Aquastar Benthos 500 Chronograph: A Modern Reinterpretation of the 1970s Classic

Brand

The youngest enthusiasts may not know this brand but Aquastar has a rich heritage in the world of dive watches. Since 2020, and under Rick Marei's leadership, Aquastar has revived several attractive watches' designs, including the Deepstar, Deepstar II, and Series 60 and the Benthos H1.

Rick Marei is an enthusiast who, within the Syncron Group, also revived brands such as the extinct Tropic.He managed to acquire Aquastar after negotiating with its last owner, Marc Seinet, along with all its tooling, inventory, blueprints, and documentation to relaunch a Aquastar, that is now currently integrated into the Syncron Group.

Under Rick Marei's leadership, the brand paid tribute to a historically cherished dive watch. The Benthos H1, an affordable three-hand model diverging from the traditional chronograph format, was met with rapid sales success. However, enthusiasts asked for a genuine chronograph featuring a central minute counter reminiscent of the original Benthos.

Rick has listened and now releases the new Benthos 500.

Aesthetics

The design of the Benthos 500 stays true to the original 1970 model with a modern twist. It features a 316L stainless steel case measuring 42mm in diameter and 47mm in length, with a semi-glossy black dial, applied indices with ecru Super-LumiNova, and a distinctive orange chronograph hand.

The watch includes a unidirectional black ceramic dive bezel with luminous markings and an ISOfrane rubber strap that enhances its visual and physical balance. Small yet impactful details like the star-shaped case back and the thoughtful case brushing add a sense of quality to the watch.

Movement

The Benthos 500 is powered by the La Joux-Perret 1MPS caliber, an automatic monopusher chronograph movement specifically created for this watch, featuring a centrally mounted 60-minute chronograph hand and a 60-hour power reserve.

This bespoke movement signifies a major achievement for Aquastar thanks to the growing partnership with La Joux-Perret.

Availability & Pricing

The Benthos 500 Founder’s Edition Chronograph is a limited edition release with only 300 numbered units available. It has a pre-order price of $2,790, which will increase to $3,790 after shipping begins in May 2024.