MKII and Tornek Rayville Watches
Jan 2026
I’m a watch guy, specifically mechanical watches that are simple, utilitarian, and built for a purpose. This is where MKII Watches and Tornek-Rayville come in.
MKII Watches is the creation of Bill Yao, an outstanding human being who possesses an incredible depth of knowledge regarding military watches history. He created MKII initially as a homage to old military watches, but then turned the business into a proper "mark 2", meaning, a version 2 of the watches. He reimagined some of the most iconic historical military watches as a second version would be today, with the modern building materials, movements, and technology.
I was introduced to him a few years back by a mutual fiend, and I have been a fan of the brand, and the man, ever since.
Tornek-Rayville has a different story. The company originally launched in the 1960s during the Vietnam War, but the brand eventually faded away along with most of the rare TR-900 watches. After creating his own tribute to the TR-900 over a decade ago, Bill acquired the trademark and rights to officially resuscitate the company. Not a "version 2", not a homage, but new versions of the watch are now being manufactured by Bill and his team.
MKII Watches
Let's be direct and to the point, like all MKII watches are: The Paradive is the one watch that every tool-watch enthusiast should own. Period.
The Paradive is the reinterpretation of one of Vietnam War's later years most iconic watches, the Benrus Type I. An U.S. military-issued dive watch, created to meet the rigorous MIL-W-50717 specifications for Special Forces and Navy SEALs during that conflict, with a tool-focused sterile dial (no markings), bead-blasted steel case to minimize reflections, and fixed bars, the Type I was designed for extreme durability and often used for covert operations.
MKII built an incredibly durable modern version of that watch. Larger case, date or no date options, and a easier to service in the field, the Paradive is just a tank of a watch.
I love mine. However, my only thing with this watch is the size. 42mm case is rather standard for today, but, personally, I prefer smaller watches, with a 39-40mm cases being the sweet spot for me.
Bill has my back on this as well. Back in the early 2000s, he created the MKII Blackwater. It was a homage to the original Benrus Type I and featured very similar dimensions. With its thinner case and lighter weight, the watch eventually led to the creation of the Paradive. I was lucky enough to find one!
You can see the difference between the two. If Bill could morph both of these watches and create one as tough and durable as the Paradive, but with the form-factor of the Blackwater, then... Perfect tool watch!
Let's move on to the Cruxible.
Imagine the watch that "helped win WW2", the A-11, built to modern standards. Yes, that's the MKII Cruxible A-11, a modern field watch. The original A-11, famous for its ability to "hack", or stop the seconds hand enabling synchronizing watches, was widely deployed to US, Canadian, and British forces.
Now imagine one of the watches worn by UDT, combat demolition units, and other maritime recon units during WWII, the Canteen Watch (BUSHIPS), and you get the MKII Cruxible Hellion. Used by those units, along with the OSS Maritime Unit in WW2 to help time the recon operations.
Of course me being me, and the fact that I don't like shiny, I had the Hellion bead-blasted with the result being an incredibly badass-looking watch.
Both watches are hard-wearing and disappear under your sleeve. You do not even notice they are there until you need them. That is their secret power, and it is exactly why I love them. With clear, legible dials and a minimal, tough-as-nails design, the Cruxible collection is just insanely good.
Bill recently launched the Project Recover BAKU Edition of the Cruxible to support Project Recover.
Tornek-Rayville TR-660
When Bill brought Tornek-Rayville back to life, he committed to the brand's original purpose. He wanted to create reliable, high-performance gear designed specifically for extreme environments. The result is the first watch of the reborn TR, the TR-660.
While it resembles the original TR-900 from the 1960s, the new watch features modern materials and an easy to service movement. It includes non-radioactive dials and hands, all housed in a perfectly sized case. The TR-660 is one of my favorite pieces in my collection. It is just as tough as the MKII Paradive but comes in a more straightforward package. With its 40mm diameter, black dial, and great lume, this watch is easy to wear across the board and represents an incredible new chapter for a reborn company.
Tornek-Rayville has since launched several other models, including the CISO M-38 to honor the fighters of MACV-SOG. If you don't know what that is, well, run to read.
MKII + TR
Two companies, one incredible result. These are tool watches that simply will not let you down. I can only imagine what Bill has planned next, and I cannot wait to see it.