ID and Dating of my Benrus watch??

[amb123]

Hello, Newbie here! I have recently acquired a Benrus watch that looks very old. It's not working at present and I don't know enough about it to determine if it is worth the money for repair. Please feel free to post any information you may have about this watch. I have no idea how to open this watch and I don't think I'll attempt it. There are some numbers on the back...ID number or serial number? 141847 . Any information is appreciated

Thank you!

Sorry this picture isn't very good. I'll go take some more now.
** You can't see in this photo but the glass over the face is raised kind of like there is a glass bubble over the face.

 

[Cary Hurt]

Your watch could date anywhere from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, but I believe it's probably earlier in that range. Benrus typically used good quality Swiss movements from various manufacturers (they didn't make their own movements). While a few Benrus models are considered collectible, most of their time-only watches are not highly sought after.

The question of whether it's worth it is up to you. While this is not an investment grade watch, it is an attractive piece of good quality. You can generally have a watch like this completely overhauled for less than the cost of a modern fashion watch, and it should give you years of service. If parts are needed, or there is damage to the case, repair becomes more expensive.

 

[amb123]

awesome, Thank you!!

 

[AbslomRob]

I believe (and don't quote me on this) that the term "shock absorber" was a reference to a Benrus-specific modification that allowed the cap jewel on the balance to lift. It was used in the 30's primarily, I think. This case design was aimed at mimicking the rectangular models that were popular whilst using the more common "round" watch movement. I have one similar that houses an ETA 900; you can see the shock absorber screwed to the balance cock.

We could tell you more if you could get a movement picture; maybe take it to a jeweler and ask them to take the back off for you so you can take a picture?

 

[amb123]

Oh wow your watch is the closet one I have seen to mine and I have looked at many online. Yes I plan to take it to get it fixed I was told around $56-$70.00 to fix it. I have no idea if this will outweigh the value of the watch I can't seem to find any to compare it to. I did end up finding this ad which looks similar to our watches. The ad indicates shock absorber was available in 1938. http://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/help-vintage-benrus-237951-post1724855.html#post1724855

scroll down a bit for the ad. It's cool to see the low prices...

 

[cire1973]

i have recently aquired a benrus 25 jewels self winding on the back it says number 3021 series open thru crystalwas wandering a little bout it

 

[shalondria2]

I have a 1938 Benrus ladies watch with serial# 070952. It has 2 Pat#s on it: 1966062 & 2110772. Just wondering the value. From the posts that I've seen, doesn't sound like it's worth much.

 

[Jack_W]

Yes I plan to take it to get it fixed I was told around $56-$70.00 to fix it. I have no idea if this will outweigh the value of the watch I can't seem to find any to compare it to.

As Cary said this cost is significantly less then a good modern fashion watch. Swiss made watches today will set you back several hundred dollars. The quote is quite good; find out what kind of warranty the watch maker offers on his workmanship. A good one will stand behind his service with about 3 to 6 months on workmanship. Service schedule should be about once every 5 years or so. The modern Swiss are about the same; think about the fact that you get the oil in your car changed on a regular schedule. If you waited until you car came to a halt and wouldn't run prior to a lube job it would be exponentially more expensive. Same idea but smaller scale.

 

[Don Dahlberg]

shalondria2,

Welcome to the NAWCC board. Because we are a tax exempt organization, we are forbidden by law from commenting on the specific value of watches. You see the notice "no appraisals" in the upper right side of this page.

Since you know what you have, the best way to value a watch is to follow the auctions of similar watches on internet sites like Ebay. Late 1930s ladies Benrus watches with 15 to 17 jewels and gold filled cases, should do the job.

I suppose it is to late to comment on earlier posts, but $56 to $70 for a proper overhaul is too low. Some serious hobby watchmakers may do it for that, but I cannot imagine a qualified professional doing it for this range. If you are in a higher cost of living location, it is not even close. In my rural area you MAY still find someone who will start at $80. Most overhauls run from $120 and up, because the watch usually requires more than just a cleaning.

My concern is that many so called "watchmakers" take the movement out of the case and remove the dial and then "clean" the watch in an ultrasonic cleaner with a combination cleaning - oiling solution. This is like dipping your engine in a mixture of gasoline and oil and calling it an overhaul.

A proper cleaning involves taking the movement apart (about 50 of the 150 parts). Cleaning the parts in a watch cleaning solution, followed by several rinses. All pivot holes are hand cleaned with peg wood. Then each part is inspected as the watch is assembled. A microscopic amount of oil is placed in each pivot and the proper kind of oil or grease is used in several locations. Of course, problems are corrected as discovered and there are ALWAYS problems form previous bad repairs or running without oil. Finally the watch is adjusted and timed. This operation takes at least 3-4 hours, sometimes longer if there are major problems.

