Introduced during the 1940s, the watch was conceived as a practical chronograph for pilots, distinguished by a clear multi-register dial and proportions that were compact even by the standards of its time.

Benrus now brings the Sky Chief back into production with a modern interpretation that respects the character of the original while refining its construction for contemporary use. The watch remains deliberately restrained in size, preserving the compact feel that defined the historical model.

The 316L stainless steel case measures 36 mm in diameter and 11.9 mm in thickness, maintaining the slim and balanced proportions associated with the vintage Sky Chief. The case combines brushed and polished surfaces that subtly highlight its contours. Above the dial sits a double-domed box sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, echoing the curved profile of the acrylic crystals found on earlier examples while improving durability and clarity. Turning the watch over reveals a sapphire exhibition caseback that allows a view of the chronograph movement inside. The case also provides water resistance rated to 100 metres.

The dial is available in two colour variations inspired by vintage Sky Chief references. Stratus Grey presents a glossy black surface paired with snailed chronograph counters, while Cirrus White introduces a light grey sunburst finish with the same textured subdials. Central hour and minute hands provide the primary time display, accompanied by a central chronograph seconds hand and subdial hands for elapsed time measurement. Printed hour indices surround the dial and are treated with BG W9 Super-LumiNova for visibility in low-light conditions. The overall layout follows a classic tri-compax chronograph architecture, with registers for small seconds, a 30-minute counter, and a 12-hour counter.

The watch is powered by the ETA 2894 automatic chronograph calibre. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and delivers a power reserve of 42 hours. It is also certified by COSC as a chronometer.

The watch is fitted with a grey leather strap secured by a polished pin buckle, while a secondary black leather strap is available as an additional option. The Sky Chief joins the brand’s permanent collection and is priced at $3,950, approximately AED 14,500.

For more information, visit the official website of Benrus.