Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder’s Edition
3,590.00 $ No VAT for orders outside the EU. EU orders: VAT added at checkout
The Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder’s Edition is a Swiss automatic dive watch with super-compressor case, 300 m water resistance and sapphire crystal — Aquastar’s flagship dive piece.
Aquastar unveils its most prestigious dive watch to date, built around a newly developed center-mounted 60-minute chronograph calibre exclusive to Aquastar
For over fifty years, the Aquastar Benthos chronograph has remained the paragon of capability and dive watch collectability — a rarity in watchmaking both for its unique design and functionality, and its actual rarity, as surviving examples remain scarce and highly collectable. However, since the brand’s triumphant re-launch in 2020, the modern Aquastar catalog has been without this revered, and sought-after vintage icon, but it’s not without good reason: there have been no modern center-mounted chronograph movements commercially available for watchmakers to utilize. So in collaboration with La Joux-Perret, Aquastar rebuilt this key functionality exclusively for its debut in the Benthos 500 Founder’s Edition.
In stock
Steve Crane (verified owner) –
I bought the founders edition watch when it was first released. I bought it because it was a faithful representation of the original from the 70’s.
The watch sits on the wrist very comfortably and keeps excellent time +\- 3 seconds a day!
I bought the additional orange strap for summer wear. Looks great. Quality timepiece.
Gary Giffin (verified owner) –
I had bought the first Auqastar Benthos H1. When the pre- order was open for the 500 II Founders I couldnt hit the purchase button fast enough! I had been looking for many years for a vintage model but the center-mounted 60-minute chronograph in working condition was hard to find. Well this watch has it all and I wear it on the BOR bracelet most of the time. This watch fits in well with my other divers and gets allot of ocean time. Highly reccomend this diver!
Yann (verified owner) –
I bought the Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder’s Edition when it first came out.
The watch is stunning, beautifully crafted, sturdy, and timeless.
It’s exceptionally reliable, adapts to any situation, and accompanies me on all my dives—which is exactly what it’s designed for.
A superb timepiece.
Philipp Weßling (verified owner) –
This watch was an intentional buy for me !
I always love the original BENTHOS. An absolutely awesome and legendary dive watch from the past. In both ways, from the design point and in technical & functional aspects.
And the all new BENTHOS 500 II doesn’t go another way !
Design, fit and finish are top notch.
The quality of this watch is very very good.
Great lines, great case finishing and dial as well.
The chrono pusher is usable under water ! That says all about the technical construction.
The new movement running well.
The watch looks awesome and the transfomation from old legendary design into a new one is perfectly accomplished.
Great job AQUASTAR !
Steven Saganic (verified owner) –
Great watch. This is my 3rd Aquastar and my favorite for sure..true to the original design. My only gripe is the bezel is a bit too shiny. I would’ve probably gone all matte with aluminum bezel but that doesn’t change my love for it.
Paul Peeples –
Love the design and performance of the watch. Not a fan of the isofrane strap
David Flosi (verified owner) –
I had been looking, for many years, to find an original Aquastar Benthos in decent condition. Never found one that was worthy of purchasing. When I saw this was going to be released, I almost couldn’t believe it! I did finally get the Benthos that I had spent so many years looking for and couldn’t be happier. It’s a truly beautiful piece and it gets compliments every time I wear it. Thank you Aquastar for rereleasing this model again!
Jill Spruzen (verified owner) –
Amazing looks and performance
Christian Birkle (verified owner) –
Love the design and that it was kept true to the version of the 70ies. nice presence on the wrist with the Isofrane – if you can tame it 😉 I love how much effort was put into the movement and the 60min timer is a useful feature – wearing it in my rotation and loving it
Robbert Sjoerdsma –
This watch has character like no other. The unique complication is not just incredibly cool, it’s genuinely useful and unlike anything else in my collection. It’s definitely a chunky watch, but surprisingly comfortable on the wrist and wears much better than the dimensions suggest. Timekeeping has been excellent, and it’s quickly become my favorite summer watch. Highly recommended!
Jan Jütting (verified owner) –
I’ve been wearing mine through the last year and loved every minute of it! It surely stands out from the crowd, gets conversations started and works beautifully when taken scuba-diving!
Dime-Sized Diver (verified owner) –
This timepiece definitely has wrist presence; probably too much to wear under a French cuff, but definitely not too much to wear over a 7mm wetsuit cuff! Perfect for timing those three-minute safety stops, this dive-capable chronograph easily checks all the boxes for me as a recreational diver!
Rajesh (verified owner) –
I bought the Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder’s Edition when it first came out.
The watch is stunning, beautifully crafted, sturdy, and timeless.
It’s exceptionally reliable, adapts to any situation, and accompanies me on all my dives—which is exactly what it’s designed for.
A superb timepiece.
Gerard (verified owner) –
It was with some trepidation that I decided to pay the deposit for the Founders Edition of the Benthos 500 II. I loved the history and in particular the original. The fact, dimension wise, there was little change over the original, the movement and work that went into the central minute timer, I had to give it a try.
Absolutely no regrets. Extremely well finished, time keeping is accurate and better than other watches I have, and it fits the wrist well. While dimensions might indicate a hockey puck, it still wears well. I have a 7″ (18.5cm) wrist. Lume is very good.
I I was to be highly critical, it would be the bezel, it is very reflective. I think a Matt/non reflective finish would have been more appropriate.
All in all, after 2 years of ownership/use, I have no complaints.
Andy Wong (verified owner) –
One of my favorite references from Aquastar! The central minute totalizer is so much easier to read than my other chronographs from other brands that have small subdials and often 30 minute scales instead of the more intuitive 60 minute scales. The lume is very bright and the fully lumed bezel (including the minute marks) is very useful and fun. It fits well on my 6.5″ wrist because of the case shape and short lug-to-lug length. Pairing with the original rubber straps or Artem sail cloth straps balances the weight of the watch head well. Bezel action is stiff like a tool watch should be, the clicks are very positive with no discernible backplay. The bezel is very grippy, just as grippy as a Marathon SAR. A great purchase and will be in my permanent collection.