References Featured
Benrus Series 3061
Worn by: Steve McQueen as Lieutenant Frank Bullitt
Reference: Benrus Series 3061
Brand: Benrus
The Benrus Series 3061 is the civilian version of Benrus's famous military-issue timepieces, featuring the same robust construction and legible black dial with white markings that made the military variants essential field equipment. For a detective who navigates San Francisco's streets in a muscle car, wears turtlenecks under sport coats, and solves cases through dogged investigation rather than flash, the Benrus represents authentic working-class professionalism. The watch's utilitarian design—using a reliable ETA 2372 movement in a straightforward case—mirrors Bullitt's own approach to police work: effective, unpretentious, and focused on getting results. While McQueen personally wore Rolex Submariners, the choice of the more modest Benrus for Bullitt adds authenticity—it's exactly what a city detective would actually wear in 1968, rather than a luxury status symbol.
Source: https://oracleoftime.com/steve-mcqueen-watches/