When a design is boiled down to its essential components, its true character is revealed. In the world of military-issued timepieces, this philosophy isn't an aesthetic choice; it's a mandate for survival and success. A field watch must be, above all else, reliable, legible, and tough enough to endure conditions that its wearer is facing. Anything extra is a liability. This uncompromising focus on function is precisely what has made the field watch an enduring archetype, appreciated by soldiers and civilians alike for its straightforward, no-nonsense appeal.
Few brands have a more legitimate claim to this heritage than BENRUS. While many companies today create "military-style" watches, BENRUS was on the front lines, a key contractor for the United States military. The company’s history is deeply interwoven with U.S. service members. Now, the brand is re-establishing its credentials by drawing from its most significant historical models. The latest in this revival is the DTU Shield, a watch that directly channels the spirit of one of the most significant field watches of the 20th century.
Courtesy of BENRUS
The BENRUS story is a classic example of the American dream. The brand was founded in New York City in 1921 by three brothers, Benjamin, Oscar, and Ralph Lazrus, who had emigrated from Romania. The company’s name itself is a portmanteau, combining the first syllable of BENjamin’s name with the family surname, LAZRUS. This new venture was built on a simple but powerful idea: to merge American ingenuity and marketing savvy with the proven, high-quality expertise of Swiss watchmaking.
This strategy proved incredibly successful. From the 1930s through the 1970s, BENRUS became a cornerstone of American watchmaking and a household name. The brand was known for producing dependable, accessibly priced timepieces, and its influence extended deep into American culture. However, its most enduring legacy would be cemented not in civilian life, but in the theater of conflict.
BENRUS became a trusted supplier to the U.S. government, producing watches and other timing instruments for the armed forces. This relationship was solidified when BENRUS became the first brand to secure the coveted MIL-W-3818B contract, the military specification for a general-purpose field watch. This wasn't a marketing exercise; these were genuine, government-issued tools built to a strict standard. The brand’s motto, "For the Brave, By the Brave," stems from this deep, authentic connection to those in service.
The direct ancestor of the new DTU Shield is the BENRUS DTU-2A/P. First developed in 1964, this model was created in direct response to the U.S. military’s updated specifications for a field watch durable and precise enough for the new realities of warfare. Its primary destination was the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam, issued to troops who needed a timepiece that would not fail them.
The DTU-2A/P was the epitome of functional design. It featured a clear, highly legible dial, a rugged case, and a reliable manual-wind movement. It was produced in both metal and, later, a disposable plastic version, both of which became iconic. This watch, celebrated for its toughness and instant readability, became a trusted piece of kit for countless service members. Its design DNA was so successful that it would later serve as the direct inspiration for the legendary BENRUS Type I, a watch that enjoys its own cult following among collectors.
Courtesy of BENRUS
Fast forward to today, and BENRUS is channeling this rich history into a modern lineup of tool watches. The DTU collection serves as the contemporary platform for this lineage, reinterpreting the 1960s original for a new generation. This collection is not about creating a single, static reissue but rather exploring the versatility of that foundational design.
The modern DTU family already includes several variations, all based on the same 38mm case platform. The standard DTU offers a faithful reinterpretation, while the DTU UB features a Bronze PVD case and a green dial for a warmer, patinated look. The DTU Phantom takes a stealthier approach with a Black PVD case and a matching black dial. Each watch offers a different personality while remaining true to the core military-spec spirit.
The new DTU Shield, proudly introduced on Veterans Day 2025, is the latest and perhaps most distinct addition to this expanding collection. It joins the lineup as the light-dialed counterpart to its darker siblings, offering a different take on legibility while honoring the same historical roots. It presents a clean, almost clinical appearance that feels both vintage and thoroughly modern at the same time.
This model serves as a direct tribute to the brand's heritage, designed to celebrate the spirit of veterans and the enduring utility of the original DTU. The "Shield" name implies protection and durability, traits that are engineered directly into the watch's construction, blending the historical blueprint with the benefits of contemporary Swiss manufacturing.
The case of the DTU Shield strikes a perfect balance between historical accuracy and modern wearability. It measures 38 mm in diameter, a size that was common for field watches of the era and is now widely appreciated as a "sweet spot" that fits a broad range of wrists. The lug-to-lug length is a very compact 44.90 mm, ensuring the watch will have a contained and comfortable presence, with no ungainly overhang.
What truly defines the case, however, is its finish. The entire 316L stainless steel housing is sandblasted, giving it a soft, matte grey, non-reflective surface. This finish is entirely utilitarian, designed to eliminate glare that could be a tactical disadvantage in the field. Visually, it gives the watch a serious, tool-like character that perfectly complements its military origins. The profile is also relatively slim, at just 10.70 mm thick, allowing it to slide easily under a cuff.
Courtesy of BENRUS
Modern functional upgrades are present throughout. The crown, which is generously sized and grippy, is a screw-down type, a significant improvement over the push-pull crowns of many vintage field watches. This, combined with a solid, sandblasted stainless steel caseback, helps secure the watch's 10 ATM water resistance rating. This is equivalent to 100 meters or 330 feet, making the DTU Shield more than capable of handling daily life, swimming, and demanding outdoor adventures.
