Rick Marei, a true enthusiast of vintage diving watches, is back with the resurrection of Aquastar and the highly anticipated reissue of one of the brand's most iconic models: the Benthos 500. The new Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founders Edition makes subtle but welcome improvements to this '70s classic, while preserving its original charm.
Aquastar, a brand serving professional divers
Founded in Geneva in 1962, Aquastar's mission was to create professional watches for diving and water sports. Over the years, the brand has filed numerous patents, including that of the Benthos 500 counter, establishing itself as a reference among professional divers. Unfortunately, this niche market was not enough to protect Aquastar from the quartz crisis, and the brand had to reinvent itself to survive.
In 2018, Rick Marei, known for having resurrected DOXA, Aquadive, ISOfrane and Tropic, bought Aquastar and set about bringing the brand's emblematic models back to life, including the famous Benthos 500.
A redesigned case for greater comfort and functionality
The Benthos 500 II features a 42 mm stainless steel case, the curvature of which has been accentuated compared to the original model to fit the wrist more harmoniously. With its short 47 mm lugs and a thickness contained at 15.4 mm, the watch offers remarkable wearing comfort for a diving chronograph of this size.
Aquastar also made functional changes to the case:
A dial and bezel faithful to the vintage spirit
If the dial and bezel of the Benthos 500 II are not exact replicas of the original, the vintage spirit is well and truly preserved. The rectangular hands and indexes, the markers applied at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, as well as the bright orange seconds hand give the watch an undeniable charm, reinforced by the use of an “old radium” style lume which goes wonderfully with the deep black of the dial.
The ceramic bezel, although more reflective than one would like for a watch with a vintage aesthetic, offers optimal readability and full illumination thanks to its luminescent coating.
A unique chronograph movement developed with La Joux-Perret
The refined chronograph function of the Benthos 500 II, with its central 60-minute counter and its single pusher at 2 o'clock, required the development of a dedicated movement: the Caliber 1MPS, the result of a collaboration with the Swiss manufacturer La Joux- Perret. This new caliber offers the same functionalities as the 1970 model, with the added bonus of a comfortable power reserve of 60 hours.
Ideal for fans of no-frills diving chronographs, the Caliber 1MPS allows the pusher to be operated underwater without risk to the mechanism.
A comfortable “beads-of-rice” bracelet, but a clasp that could be improved
The Benthos 500 II is available with a 22mm beads-of-rice strap or an ISOfrane rubber strap. If the steel bracelet offers remarkable comfort and ease of wear, its simple, stamped clasp deserves an improvement at this price level. A machined clasp with micro-adjustment would be more in line with the high-end positioning of this watch.
Ultimately, the Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founders Edition is a successful reissue that will delight fans of vintage diving watches. With its unique chronograph movement, subtle functional improvements and faithful aesthetics, this watch wonderfully embodies the spirit of the 60s-70s in a modern and reliable package. A must for collectors looking for an authentic piece steeped in history!
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