Modern oils will last about 7 years, but vintage watches were not water resistant, and thus are not dust resistant. Dust gets into the oil and is an abrasive. Three years is probably a good interval between cleanings. If you do this at this interval, all that will need to be done each time is a cleaning (after the first time, of course).

Don

 

[Johnny72]

I also have a Benrus watch I would like to know when it is from. 17 jewel series 9345

 

[Watchfixer]

That last one is seiko made movement for sure.

Cheers, Watchfixer

 

[Johnny72]

Watch fixer,I am not sure if you were referring to my post. Do you have any idea how I can find out the age of this watch? I am interested in owning a "vintage" Benrus. I hope I didn't end up with one that has a non-Swiss movement and after things cheapened in the 70's.
John

 

[JoeButera]

I have a Benrus *** Silver, 25 jewel, automatic, serial number 793A - do the serial numbering system help us determine the age? I haven't read anything concrete on how to date a Benrus. I have know idea how old it is and would like to find out.

Thank you!

 

[R.G.B.]

Look for a number and mark under the balance. Most movement makers stamp the information there. From there you can look up the movement on Dr Ranfft's archive and that will give you an approximate production date for the movement. Off the top of my head both your's and johnny's look to be 1960's +or- 5 years.

 

[Adam Harris]

Look for a number and mark under the balance. Most movement makers stamp the information there. From there you can look up the movement on Dr Ranfft's archive and that will give you an approximate production date for the movement. Off the top of my head both your's and johnny's look to be 1960's +or- 5 years.

Are you sure 'Benrus' put a mark under balance wheel.
If so what does the mark convey

Bulova used such marks for certain, but I have not seen idetification marks for Benrus

Regards

 

[R.G.B.]

Benrus used ETA and AS movements which are both marked under the balance. They identify the movement model.

 

[Adam Harris]

Benrus used ETA and AS movements which are both marked under the balance. They identify the movement model.

OK
But no help to dating??
Only if ETA or AS movement. Correct?
And if no mark? What it mean?
Thanks adam

 

[R.G.B.]

Knowing the movement model and looking up when it was produced will give you a better idea of the age. Since Benrus didn't make their own movements or based them on others to my knowledge absence of a mark means identifying it by other means.

 

[Adam Harris]

Knowing the movement model and looking up when it was produced will give you a better idea of the age. Since Benrus didn't make their own movements to my knowledge absence of a mark means identifying it by other means.

Understand. "better Idea"
But no exact dateing
Thank, appreciated
A

 

[RdHogg]

Hello, new to site. I just got a Benrus watch from my father (87 yrs old), he was in the US Navy Air during WWII. He cannot remember when or where he received this watch. It has a black face with "BENRUS" written on it. The back has "Watch, Wrist, General Purpose, MIL-W 46374 Mfg BENRUS Serial # 01523 Stainless Steel". From all that I have found on the internet it could be a reissue of the D-Day 1944 Benrus watch, but I don't know. It is not working and I have not taken the back off yet. I do not know if the band is a replacement or not, it is a 'China' made Twist-o-Flex look a like. If this is the band that came with the watch ( my dad cannot remember), I know it is not a WWII issue watch. How can I tell for sure? Thanks for your help

 

[Cary Hurt]

It is likely that this watch is one of the reproductions from the 1990s, as Benrus was not an authorized manufacturer of watches for the US military during WW2. They did produce military watches in the Vietnam era. Pictures would help us to quickly settle which one this watch is.

 

[JoeButera]

I have a Benrus *** Silver, 25 jewel, automatic, serial number 793A - do the serial numbering system help us determine the age? I haven't read anything concrete on how to date a Benrus. I have know idea how old it is and would like to find out.

Thank you!

After further research I found out that my watch is a three star, 25 jewels, Swiss movement caliber FE-255, 793 A is the serial number on the back. Is there anyway to find out what decade, or year, it was made?

 

[lewfer]

Hi All,
I read your posts here and though perhaps you might be of help in identifying this Benrus which I inherited from my grandmother who lived in NYC. The Benrus movement inside is a CZ252, if that helps.
Many thanks,
Lew Fredane
lewfer@comcast.net
Philadelphia

 

[Jcgill79]

Newbie here. Wanted to know if anyone can tell me about this Benrus

 

[JoeButera]

I found out the age of my Benrus watch by getting it cleaned and asking my watchmaker. He was able to give me a date range by looking at the movement which he took apart and cleaned. My is this one which http://www.ebay.com/itm/Estate-Item...50s-1960s-Series-3021-25-Jewels-/181221693432 is for sale, but that is not mine, just the model is the same. Looking you Benrus up on Ebay can give you some ranges to think about.

