【F】 Introducing: The Aquastar Benthos H2

It’s nice to kick off the brand new 12 months with a watch from one among my favourite manufacturers. The Aquastar Benthos H2 is a welcome launch that ought to attraction to a large viewers. It’s reasonably priced and, better of all, matches fantastically.

The unique Benthos 500 was a extremely modern mechanical dive watch that debuted in 1970. With its chronograph-like operation and gradual 60-minute elapsed-time counter, the watch differed from different heavy-duty divers. It was produced for a number of years into the last decade till, considerably abruptly, the watch market was turned on its finish. Quartz entered the market and perpetually modified the panorama. At the moment’s new Benthos H2 seems to be like what might need been if the Quartz Disaster had not begun for a number of extra years.

Backstory on the Aquastar Benthos H2

It’s essential to notice that the Benthos H2 isn’t merely a contemporary reissue. Throughout the Aquastar archives, drawings had been discovered that included the inspiration for the latest launch. Within the late ’60s, the model drafted a future design with a helium launch valve. Sadly, the thought didn’t materialize within the ’70s, however we now have a working interpretation of that idea.

The idea materialized

Rick Marei of Aquastar despatched me the Benthos H2 with out offering any particulars. I all the time say that seeing a look ahead to the primary time is a novel expertise, and I do my finest to recollect my ideas and feelings. Undoubtedly, the newest Aquastar watch is immediately recognizable as a Benthos mannequin. It has the attribute C-case, exterior bezel, and twin controls. Nevertheless, my preliminary impression of the watch in its packaging was that one thing was totally different. It seemed smaller and thinner.

Certainly, the Benthos H2 isn’t only a perceived continuation watch. It additionally serves as the right look ahead to present tastes. The 904L stainless-steel diver is 40mm vast by 44mm lengthy and 11.9mm thick, together with the flat sapphire crystal. It additionally has a 300m depth score. This provides consumers with smaller wrists a pleasant possibility versus the bigger 42mm by 47mm H1, which is 16mm thick.

Familial seems to be and added performance

To date, Aquastar has produced three trendy Benthos fashions. The aforementioned H1 is a 500m-rated diver with an exterior dive bezel and an uncommonly positioned crown at 2 o’clock. The Benthos 500 is a trustworthy trendy reissue of the unique watch. It encompasses a chronograph motion and a 60-minute elapsed-time counter. The Benthos H2, nevertheless, is an easy diver with a screw-down crown at 2 o’clock for time-setting functions. The decrease crown is a screw-down helium launch valve.

Usually, I’m ambivalent a few helium valve, however the look works on the H2 as a result of it pertains to the idea drawing and resembles the five hundred. Design-wise, the watch faithfully follows the Benthos sample. This interprets to a black semi-glossy dial with utilized luminous indexes and a black-and-white angled chapter ring. The oblong palms are additionally full of gentle “Previous Radium” Tremendous-LumiNova. A easy stick-like orange seconds hand differs from different Benthos fashions by not having an arrow-shaped tip. Externally, the dual signed crowns are joined by a unidirectional, 120-click dive bezel and black ceramic insert with totally luminous markings. The motion is ideal — not too gentle and never too heavy.

The Benthos H2 — so good and skinny

Historic manufacturers like Aquastar and Doxa obtain a cross when making thicker watches. A lot of the unique items had been chunky, but they nonetheless put on properly. That mentioned, there’s one thing beautiful a few skinny diver with beefy specs. I acquired this Benthos H2 on a black 20mm Tropic strap. The versatile strap and the smaller, thinner case equate to the right carrying expertise for somebody with a thinner wrist. Additionally, the decrease profile implies that the watch will work effectively underneath a shirt sleeve. On the optionally available beads-of-rice bracelet, it’s even stylish sufficient to step contained in the workplace.

The Benthos H2 could have an analogous case again to the H1 pictured right here

Powered by the Sellita SW200-1

Aquastar retains the watch good and slim through the use of the automated Sellita SW200-1. The motion hacks and does with out a date operate. Per regular, it has 38 hours of energy reserve and a frequency of 28,800vph. Like different Aquastar Benthos fashions, the Benthos H2 is provided with an all-steel screw-in case again. It’s properly engraved with “Aquastar-Suisse” and the starfish brand.

Scoring your H2

The Benthos H2 is a very wearable watch from Aquastar in the identical vein because the Mannequin 60 and Deepstar II. In different phrases, it is a candidate as a each day watch constructed to a excessive commonplace. Rick Marei has introduced us one other compelling launch that competes effectively towards the large names in reasonably priced divers. As of in the present day, January twenty fourth, 500 items of the H2 can be found for pre-order on the Aquastar web site for simply US$1,190 on a Tropic or ISOfrane rubber strap. For an additional US$100, consumers can go for the stainless beads-of-rice bracelet. Deliveries will start in Could 2025. The value will improve to US$1,490 for the remaining fashions on the rubber strap after the pre-order interval expires.

The Benthos H2 ought to simply please those that felt that prior Benthos fashions had been too massive. Plus, it’s good to see a traditionally impressed watch that isn’t a direct reissue. I think this piece will do effectively. Be happy to share your ideas on this newest Aquastar launch within the feedback part.

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