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Aquastar Benthos, one of the classic 1970/80 dive watches ?

simonsays
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I have always loved the Aquastar benthos range, and have owned quite a few over the years. Proper diving watches with a unique one hour timer complication, controlling a large orange hand started from a single pusher. They are attractive watches with strong ties to Omega. I believe Omega have credited Aquastar with the ideas for the designs of their diving watches, and Tissot was one of the brands used on the dial along with Lemania.

They are very well made, the quality is up there with Omegas of the day, with large stainless steel cases, screw down crowns and acrylic(or metal on the earlier versions)bezel inserts and with an A Schild auto movement. Screw back cases with the star logo cast into the case back.

The Benthos, which refers to things found on the ocean floor is rated to 500m and its successor, the Benthos 1, was substantially redesigned to be rated to 1000m using a mono bloc case.

IMG_4188.jpg IMG_4175.jpg


This version has a very rare and unusual Decomp bezel that I have seen only one or two examples of

IMG_2711.jpg IMG_2726.jpg
 
jaguar11
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Great pictures and I must admit to having a liking for these....
 
simonsays
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Omega has I think only 3 professional diving watches in its back catalogue, these models and a few others make for me a very exciting period in horology when watches were still tools and making them fit for an extreme environment was more than just marketing.

The Aquastars , Certina DS Super pH's, Doxa Subs and Eterna Super Kontiki's are a few other significant models of the era. Watches used for purpose by exploration organisations and the military.

Any others that spring to mind? Rolex, Blancpain, Squale, Sandoz, Aquadive and Philip watch Caribbean are all contenders.

I am trying to reduce my collection to a dozen watches, and this post is a cathartic way of saying good bye to a part of my collection. Perhaps a new thread of the best professional diving watches of the 1970s and 80's would be a good idea?
 
Dan S
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I've never owned one of those Aquastars, but your collection is fantastic and those are great photos. Very fun thread, and I love these professional divers. Your last post is really tempting me to go OT with a discussion 1950s-1970s professional divers, but perhaps that's an entirely different thread. 👍
 
simonsays
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Dan S Dan S
I've never owned one of those Aquastars, but your collection is fantastic and those are great photos. Very fun thread, and I love these professional divers. Your last post is really tempting me to go OT with a discussion 1950s-1970s professional divers, but perhaps that's an entirely different thread. 👍

Thank you for that, yes I think that would be worth a separate thread, and one I would be vey interested to see.
 
ConElPueblo
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simonsays simonsays
Omega has I think only 3 professional diving watches in its back catalogue, these models and a few others make for me a very exciting period in horology when watches were still tools and making them fit for an extreme environment was more than just marketing.

The Aquastars , Certina DS Super pH's, Doxa Subs and Eterna Super Kontiki's are a few other significant models of the era. Watches used for purpose by exploration organisations and the military...

You called? 😁

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simonsays
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I love the DS Super ph1000. An absolute tool. A watch that looks unwearable but actually sits well on the wrist.

218F8A03-3FAB-4AA3-8DF2-475FA90ED8F3.jpeg

I have always desired a Royal Australian Navy issued version but only have civilian watches.

1382DFF4-EB06-483A-931F-08EE48046912.jpeg
 
ConElPueblo
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simonsays simonsays
I love the DS Super ph1000. An absolute tool. A watch that looks unwearable but actually sits well on the wrist.


I have always desired a Royal Australian Navy issued version but only have civilian watches.

1382DFF4-EB06-483A-931F-08EE48046912.jpeg


I agree - it really wears extremely well. I had never thought I'd buy one of these as I focus on earlier DS and tend to wear smaller watches. But when this RAN version came up, I jumped on it. Haven't regretted it and it's part of the rotation now; such a great watch. The yellow-dialed ones are very cool.
 
simonsays
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
The yellow-dialed ones are very cool.

The RAN’s are white hot!

In fact I haven’t seen a good one come to market for years. Just that WOK offering with suspicious looking engravings
 
ConElPueblo
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simonsays simonsays
The RAN’s are white hot!

In fact I haven’t seen a good one come to market for years. Just that WOK offering with suspicious looking engravings

I think mine is reasonable; the case could be sharper, but the dial and hands are great and the bezel good. It was bought earlier this year, but the seller didn't know it was an issued piece so it wasn't noted anywhere in the listing 😗

The PH500M is another DS I'd love to try out at some point, a fantastic design!
 
Just Livin
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I went down the Deepstar route. But I have to say have admired the Benthos 500 for some time
IMG_0645.jpg
 
Dan S
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simonsays simonsays
* the Deepstar is a classic. One for the 50 and 60s thread.

I like the Deepstar, but I put it in the skin-diver category, not the professional diver group.
 
Just Livin
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Dan S Dan S
I like the Deepstar, but I put it in the skin-diver category, not the professional diver group.
I wont argue with that.
Went with the Aquastar theme of the thread. But on pure deep dive I agree.
 
simonsays
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Just Livin Just Livin
I wont argue with that.
Went with the Aquastar theme of the thread. But on pure deep dive I agree.

The Jaques Cousteau connection surely gives it professional status. No one went deep in the 60s
* edit sealab was in the 60s so I guess they did!
Edited:
 
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