Protecting the dial is a double-domed sapphire crystal. This is another premium, modern feature. The "double-domed" shape means both the outer and inner surfaces of the crystal are curved, which prevents the visual distortion you often get with single-domed crystals. The shape itself (visible in profile) is a strong nod to the tall, "box" acrylic crystals of the 1960s, giving the watch a distinct vintage silhouette.
To ensure clarity is never compromised, the sapphire crystal is treated with a double anti-reflective coating. This is a crucial addition, especially for a light-colored dial, as it works with the sandblasted case to all but eliminate reflections. The result is a crystal that often seems to disappear, leaving an unobstructed view of the dial from almost any angle.
The dial of the DTU Shield is the star of the show. It’s described as a "light silver" dial, which in practice appears as a crisp, bright white or off-white. This provides the maximum possible contrast for the black-printed markings, prioritizing the original watch's mission: instant legibility.
The layout is pure military specification. A set of bold, black Arabic numerals from 1 to 12 marks the hours. Inside this main track sits a smaller, secondary ring of numerals from 13 to 24, allowing for an easy reading of 24-hour military time. A clean, black "railroad" track at the dial's periphery marks the precise minutes and seconds. The only text is the "BENRUS" brand name, printed simply below the 12 o’clock position.
Where the dial adds a strong dose of vintage character is in its luminescence. The watch uses Old Radium-colored Super-LumiNova. This modern, non-radioactive luminous compound is mixed to a warm, tan or "fauxtina" color, mimicking the appearance of aged tritium found on the original DTU-2A/P models. This luminescent material is applied to the hands and the hour markers.
Courtesy of BENRUS
Looking closely at the dial, the luminous application is precise. Instead of lumed numerals, small, inward-pointing triangles are printed at each hour marker, filled with the Old Radium compound. The hands are a modified syringe or pencil style, with black frames that make them stand out sharply against the light dial. They are generously filled with the same tan lume, as is the arrow-shaped tip of the simple black stick seconds hand. This ensures perfect legibility in any lighting condition, day or night.
Beating at the heart of the DTU Shield is the Swiss ETA 2892 automatic movement. This is a significant choice and a notable step up from the more common movements found in this price category. The ETA 2892 is a well-respected, robust, and reliable "tractor" movement, known for its accuracy and, critically, its slimness. It is this movement's thinner profile that allows the DTU Shield to achieve its svelte 10.70 mm case height, even with an automatic winding system and a domed crystal.
This Swiss-made engine provides a 42-hour power reserve, meaning you can set the watch down for a day and a half and it will still be ticking. For a watch built on a legacy of reliability, the choice of the ETA 2892 is a modern guarantee of that same dependable performance. It’s a workhorse, but a premium one, and its presence signals that this watch is a serious piece of equipment.
The watch is secured to the wrist with a fabric strap that completes the military-spec aesthetic. The strap is a durable, canvas-like material in a classic olive-drab or khaki green color, perfectly matching the watch's field-ready heritage. It’s a 20 mm strap, which is a standard size, making it incredibly easy to swap out for other options. The case's drilled lugs—a classic vintage feature—make those strap changes even easier.
A small but welcome detail is visible on the strap's underside: a genuine leather lining. This is a practical touch that enhances comfort, preventing the slightly abrasive texture of a heavy-duty fabric strap from irritating the skin. The strap is finished with a simple, sandblasted pin buckle that matches the finish of the case.
BENRUS makes it clear that its new watches are not just "Swiss-inspired" but are "Swiss Made." The brand, which maintains operations in both the U.S. and La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, emphasizes this point. The DTU Shield is designed, engineered, and assembled in the heart of the Swiss watchmaking industry, using high-quality components and, of course, the Swiss ETA movement. This commitment to Swiss production underpins the watch's quality and its $1,595.00 price point.
Courtesy of BENRUS
The DTU Shield successfully avoids being just another retro-pastiche. It feels instead like a direct continuation of a legacy. It thoughtfully combines the most important design elements of the 1964 original—the case shape, the dial layout, the utilitarian finish—with a series of tangible, modern upgrades. The move from acrylic to double-domed sapphire, from a push-pull crown to a screw-down one, and from a manual-wind movement to a high-grade Swiss automatic like the ETA 2892, all serve to make the watch better for a modern owner, without sacrificing its core identity.
Available for purchase directly from BENRUS, the DTU Shield is priced at $1,595.00. In a crowded market of field watches, it stands out by offering a compelling package. The combination of a premium Swiss movement, a high-quality "Swiss Made" build, and, most importantly, a direct and authentic link to one of the most important U.S. military watches ever made, gives the DTU Shield a story and a substance that is hard to ignore.
Case: 38 mm diameter, 10.70 mm height, 44.90 mm lug-to-lug, 20 mm lug width. Sandblasted 316L stainless steel case w/ screw-down crown. Double domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating. Closed sandblasted stainless steel case back. 10 ATM (100 m / 330 ft) water resistance.
Movement: Swiss ETA 2892 automatic movement. 42-hour power reserve.
Dial: Light dial with Old Radium Super-LumiNova on dial markers and hands.
Strap: Fabric strap with pin buckle. 20 mm lug width.
Price: $1,595.00
Notes: Swiss Made. Modern reinterpretation of the historic DTU-2A/P field watch developed in 1964. Released on Veterans Day 2025.