Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder's Edition
The Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder’s Edition is a Swiss automatic dive watch with super-compressor case, 200 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.
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✓ Swiss made ✓ Lifetime servicing in Bienne ✓ Free worldwide shipping ✓ Engraved serial number
The Flagship of the Aquastar watch family
Benthos 500 II 60-minute Chronograph
Benthos chronograph from 1970
“Like many of the innovations pioneered by Aquastar founder Frederic Robert, the Benthos chronograph from 1970 was light years ahead of its time,” says the Marketing Director of Aquastar. “Its utility was unique in that it was built around a central-mounted chronograph which could present dive time information in a clear and highly legible way. Sadly, the most commonly used modern automatic chronograph movements have not kept up with the ability to present information in such a way, which is why we are so proud to work with our partners at La Joux-Perret to not only revive the Benthos 500, but preserve its unique and incredible chronograph functionality with a new movement that is exclusive to Aquastar,” he continues.
Benthos 500 II Chronograph
“With every Aquastar release, we try to look at the product cycles introduced by the brand’s original founder, Frederic Robert, and look ahead to what he might still be producing, had the brand never been paused during the quartz crisis,” says Marei. “We are proud to be both historians and custodians of this rich brand, using the new BENTHOS H1 to pay tribute to Aquastar’s influence and innovations in the world of undersea exploration,” he continues.
UNMISTAKABLY a Benthos 500
The chronograph pusher has been relocated to 2:00, a more natural position for easy actuation (start/stop/reset) by the index finger when the watch is worn over the left wrist, even with neoprene diving gloves on. Of course, true to Aquastar’s form and function, this pusher may be activated even underwater, a signature utility of Aquastar’s modern dive chronographs
Technical specifications
Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder's Edition: every measurement, grade, and line.
Case
Aesthetics and dimensions of the original Benthos 500 from 1970, Height reduced to 15.4mm
Dimensions
42mm 316L Stainless steel (47mm lug-to-lug), 22mm lugs, Pusher at 2:00, Crown at 4:00
Movement
Aquastar Calibre 1MPS Swiss-made Top grade, 60 Hour Power Reserve
Functions
hours, minutes, seconds and center 60 minute counter
Water resistance
200 meters, 660 feet
Crystal
Flat, triple-coated AR sapphire
Dial
Semi-gloss Black, applied hour markers with high density SuperLuminova filling
Bezel
Unidirectional 120 click rotating elapsed time ceramic bezel with SuperLuminova filled application
Strap
Includes genuine 22mm ISOfrane Rubber
Bracelet
BOR stainless steel, integrated endlinks will be available at special price for owners
Price
$3,790
Limited Edition
Founder’s Edition limited to 300 pieces worldwide
Delivery
Shipping now
In the field
Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder's Edition
In the field
The Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder's Edition, photographed by the divers who wear it.
Gallery
Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder's Edition, in photographs.
17 photographs from the Aquastar archive. Click any image to enlarge.
Owner reviews
What owners say.
All reviews are from verified owners.
★★★★☆
Love the design and performance of the watch. Not a fan of the isofrane strap
★★★★★
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.
★★★★★
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 !
★★★★★
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.
★★★★★
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!
★★★★★
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.
Questions
Before you order.
What is the Benthos 500 II Founder’s Edition?
It is Aquastar's most prestigious and technically advanced modern watch. It directly revives the 1970 Benthos 500, the world's first dive watch with a center-mounted 60-minute chronograph, in a faithful and modern re-edition built around an exclusive movement developed in partnership with Swiss manufacture La Joux-Perret. It is a limited edition of only 300 pieces worldwide.
Why was there no Benthos chronograph in the modern lineup until now?
No commercially available modern automatic chronograph movement could replicate the center-mounted chronograph display of the original 1970 Benthos. Aquastar and La Joux-Perret had to develop the Calibre 1MPS exclusively for this model, a rare and significant undertaking that took years to complete.
What makes the center-mounted chronograph so special?
Unlike standard chronographs that display elapsed time on a small sub-dial, the Benthos 500 shows the chronograph minute hand at the center of the dial, making dive time instantly readable at a glance, a critical safety advantage underwater. The original 1970 design was, as Aquastar describes, 'light years ahead of its time.'
What happened to the pusher location and why?
The chronograph pusher has been moved to 2:00, a more ergonomic position that allows natural index-finger actuation when worn on the left wrist, even while wearing thick neoprene diving gloves. The pusher can be operated even while submerged.
Is this watch limited?
Yes. The Benthos 500 II Founder's Edition is strictly limited to 300 pieces worldwide, each individually numbered and engraved on the case back.
How often does the Benthos 500 II need servicing, and what does it cost?
A full service every 5 to 10 years is plenty, depending on how often you wear and dive it. There is no annual service requirement. It runs a Swiss automatic movement built for reliability and easy long-term maintenance. For a current service quote, reach us through the Aquastar service page.
How water resistant is the Benthos 500 II?
It is rated to 300 metres on the super-compressor case the Benthos was built around, comfortably beyond recreational scuba limits and ready for serious diving as well as daily wear.
How does the Benthos dive bezel work?
The Benthos uses a super-compressor case with an internal rotating dive bezel, turned by a second crown rather than an external ring. You set your dive time on the protected inner bezel, a 1960s design that keeps the timing scale safe behind the crystal and works easily with gloves.
How does the Benthos 500 II wear, and is it large?
At 42mm it is a substantial diver with genuine wrist presence, true to the original super-compressor Benthos. If you prefer a more compact fit, the 40mm Benthos Heritage II is the most wrist-friendly model in the family.
Ready to order?
Aquastar Benthos 500 II Founder's Edition
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The collection
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Every variation in the family, side by side. Dial colours, case finishes, materials, with a direct order link for each.
Aquastar · Swiss · Since 1962
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