Category: AQUASTAR

Aquastar continues its remarkable journey of reviving its historic diving watch legacy, focusing on the Deepstar and Benthos models. This year, the brand introduces the Benthos Heritage II, a refined timepiece inspired by vintage sketches, featuring a more compact design compared to its predecessor.

The new Aquastar Benthos Heritage II boasts a Tonneau-shaped stainless steel case with dimensions of 40mm in width, 11.90mm in height, and 44mm in length, making it a more wrist-friendly option than the previous Benthos H1, which measured 42mm by 16mm. With a primarily brushed finish, this diving watch showcases a unidirectional bezel with a black ceramic insert, enhanced by Old Radium Super-LumiNova for excellent visibility underwater. The timepiece also features a sapphire crystal, a solid case back, two functional crowns—one at 2 o’clock for setting the time and another at 4 o’clock functioning as a helium escapement valve—and water resistance up to 300 meters, slightly less than the 500 meters offered by the Benthos H1.

The dial is a perfect match for its robust exterior, featuring a sleek black surface with applied hour markers and hands filled with the same luminescent material as the bezel. A minute track along the edges is accentuated by alternating dashes and gray squares every five minutes, complemented by an orange center seconds hand. The Aquastar logo sits prominently at 12 o’clock, while the “Benthos H2” designation is positioned at 6 o’clock, further underscoring its heritage-inspired design.

Inside the Benthos Heritage II beats the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, renowned for its reliability and affordability. Operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, the movement offers a power reserve of up to 38 hours, ensuring consistent performance for both daily wear and underwater adventures.

The timepiece is available with various strap options, including a black Isofrane or Tropic rubber strap with a stainless steel pin buckle, or a classic beads-of-rice steel bracelet with a folding clasp. During the pre-order phase, the Benthos Heritage II is priced at $1,190 for the strap versions and $1,290 for the bracelet option, excluding VAT. Post pre-order, prices are expected to increase by $300, making this an excellent opportunity to own a piece of Aquastar’s celebrated diving watch history.

For those who appreciate vintage-inspired design combined with modern craftsmanship, the Aquastar Benthos Heritage II is a compelling choice. Its smaller dimensions, impressive features, and historical roots make it a standout addition to any dive watch enthusiast’s collection.

More information here.

General Specifications:

Brand: Aquastar

Model:  Benthos Heritage II

Dial: Black

Lume: Super-LumiNova

Case Material: Stainless steel

Case Dimensions: 40 mm Diameter, 11.90 mm thickness, 44 mm lug-to-lug

Crystal: Sapphire

Case Back: Stainless steel

Strap: ISOframe/Tropic rubber strap or stainless steel beads-of-rice bracelet

Calibre: Sellita SW200-1

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds

Winding: Automatic

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 Vph)

Power Reserve: 38 Hours

Price: USD 1,190 (on a strap pre-order price), USD 1,290 (on a bracelet pre-order price), USD 1,490 (on a strap retail price), USD 1,590 (on a bracelet retail price)

Limited Edition: Yes, 500 pieces

After the debut of the Aquastar Model 60 in classic black, it is now time for the new Greenwich edition, which comes with an attractive green dial that could be a new Crush for fans.

The new diving watch is similar in every way to the previous variant, however, in addition to the new tone of the dial, it also adds some new details on the dial, a new steel bracelet and a “new” internal movement.

But let’s get to the point, on the outside the dive watch once again features a round stainless steel case with dimensions of 37mm in diameter, 11mm in thickness and 47mm lug-to-lug distance which comes with a brushed finish. Domed sapphire crystal anti-reflective, steel bidirectional diving bezel with a pip-lume at noon, screw-down crown at 3 o’clock with the brand’s signature, screwed solid case back and 200m waterproof.

The green dial comes with a sunburst effect and on it, we can find applied hour markers, which come with a metal frame which is another novelty and just like the hands again they are all filled with aged Super-LumiNova, a lollipop centre seconds hand, a date window with a white background next to the crown matching the minute track and the brand’s inscriptions at noon and the brand logo preceded by “Automatic” and “200M/600FT” at 6 o’clock.

Inside it’s goodbye to the previous La Joux-Perret G100 and hello to the new ETA 2824-2 that replaces it. The 25-jewel automatic movement operates 28,800 Vph and offers up to 42 hours of power reserve.

The watch comes attached to a beads-of-rice steel bracelet that comes with a folding clasp and an additional seatbelt NATO strap matching the hue of the dial.

We recommend that those interested rush in, as it is a limited edition of just 100 pieces, initially priced at € 920.70 during the pre-order period and then rising to € 1,292.70, with the first orders expected to be shipped at the end of May.

Our Opinion

This seems to be another green year, where watches with green dials are on the rise, a trend that will be repeated before 2023 and continue to attract more people.

In addition to the beautiful green dial, the details of the outlined markers and the retro-style steel bracelet seem to work very well, as far as the movement is concerned there is not much to say, following the Group’s policy already adopted by other brands.

For those who like the retro look of a diving watch but with contemporary features, the new Aquastar could be the right watch. We like it and would even say that the new Greenwich edition deserves more than being a scarce limited edition of 100 units that will sell out in the blink of an eye.

More information here.

General Specifications:

Brand: Aquastar

Model:  Model 60 Greenwich Edition

Dial: Green

Lume: Super-LumiNova

Case Material: Stainless steel

Case Dimensions: 37 mm Diameter, 11 mm thickness, 47 mm lug-to-lug

Crystal: Sapphire

Case Back: Stainless steel

Strap: Beads-of-rice steel bracelet with a folding clasp and an additional green NATO-type strap

Calibre: ETA 2824-2

Dimensions: 25.60 mm Diameter, 4.60 mm thickness

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date

Winding: Automatic

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 Vph)

Jewels: 25

Power Reserve: 42 Hours

Price: € 920.70 (pre-order price) / € 1,292.70 (retailer price)

Limited Edition: Yes, 100 pieces