Like the other gentleman stated, it is how much it means to you. Personally, I would get it cleaned and wear it for a while regardless of how much it is actually worth. They are nice watches and are a part of history.

 

[cabopati]

Hi everyone, this watch belongs to my aunt and she wants to sell it. I have been trying to find some information on it so I can get an idea of the value but I have not found much. The inside reads 887280 K45975, seventeen jewels, model CE 3. I believe it is gold and the band is gold plated as well. Can anyone help me out?

 

[puterbob]

I got a Benrus 3 star, 25 jewel wrist watch for a graduation present. That was 1960 and the watch was new. I understand some were made prior to WW II in preparation for winning a contract with the military. They lost the contract and I don't know how many were made for the public. Hope this helps some.

 

[DaveS777]

Hi all - I know very little about watches. Been repairing larger machines for years. Convincing my wife and myself - that it might be good to learn how to repair watches... Currently having my Dad's 1950's Benrus worked on... he was wearing it when I was born in 55
Anyway - just wondering about the above post... Where we state it takes a minimum of 3 hours to clean a watch (from my reading of the post...) Because for a proper cleaning one must disassemble. Then a bit down - we state that after the proper cleaning - the next time (implied) will be a lot less time - since all you need is a cleaning. So, I am confused on how one does a proper cleaning if you don't disassemble. The first part states that only putting it into an ultrasonic with a combo cleaning/oiling is not correct (good procedure). But than seems to possibly imply at the end of the post - that it is correct after the first time. Or otherwise - what would be the difference. I would think that any cleaning should require the disassemble of the movement to clean and than microscopic oiling etc. So same amount of time.
Just perusing the threads; and reading about Benrus watches. And this post on cleaning and such - raised the questions... thanks for any clarification.

 

[DaveS777]

I was on the First page; and clicked on 'reply' with a post mentioning cleaning and costs and such... thought it would go below that 'indented'. To see the what got me wondering - you have to go to the first page. "Don" posted it; and I am sure he knows what he is talking about - just trying to understand.

 

[Don Dahlberg]

DaveS777

That post was a long time ago. I am not sure what you are asking, but I'll make a stab at it.

Yes, you should always take the watch apart to all moving parts. If you do not have find replacement parts or make major adjustments, it takes about 3 hours to overhaul a watch. Some of this time may be in an automatic cleaning machine, so if you have one, you can be working on other watches during the cleaning process, but this only amounts to about a 15 to 20 minutes. Usually there is something more wrong with vintage watches, even if it was running when you brought it in. This is because previous "watchmakers" have improperly repaired problems in the past. You have to undo their "repairs" and then correct the true problem that they were trying to solve. If you need parts, you can spend hours or days trying to track down a part for a 80 year old watch. Make a part is a huge investment in time and thus cost to the customer.

If I did not answer your question or if you have additional questions, just ask.

Don Dahlberg
NAWCC volunteer

 

[DaveS777]

Thank you for the reply Don.

I guess my 'confusion' comes from possibly that the industry states 'just a cleaning'; while in your previous (long ago post) it was stated that a cleaning at the minimum requires 3 hours. And here above - you reference a cleaning as 'overhaul' - since it is stated that it takes 3 hours... So where a customer is told "I will clean and service the movement" - this is a minimum 3 hour job. Now, if problems exist - more hours. However, as in the long ago post; it is stated that after the initial cleaning and work - all it will need every 3 years is 'a cleaning'... I was just a bit confused - since that seems to be major work - taking it apart each time... and doing exactly what was promised the first time - except that this time - we hopefully will not have any significant problems - so it will be 'only' 3 - 4 hours.

Thanks again for the reply. I am just reading about movements and stuff right now when I have time, and drooling over machines (such as some of the ultrasonics) which I do not have any funds for...

 

[sluigi]

Hi there, I am a new menber of these forums, but have collected vintage wristwatches on and off for many years, buying and regrettably selling when needs must.
Hanhow, I have only minutes ago bought this very clean 'Benrus' 17 Jewel Shock Absorber wristwatch. I couldn't believe my luck when I just stuck a bid on on eBay and won it for $16.50 (about £11). What I have come here to ask, is what does the number on the back refer to? The number is '801B'. I have done a search and cannot find any reference to Benrus 801B, and was hoping that someone on here might know.
Thank you - Steve

 

[sluigi]

PS -p Sorry about the spelling mistakes, but I can't see where to edit the post :-(

 

[sluigi]

Any answers on this please?