Benthos Heritage II, THe LEGEND Re-imagined
A NEW MEMBER OF THE BENTHOS FAMILY
For over fifty years, the Aquastar Benthos 500 has remained the paragon of capability and dive watch collectability — a star in watchmaking, both for its unique functionality and design, and a true collectable due to the rarity of the surviving examples. Inspired by the legendary Aquastar Benthos from 1970, the Benthos Heritage II is not merely a re-edition but a visionary interpretation of how the original creators might have evolved this horological icon. Drawing from recently discovered sketches in the Aquastar archives, this new model seamlessly blends. vintage spirit with modern dimensions.
Technical SPECIFICATIONS:
DIAL:
Semi glossy black dial design
High density filling with a very light shade of old radium Super Luminova
CASE:
40mm ⌀, Uni-directional rotating bezel with scratch resistant ceramic insert
904L corrosion resistant Stainless Steel case with flat, AR triple coated sapphire crystal
Case Diameter 40mm
Length from lug to lug 44mm
Case height 11.9mm
Lug width 20mm
MOVEMENT:
Genuine Selitta SW200-1 Swiss Made mechanical Calibre
Movement Type: Automatic
Jewels: 25
Power Reserve: 38 hours
Diameter: 25.60mm
Height 4.6mm
Vibrations Per Hour: 28,800
Lift Angle: 50 degrees
Shock System: Incabloc
Regulator: Etachron
Rotor System: Ball bearing
Winding Direction: Bi-directional
Country of Manufacture: Switzerland
FUNCTIONS:
Hours, minutes, seconds, central, elapsed time 60 minute Uni-directional rotating bezel
Manual Helium Release Valve at 4 o’clock
STRAP:
Comes on a genuine Tropic® strap, and an additional black genuine ISOfrane strap. Stainless steel Bead of rice bracelet optional.
AQUASTAR Benthos Heritage II
a historic diver in contemporary dimensions
The Benthos family is now expanding into a full-fledged collection with the addition of the Heritage II, a timepiece based upon a conceptual drawing from 1968. Looking much like the Benthos 500, it maintains that 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 300m of water resistance.
Benthos Heritage II
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. Considering its bulletproof 904L stainless steel construction, ceramic bezel insert, and helium escape valve, one would expect the H2 to carry a hefty retail price commensurate with its specifications, but 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.
jacques mayol:
The Dolphin man
Over his diving career there were a number of excellent dive watches that Mayol could have relied on, but his preference was Aquastar and he relied on several several Aquastar models including the Deepstar, Benthos 500, the 63 and Regate.
Jacques Mayol was a French diver and the holder of many world records in free diving. Mayol was one of the screenwriters and authored the book Homo Delphinus: the Dolphin Within Man of his philosophy about the aquatic origins of humans. On 23 November 1976, at 49, he became the first free diver to descend to 100 meters (330 ft), and when he was 56 he managed to descend to 105 meters (344 ft). During the scientific research phase of his career, Mayol tried to answer the question of whether man had a hidden aquatic potential that could be evoked by rigorous physiological and psychological training. Mayol’s lifelong passion for diving was based on his love for the ocean, his personal philosophy, and his desire to explore his own limits. During his lifetime, he helped introduce the then-elitist sport of free-diving into the mainstream. His diving philosophy was to reach a state of mind based on relaxation and yoga breathing, with which he could accomplish apnea. He also contributed to technological advances in the field of free-diving, particularly improving assemblies used by no-limits divers. He was also instrumental in the development of scuba diving’s octopus regulator, which was invented by Dave Woodward at UNEXSO in 1965 or 1966. Woodward believed that having safety divers carry two second stages would be a safer and more practical approach than buddy breathing in the event of an emergency
Jacques Mayol wearing an Aquastar Benthos 500
