Aquastar Model 60 RE-EDITION MKII on Tropic strap
The Aquastar Model 60 on Tropic Strap MKII pairs the cushion-case Swiss automatic with a perforated Tropic-style rubber strap. Limited edition with case-back engraving.
This model numbered and engraved on the case back..
In stock. Ships within 24 hours from Bienne.
Aquastar Model 60 Re-Edition
From 1957 Depths to Modern Seas
2025 marks the opening of the latest chapter in the last great story in dive watches, as venerable Swiss dive instrument maker Aquastar returns with a new Model 60, a fully modernized tribute to the brand’s inaugural 1957 dive watch of the same name, which introduced a crucial safety measure for dive watches of that era: a friction ring in the rotating bezel to prevent accidental rotations. Devised and originally patented by Aquastar, this simple, but critical feature would later become a standard feature echoed by legions of dive watches in the years that followed. The Model 60 MKII now features a unidirectional rotating bezel.
The 2025 Model 60 MKII continues Aquastar’s earliest traditions of capability, adventure and exploration, which began in earnest on January 23rd in 1960 when US Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh, wearing an original Model 60, and co-pilot Jacques Piccard, made a pioneering journey to the bottom of the Challenger Deep, aboard the bathyscaphe Trieste to a record-breaking depth of 10,916 meters (35,814 feet). Walsh’s Model 60 is recognized as Aquastar’s inaugural tool watch, and would set an early precedent for the then-nascent maker, as Aquastar’s innovative and ultra-reliable watches would quickly earn a reputation as the foremost timekeeping choice for mariners, professional divers, and ocean conservationists alike.
Listen to what Teddy Baldassarre says about the Model 60
The evolution of the model 60
Thoughtfully sized in a 37mm stainless steel case the Model 60 is a somewhat unique reference in the deep Aquastar archive, as it follows a more traditional dive watch execution, using bold hour markers and lume-filled paddle hands, a 60 minute rotating bezel, and a center-mounted seconds hand, eschewing the bold asymmetrical dial elements that would characterize later Aquastar watches, like the iconic Deepstar Chronograph. In keeping with Aquastar’s modern traditions, the new Model 60 MKII maintains a robust 200 meters of water resistance, and is powered by a Sellita SW200-1 Soigné grade (adjusted in 4 positions), 100% Swiss Made automatic movement with 68 hours of power reserve. The Aquastar model 60 MKII comes on a choice of straps and bracelets. A seatbelt NATO, a genuine or a beads of rice stainless steel bracelet.
Honoring a Legacy Beneath the Waves
“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 the Marketing Director of, Aquastar. “We are proud to be both historians and custodians of this rich brand, using the new Model 60 to pay tribute to Aquastar’s influence and innovations in the world of undersea exploration,” he continues.
AQUASTAR MODEL 60 MKII
The instrument
Specifications & details
AQUASTAR MODEL 60 MKII SPECIFICATIONS:
DIAL:
Black glossy dial design
High density filling old light Radium super Luminova application
Re-edition of the Aquastar model 60 from 1957
CASE:
Uni-directional rotating bezel with elapsed time engravings
316L Stainless Steel case with highly domed, AR triple coated sapphire crystal
Case Diameter: 37mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Length from lug to lug: 47mm
Case height: 11mm
MOVEMENT:
Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 Elabore grade (adjusted in 4 positions)
Country of Manufacture: Switzerland, Swiss-made
FUNCTIONS:
Hour, minute and seconds indicators
Uni-directional Rotating 60-minute elapsed time bezel
STRAP:
Seatbelt NATO Strap and a genuine Tropic® strap and a STAINLESS STEEL BOR BRACELET WITH FITTED ENDLINKS
Shipping:
Shipping within 2 business days
Gallery
Aquastar Model 60 RE-EDITION MKII on Tropic strap, in photographs.
35 photographs from the Aquastar archive. Click any image to order.
+ 11 more in the Aquastar archive
Questions
Before you order.
What is the Model 60 MKII?
The Model 60 MKII is a fully modernized tribute to Aquastar's inaugural 1957 dive watch, the Model 60. The original was worn by US Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh on January 23, 1960, during the record-breaking descent to the Challenger Deep, the deepest point in any ocean, aboard the bathyscaphe Trieste. The MKII retains the proportions and spirit of that pioneering watch while incorporating modern materials and manufacturing.
What historic feat is this watch connected to?
On January 23, 1960, Don Walsh (wearing the original Model 60) and Jacques Piccard descended to 10,916 meters (35,814 feet), the very bottom of Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. It remains one of the most extraordinary achievements in human exploration. The Model 60 is recognized as Aquastar's inaugural tool watch from this mission.
What innovation did the original Model 60 introduce?
The original Model 60 introduced a friction ring in the rotating bezel, a patented safety feature that prevented the bezel from accidentally rotating while diving. This simple but critical invention was later adopted as a standard feature by virtually every dive watch brand in the world.
How does the MKII differ from the original design?
The 2025 MKII adds a unidirectional rotating bezel (the original was bi-directional), increases water resistance to 200 meters with a modern movement, and upgrades to a ceramic ball-bearing bezel mechanism and triple-coated AR sapphire crystal. The dial design with bold hour markers and paddle hands reflects the traditional look of the original.
What movement does the Model 60 MKII use?
The Sellita SW200-1 Soigné grade, adjusted in 4 positions, a high-quality step above standard automatic movement specification. It is 100% Swiss-made with 68 hours of power reserve.
Ready to order?
Aquastar Model 60 RE-EDITION MKII on Tropic strap
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