Pretty happy with how this turned out.

Before and after about an hour with sandpaper and polishing compound.

View attachment 847723

 

This is a great result! Curious (though this reads as judgey no matter how I write it) what are your thoughts on how much structural integrity now remains?

 

I don't think I removed a substantial fraction of the crystal thickness. That's the benefit of doing it manually, as opposed to using a buffing wheel, where things can heat up and really get out of hand. I started with 600-grit sandpaper, and gently went over the crystal about five times. After that, I just gradually went to finer grits, and the subsequent steps really weren't removing much material, just primarily improving the finish.

 

Nice!
Love these sterile dials.
Wear it in good health

 

The scratches decrease structural integrity, so as long as you just remove to the depth of scratch, you haven't actually made it thinner. That's how I think of it.
Looks great. Why no dial logo?

 

That looks fantastic Dan! Great work.

 

Veramente un grande risultato è ritornato come era un tempo, sei stato molto bravo
Complimenti pe il tuo type 1
Ciao,
Alberto

 

I assume that it may have been part of the mil-spec, but I can’t swear to that. Good article here.

https://wornandwound.com/benrus-type-i-and-type-ii-mil-w-50717-military-dive-watches/

 

Molto grazie, Alberto.

 

Came out very nice. Benrus were made not far from me for awhile. Nice to see I have one (different from yours) it is strange no name on the dial I haven’t seen that.

 

None of the Mil Benrus’ were labeled in the dial- as far as I have ever seen.

 

Nice! I keep eyeing type I and type II's eBay. Cool case design and history.

 

I regret not buying these at Sunny's Surplus back in the day when they were at the counter in little cardboard military boxes for $39. I had my Swiss Army watch, why would I want one of those old things.

 

Whoa! That's an insane amount of appreciation! I definitely got into this hobby 20 years too late.

 

Great result for your effort and time - transformed the watch

 

If only we could know which of these "budget" watches will eventually take off in value.

 

Not my Swiss Army watch.

 

I have a love affair with Benrus watches, totally fly under the radar (except the mil ones). They produced watches on par with Bulova, Mido or even Omega back in the day but get very little love from collectors.
This is one of my fav’s- early1960’s Sea Lord: stainless case, tucked crown, low slung short lugs, stunning sunburst dial, Eta movement- comfortable size at 35mm, sits low on the wrist and feels modern in comparison to many of this era.

 

Your Sea Lord is a great example of a solid entry-level vintage watch. The brand name isn't prestigious, but the watch is high quality and stylish, with great details and features. I would love to see more new collectors buy pieces like these, instead of frankenized or re-dialed utilitarian entry-level models from better known brands, often with damaged plated cases.

The non-military Benrus models that get the most attention from collectors are the Sky Chief chronographs.