Aquastar - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Aquastar is a Swiss brand founded in 1962 in Geneva by Frédéric Robert, a professional diver, sailor, and watchmaker from the JeanRichard family. From the outset, the company specialized in instruments for aquatic activities (diving and sailing) and initially distributed diving equipment through professional circuits.

Aquatic DNA and useful patents

The 1960s saw Aquastar file and use several patents that defined the category: sealing systems for crowns/push-pieces, anti-slip friction rings for bezels, integrated non-decompression scales, and an internal bezel on certain models. The brand also set a milestone in regatta timing, with the first wrist "Regatta" derived from a patent filed in 1961 (countdown timer with pellets).

Iconic models

Three families tell the essential story of the Aquastar identity: Deepstar (diving chronograph launched around 1965-66, single-counter and bi-scale bezel, one of which calculates non-decompression), Benthos 500 (1970, 500 m tool watch with central 60 min totalizer with flyback on single pusher) and Regate (the famous "Yachttimers" with countdown discs). Other lines like Aquastar Seatime make the link between professional instrument and civilian use.

Quartz parenthesis and “yachting” period

After Frédéric Robert's departure in the mid-1970s, the brand changed hands several times and navigated the quartz crisis. From the 1980s to the end of 2010, Aquastar focused a large part of its activity on regatta watches (mechanical then quartz), extending its nautical roots.

Renaissance and faithful reissues

Under the leadership of Rick Marei (a figure in diving brand revivals), Aquastar returned to the forefront in 2019-2020. The Aquastar Deepstar was reissued in 2020 with an integrated automatic column-wheel chronograph by La Joux-Perret, in a spirit very close to the original (steel case, double-scale bezel, 200 meters). In 2024, the Benthos 500 returned in its “Founder’s Edition,” reaffirming the brand’s historic role among characterful divers.

Current positioning and promise

Aquastar is now aimed at lovers of tool watches faithful to the spirit of the Cousteau years: legible, functional and technically coherent, offered in limited series and sold directly, with an emphasis on historical fidelity rather than luxurious overbidding.

Conclusion

Aquastar embodies a pragmatic and heritage-driven Swiss style: watches born from the sea (Diving, Regatta), identifiable by their intelligent "diver's" solutions and their meticulous reissues. Prioritize the authenticity of Dialicious customer reviews to choose the Aquastar model that best suits your desires by exploring our owner feedback.

(Updated August 2025)