Hands-On With The Suprisingly Fresh And Invigorating Benrus Ultra-Deep

We’ve all heard that good things come to those who wait. In my case, I had to wait two years before the Benrus Ultra-Deep landed on my desk. That was purely the result of the never-ending stream of new releases that, unfortunately, made me forget about the brand’s retro dive watch. But when the Ultra-Deep finally did arrive, it came exactly at the right time. As it turns out, occasionally, you need something familiar to surprise you in all the right ways. The Benrus Ultra-Deep did precisely that by giving me a friendly slap in the face.

We see so many releases every year that it can be hard to keep up. When I first wrote about the Benrus Ultra-Deep in September of 2023, I expressed my desire to do a hands-on review of the brand’s retro Super Compressor-style dive watch. The watch is a faithful reissue of a classic from the brand’s archives. Instead of giving it a modern makeover by increasing its size and updating the design, Benrus decided to stick to the original. The brand was right to do so. Great things do not always need to be altered. That’s precisely the feeling I had when I had a chance to spend some time with the Benrus Ultra-Deep.

The story of the Benrus Ultra-Deep

Let’s start by reminding ourselves of the story of the Ultra-Deep, as it has been a while since I explained it in the introductory article. When scuba diving became popular in the 1960s, Benrus was one of the brands that jumped on the opportunity to create watches that could be worn while diving. The brand developed the Ultra-Deep series of dive watches, and it featured some future classics. A notable example is the Ultra-Deep ref. 6088, a cool-looking skin diver that Robert-Jan featured here on Fratello back in 2006.

A second model in the series was the Ultra-Deep ref. 6089. This watch was the foundation for the current Ultra-Deep. It featured a Super Compressor case produced by EPSA. These famous cases were popular among many brands seeking to create dive watches. The main feature of the Super Compressor cases was the spring-loaded back, which, due to external water pressure, would seal the watch tighter the deeper its wearer dove. By using this style of case, Benrus was able to make the Ultra-Deep ref. 6089 water resistant to 200 meters (666 feet).

The distinct style of the Super Compressor dive watches

The Super Compressor look was another standout feature. It features this characteristic look with two crowns. The upper of the two rotates the internal dive bezel, while the second adjusts the time and date. For this new Ultra-Deep, Benrus decided to stick as close to the original as possible, and I greatly enjoy that. Seeing the watch in its original style and proportions gives it a refreshing relevance in a world of modern remakes.

The Benrus Ultra-Deep features a 36.5mm Super Compressor-style case with a 41.5mm length, a 13.8mm thickness (including the domed crystal), and an 18mm lug spacing. As you may have guessed, this is not a true Super Compressor case, as modern techniques have caught up with that technology. For this new Ultra-Deep, Benrus chose a case in the style of its classic diver with a modern screw-down design to maintain the 666ft depth rating. It’s a logical and practical update, but thanks to keeping the Super Compressor style, the watch doesn’t lose its charm.

The original size and proportions feel refreshing

What I immediately adored was the watch’s original 36.5mm case diameter. It makes it a modestly sized dive watch in a world of oversized chunkers, and I love that. Granted, the 36.5mm diameter combined with the 13.8mm profile might seem daunting on paper. However, once you realize that the heavily domed crystal provides a significant portion of the thickness, it puts it into a more favorable perspective. Speaking of the crystal, there is a date magnifier on the underside of it, ensuring that you can always read the date easily.

The crystal protects the wonderful dial, which is a remake of the original. I love the look of this black dial, with its combination of large circular and oversized rectangular hour markers. Benrus used beige lume with a light green glow for the hour indexes and the luminous numerals and triangle on the internal dive bezel.

One detail that I adore is the refinement of the small dotted markers on the dive bezel and the minute markers on the dial. They strike a perfect balance with the other elements and create a really nice dial. Finishing the look are the charming cathedral hands, which were also part of the original watch’s design.

The charm continues with the Jubilee-style bracelet

The Benrus Ultra-Deep comes on a Jubilee-style stainless steel bracelet. Additionally, Benrus offers a blue NATO strap for those who prefer that look. I like it on the bracelet, but my preference surprised me. Although I generally wouldn’t choose a strap over a bracelet, a Jubilee-style bracelet on a classic diver is usually not my favorite choice. I strongly associate that style of bracelet with the classic Datejust. It’s common knowledge that this style was used for a wide variety of watches, but my association is deeply rooted in the history of the Datejust.

But for the Ultra-Deep, it works wonderfully well. The bracelet feels decent, although it’s nothing too spectacular. Let’s say it has the vintage charm of the original bracelet. It does come with modern screw-fastened links, so it’s easy to size. Other than that, the bracelet offers a simple folding clasp with traditional micro-adjustment holes. Despite the bracelet’s basic quality, it performs exactly as intended. If you size it properly, it balances the watch perfectly on the wrist. Additionally, it is nice and comfortable, as you would expect from a Jubilee-style bracelet.

Lastly, Benrus equips this watch with the automatic Soprod P024 caliber. The movement is based on the ETA 2824-2. It ticks at 28,800 vibrations per hour, features a quick-set date, and has a 38-hour power reserve. The caliber also offers an accuracy rating of ±7 seconds per day, which is pretty impressive for a standard automatic caliber, and reports from owners confirm these numbers.

Wearing the Benrus Ultra-Deep

On the wrist, the watch feels small in size but not in presence. That sounds contradictory, but it makes sense. Compared to most modern dive watches, the Benrus Ultra-Deep is significantly smaller, and this is evident in how it wears.

However, a glance at the watch reveals that it possesses a notable wrist presence despite its modest size. The watch shines because it possesses great vintage character, and the dial is also rich in detail. Some would call it a rather busy dial design, but I disagree. As already mentioned, it strikes a perfect balance between the different elements, each of which has a distinct function. It gives the watch a really nice presence that kept drawing me back to it. As for the size and proportions, there is no denying that it’s a chunky watch. Having said that, it never felt that way because of the heavily domed crystal.

The Ultra-Deep is a joy to see on the wrist

Additionally, the modest case features fairly long lugs, making it easier to wear even on larger wrists. Operating the dive bezel is easy too. If you turn the crown, the bezel immediately starts rotating, and setting it exactly is easy as there is no play between the two. A nice detail is the diagonal engraving on the crowns, which refers to the classic Super Compressor cases of the original watches.

After I wore the Benrus Ultra-Deep for a few days, it left me deeply impressed. It simply is a fun watch that is easy to wear and takes you back to a much simpler time. With the risk of sounding like an old man, sometimes simpler is just better. It made wearing this watch a ton of fun. It is unpretentious in its appearance and capable in its specs and character. It’s a tool watch, and it truly feels like one. I love this uncomplicated approach, and that’s why I quickly grew very fond of the Ultra-Deep.

Final thoughts

In an era when brands try to swoon you with their new releases, using vivid colors and/or updated designs from the past, seeing the Benrus Ultra-Deep is a breath of fresh air. By sticking to the original design of the Ultra-Deep ref. 6089, Benrus created a super nice and charming modern version of this popular classic. There is a reason this is a fan favorite, and I completely understand why. By using the original designs and proportions, Benrus can show us the original charm of its classic timepieces.

By doing so, the brand takes a distinct path, making it stand out from the majority of brands that constantly evolve by changing sizes, proportions, and colors. The fact that Benrus doesn’t partake in this made wearing the Ultra-Deep a fun experience. It reminded me of why many brands, and Benrus in particular, in this case with the Ultra-Deep, did so many things right in the mid-20th century. At US$1,195 or CHF 1,105 (both excluding tax), this is a lovely option for fans of classic dive watches.