Aquastar releases a new limited-edition Benthos based upon an early conceptual drawing from the late 1960s.
In 1970, Swiss watchmaker Aquastar made history when it introduced the Benthos 500, a unique underwater chronograph with a central minute counter. It was also the first commercially available dive watch with a 500m depth rating. Following the relaunch of the Aquastar brand in 2020, this beloved timepiece was reimagined in the form of the Benthos 500 Founder’s Edition using a special Manufacture calibre designed in collaboration with La Joux-Perret. In 2023, it was joined by the Benthos Heritage I, a slimmer three-hand execution.
Now, Benthos is expanding into a full-fledged collection with the addition of the Heritage II, a timepiece based upon a conceptual drawing from 1968. It looks much like the Benthos 500 and maintains the watch’s aesthetics but features a downsized, 40mm brushed stainless steel tonneau case measuring just 12mm tall. Smaller than the Benthos Heritage I, it nevertheless boasts, in addition to its winding crown at 2 o’clock, a helium escape valve at 4 o’clock and 200m of water resistance.
Beneath a flat, triple AR-coated sapphire crystal is a gloss black dial with applied indices, an outer printed minute track in white, and the Benthos line’s famed baton handset with an orange seconds hand. Liberally coated in high-density Super-LumiNova, its vintage-coloured lume glows bright green in the dark, making for excellent visibility at night or while diving.
Surrounding the dial is a rotating, unidirectional 120-click bezel with a fully hashed, black ceramic elapsed-time insert and Super-LumiNova lume. Boasting excellent action and a satisfying “click,” it’s joined by dual signed, screw-down crowns whose ribbed surface provides ample purchase even with gloved hands. Customers can choose either a genuine ISOfrane/Tropic 20mm rubber dive strap or a comfortable stainless steel beads-of-rice bracelet with integrated end links.
Powered by an Elaboré-grade Sellita SW200-1 Swiss-made automatic movement, this limited edition of 500 pieces is a welcome addition to the Aquastar dive watch stable — and a fitting tribute to the first Benthos ever designed. One would anticipate that the H2 would have a high retail price that aligns with its specs, given its ceramic bezel insert, helium escape valve, and bulletproof 904L stainless steel construction. However, this is not the case. Rather, special pre-order pricing of just $1,190 (rubber straps) or $1,290 (steel bracelet) is available until February 28th, after which the watch will retail for only $1,490. Try finding a better value in the world of Swiss dive watches!
The first batch of 150 H2 watches will ship in May 2025, while a second batch will ship one month later in June.
