In our continual quest for exceptional timepieces, the Sea Lord by BENRUS was sent to us on loan to review, and we were intrigued. BENRUS is an esteemed American brand that boasts a remarkable legacy in the American watch industry and is currently making a thrilling resurgence. The Sea Lord possesses a unique appearance with its strong connection to vintage-inspired design combined with modern features and details.
Specs:
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Soprod P024
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 39 mm
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Price: Under $900
BENRUS: The Brand
In 1921, Benjamin Lazrus established Benrus (BENjamin LazRUS) in New York. Initially, Benjamin Lazrus and his two brothers pooled together $5,000 to import Swiss watch movements and manufacture watch cases in New York City. The company’s headquarters, which remain there today, were located in Manhattan’s Hippodrome building, situated in the renowned jewelry district.
During the late ’20s to the late ’60s, they experienced remarkable success. However, like many other brands, they encountered a slowdown in the ’70s due to the quartz crisis.
Fortunately, a few years ago, BENRUS reintroduced their popular designs and released some breathtaking timepieces. While the design itself remained largely unchanged, the watches received technological updates, such as automatic Swiss movements, enabling them to compete effectively in today’s market.
BENRUS Sea Lord: Overview
The Benrus Sea Lord Diver watch, a highly sought-after timepiece in its heyday, was well-deserving of its popularity. With an unassuming simplicity, its design accentuates the timeless qualities of a sturdy dive watch. This watch’s overall aesthetic versatility makes it an excellent addition to any collection, effortlessly transitioning from formal occasions (granted, formal occasions will require a different bracelet option) to casual, athletic activities. In essence, it serves as a dependable and stylish everyday timepiece. Its 39 mm case width ensures comfortable wear for wrists of all sizes. The wide baton-style hour and minute hands harmonize with the watch’s understated features, while the black dial and faux patina hour markers provide a refined touch that counterbalances its ruggedness. Equipped with the Soprod P024 Swiss automatic movement, the Benrus Sea Lord offers a 38-hour power reserve, ensuring reliable performance.
Specs:
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Soprod P024
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 39 mm
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Price: Under $900
Dial
The black dial with black bezel combination often looks one dimensional, lacking a captivating depth, but that is not the case with the Sea Lord. The black dial is very simplistic but doesn’t feel empty. The negative space at the center of the dial is counterbalanced by the wide baton hour and minute hands. The hands and the hour indices have a warm-tone gold color that brings elegance to the watch dominated by the cool-tone stainless steel case and black dial.
The BENRUS brand name is below the 12 o’clock position, and the name of the watch “Sea Lord” is placed above the 6 o’clock position, creating a nice balance.
The rectangular shape hour indices at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions are paired with circular shapes for the remaining hour markers. This design solution creates a perfectly symmetrical balance, and the two shapes used for the indices are connecting the watch’s round shape with the angles of the hour and minute hands.
The BW G9 Super-LumiNova dial markers, hands and bezel lume’s cream color is an important detail. This color choice creates the vintage-feel (also called faux patina).
Bezel
The slightly serrated bezel with black ceramic insert is a 120-click uni-directional bezel. It is a classic count-up bezel, but rather than the usual placement of Arabic numerals at the 20, 30, 40, and 50–minute intervals, this model incorporates markings at the 15, 30, and 45-minute positions, creating a balanced appearance and enhancing the vertical and horizontal axis across the watch’s center.
Case
The width of the case is at a very comfortable 39 mm, and the lug-to-lug distance is at 45 mm therefore making it a comfortable wear for most wrist sizes. If you have a bigger wrist and think the watch might look small on you, do not worry, as the 13 mm case height makes the watch a true sports watch, and the timepiece will feel substantial.
The back of the case is also a pleasant surprise. It’s not a round shape, rather an angular case back with 12 corners, and 6 round holes, giving a very old school look. The crest on the back with two lions and the words “Worth, Beauty, Accuracy” represents BENRUS’ watch-making legacy.
Movement
Featuring the Soprod P024, an automatic Swiss movement, the BENRUS Sea Lord offers a substantial 38-hour power reserve. This 25-jewel movement is based on the ETA 2824-2 movement. Renowned for its dependability, this Swiss automatic movement stands as a formidable rival to the popular Sellita SW200 movement.
Black Rubber Tropic Srap
The Sea Lord Black comes with a black rubber quick release tropic strap. The tropic strap is a very comfortable choice, especially in hot weather, or around salt water. It is also equipped with a quick release feature, therefore you can take it off without using any tools – a practicality that’s becoming very popular. The distance between the lugs is 20 mm.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at the summary of pros and cons, in our humble opinion:
Pros
- The 39 mm case width is perfect for all wrist sizes.
- Classic, vintage-inspired design with evergreen elements.
- Can be easily dressed up or down.
- Very comfortable wear.
Cons:
- The default tropic strap is very sporty. The watch itself can be dressed up easily, so consider having additional options for the strap.
- No date window – not a deal breaker for us, but it could be very important for some.
- Although sturdy, the lack of crown guards could be a problem if you really want to test the watch in action.
Summary: Takeaway and Final Thoughts About BENRUS Sea Lord Black
With its distinctive personality, the BENRUS Sea Lord is a beautiful vintage-inspired dive watch drawing inspiration from its illustrious heritage. Boasting a 39 mm case width and a 45 mm lug-to-lug distance, this watch strikes a harmonious balance between simplicity and sportiness. It seamlessly transitions into a versatile choice, serving as an exceptional everyday timepiece. Equipped with the automatic Swiss movement (Soprod P024 caliber), it guarantees a commendable 38-hour power reserve. This watch stands as a testament to the brand’s significance in the American watch industry, an inspired reissue we are very much excited about!
Specs:
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Soprod P024
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 39 mm
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Price: Under $900
Other Watch Reviews
Kuoe Old Smith 90-007 In-Depth Review
Kuoe has managed to deliver a watch that captures the soul of the 1930s but packages it in a way that works for the 21st century. It is inspired by classic British wristwatches, but is offers so much more.
MAEN Manhattan 37 M2 “Grey Ice” Hands-On Review
This Maen Manhattan 37 M2 punches well above its weight in many ways. The design is confident and cohesive – Maen set out to deliver a modern re-interpretation of 1970s classics and they absolutely nailed that.
Sinn 104 St Sa | W (104.012) In-Depth Review
The Sinn 104 St Sa I W is a triumph of balance: it’s a tool watch that doesn’t feel cold or boring, a stylish watch that isn’t delicate or pretentious. For anyone seeking a “GADA” watch, the 104 is an easy recommendation.
Mühle-Glashütte Teutonia Sport II “Racing Green” (M1-29-74-LB-B) In-Depth Review
The Teutonia Sport II checks all the boxes for a modern sports watch. This watch is a great combination of technical excellence and a unique modern design.
Longines Conquest 41 mm (L3.830.4.02.6) Review
The Conquest 41 mm is a confident all-rounder that brings together Longines’ sporty DNA and modern watchmaking upgrades in a compelling package.
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer H76205530 Review
The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer (Ref # H76205530) is a beautiful blend of vintage-inspired aesthetics and contemporary watchmaking. Drawing inspiration from the WWII-era Model 23 pocket watch, this timepiece pays homage to Hamilton’s rich aviation and military heritage.