Introducing: The Aquastar Benthos H2
It’s great to kick off the new year with a watch from one of my favorite brands. The Aquastar Benthos H2 is a welcome release that should appeal to a wide audience. It’s affordable and, best of all, fits beautifully.
The original Benthos 500 was a highly innovative mechanical dive watch that debuted in 1970. With its chronograph-like operation and slow 60-minute elapsed-time counter, the watch differed from other heavy-duty divers. It was produced for several years into the decade until, somewhat suddenly, the watch market was turned on its end. Quartz entered the market and forever changed the landscape. Today’s new Benthos H2 looks like what might have been if the Quartz Crisis had not begun for several more years.
Backstory on the Aquastar Benthos H2
It’s important to note that the Benthos H2 is not merely a modern reissue. Within the Aquastar archives, drawings were found that included the inspiration for the newest release. In the late ’60s, the brand drafted a future design with a helium release valve. Sadly, the idea didn’t materialize in the ’70s, but we now have a working interpretation of that concept.
The concept materialized
Rick Marei of Aquastar sent me the Benthos H2 without providing any details. I always say that seeing a watch for the first time is a unique experience, and I do my best to remember my thoughts and emotions. Undoubtedly, the latest Aquastar watch is instantly recognizable as a Benthos model. It has the characteristic C-case, external bezel, and twin controls. However, my initial impression of the watch in its packaging was that something was different. It looked smaller and thinner.
Indeed, the Benthos H2 isn’t just a perceived continuation watch. It also serves as the perfect watch for current tastes. The 904L stainless steel diver is 40mm wide by 44mm long and 11.9mm thick, including the flat sapphire crystal. It also has a 300m depth rating. This gives buyers with smaller wrists a nice option versus the larger 42mm by 47mm H1, which is 16mm thick.
Familial looks and added functionality
Thus far, Aquastar has produced three modern Benthos models. The aforementioned H1 is a 500m-rated diver with an external dive bezel and an uncommonly placed crown at 2 o’clock. The Benthos 500 is a faithful modern reissue of the original watch. It features a chronograph movement and a 60-minute elapsed-time counter. The Benthos H2, however, is a straightforward diver with a screw-down crown at 2 o’clock for time-setting purposes. The lower crown is a screw-down helium release valve.
Normally, I’m ambivalent about a helium valve, but the look works on the H2 because it relates to the concept drawing and resembles the 500. Design-wise, the watch faithfully follows the Benthos pattern. This translates to a black semi-glossy dial with applied luminous indexes and a black-and-white angled chapter ring. The rectangular hands are also filled with light “Old Radium” Super-LumiNova. A simple stick-like orange seconds hand differs from other Benthos models by not having an arrow-shaped tip. Externally, the twin signed crowns are joined by a unidirectional, 120-click dive bezel and black ceramic insert with fully luminous markings. The action is perfect — not too light and not too heavy.
The Benthos H2 — so nice and thin
Historic brands like Aquastar and Doxa receive a pass when making thicker watches. Most of the original pieces were chunky, yet they still wear nicely. That said, there’s something lovely about a thin diver with beefy specs. I received this Benthos H2 on a black 20mm Tropic strap. The flexible strap and the smaller, thinner case equate to the perfect wearing experience for someone with a thinner wrist. Also, the lower profile means that the watch will work well under a shirt sleeve. On the optional beads-of-rice bracelet, it’s even classy enough to step inside the office.
The Benthos H2 will have a similar case back to the H1 pictured here
Powered by the Sellita SW200-1
Aquastar keeps the watch nice and slim by using the automatic Sellita SW200-1. The movement hacks and does without a date function. Per normal, it has 38 hours of power reserve and a frequency of 28,800vph. Like other Aquastar Benthos models, the Benthos H2 is equipped with an all-steel screw-in case back. It is nicely engraved with “Aquastar-Suisse” and the starfish logo.
Scoring your H2
The Benthos H2 is a truly wearable watch from Aquastar in the same vein as the Model 60 and Deepstar II. In other words, this is a candidate as a daily watch built to a high standard. Rick Marei has brought us another compelling release that competes well against the big names in affordable divers. As of today, January 24th, 500 pieces of the H2 are available for pre-order on the Aquastar site for just US$1,190 on a Tropic or ISOfrane rubber strap. For an extra US$100, buyers can opt for the stainless beads-of-rice bracelet. Deliveries will begin in May 2025. The price will increase to US$1,490 for the remaining models on the rubber strap after the pre-order period expires.
The Benthos H2 should easily please those who felt that prior Benthos models were too large. Plus, it’s nice to see a historically inspired watch that isn’t a direct reissue. I suspect this piece will do well. Feel free to share your thoughts on this latest Aquastar release in the comments section.
