The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

The Aquastar Deepstar chronograph is a modern watch that incorporates the codes of a historic, not to say legendary, model. A brand made famous by many diving professionals, Cousteau is probably the one who most puts these tool watches in the spotlight.

What I love about this Deepstar is above all its Big Eye, which serves as a timer. It contributes to the look of the watch and allows for a clear reading of elapsed time. This larger version, larger than the vintage models, is inspired by both ancient times and current trends. The result: a professional diving watch with a stunning look that perpetuates a kind of legend.

Revisited diving watch that takes up vintage codes

Recently recovered, this Direnzo Mondial DRZ04 automatic watch is an original alternative to Tissot PRX and other Citizen Tsuyosa watches.
Obviously we find the currently popular features: integrated bracelet, screw-down crown, automatic caliber and colored dial.

This version sports a turquoise blue dial that surfs on the hype of so-called Tiffany Blue watches.

Among the many emerging micro brands, Direnzo is making its place in a competitive segment and I understand why the watches are selling quickly. On the wrist the watch sits great thanks to its low thickness and its flexible articulated bracelet.

The price can be a deterrent because the Direnzo Mondial costs more than other models, but that's the price of originality.

The chic sports watch with many details

The Casio Oceanus OCW-S6000 watch is among the top of the range offered by Casio. Little known in France, this watch seduces with its features (bluetooth, multiband6, tough solar, ...) while benefiting from specifications that are only found in the big names: finesse, polishing, mass distribution, precision, materials.

In addition to being exclusive, its very "KAWAI" look does not leave you indifferent. Its low thickness (8mm) and its weight (lightened thanks to titanium) are surprising.. Top of the range of the top of the range from Casio, this unpretentious watch has little to envy the Swiss competition.

Perfect mix of technology, elegance and watchmaking

Aquastar is a Swiss brand founded in 1962 in Geneva by Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric 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.
<h3 dir="ltr">Aquatic DNA and useful patents</h3>
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).
<h3 dir="ltr">Iconic models</h3>
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.
<h3 dir="ltr">Quartz parenthesis and &ldquo;yachting&rdquo; period</h3>
After Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric 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.
<h3 dir="ltr">Renaissance and faithful reissues</h3>
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 &ldquo;Founder&rsquo;s Edition,&rdquo; reaffirming the brand&rsquo;s historic role among characterful divers.
<h3 dir="ltr">Current positioning and promise</h3>
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.
<h3 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h3>
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)

Diving watch used by the Calypso crew and Commander Cousteau at the time, with a completely different look from other diving watches, both vintage and modern. A professional diver, with a stopwatch to reassure you and a time scale for decompression. A truly beautiful tool

Magnificent & Unique

La marque&nbsp;Serica a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2019 par J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget et 3 amis &agrave; Paris, en France. Le nom Serica vient d'une r&eacute;gion perdue au bout de l'Extr&ecirc;me-Orient que les Grecs et les Romains avaient baptis&eacute;e ainsi. Ce lieu fait &eacute;cho &agrave; la gen&egrave;se de la marque, qui vise &agrave; concevoir des montres m&eacute;caniques de qualit&eacute; au style n&eacute;or&eacute;tro, pr&ecirc;tes &agrave; vous suivre aux confins du monde.
La gamme comprend des montres telles que la <a title="Page Serica 4512" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, la <a title="Page Serica 5303" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> et la <a title="Page Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. L'une des particularit&eacute;s de cette marque est que son nom n'appara&icirc;t nulle part sur le cadran, afin de pousser le passionn&eacute; &agrave; acheter un design, des finitions et des proportions, et pas seulement un nom. En juillet 2023, Serica a lanc&eacute; la Serica 5303 COSC une version chronom&egrave;tre certifi&eacute;e par le Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres.
Leur avant-dernier mod&egrave;le est la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfant sur les bases de la 1&egrave;re r&eacute;f&eacute;rence de la marque, la Serica 4512. Cette 6190 &eacute;pouse les codes stylistiques de la marque, des anses lyres, un choix de cadrans diff&eacute;rents et la possibilit&eacute; de choisir la position de la couronne &agrave; 3 heures ou en mode "Destro" &agrave; 9 heures. Cette Serica 6190 est &eacute;quip&eacute; du calibre Soprod M100 certifi&eacute; COSC (Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres) &agrave; l'intar des productions actuelles des autres mod&egrave;les 5303 et 8315.&nbsp;
Depuis le 21 novembre 2024, Serica propose une nouvelle collection tr&egrave;s audacieuse...&nbsp;Une montre habill&eacute;e sortant des sentiers battus nomm&eacute;e "Parade" sous la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence 1174. Ces 4 chiffres, comme toutes les autres r&eacute;f&eacute;rences Serica, propose une symbolique issue du nombre d'or ou divines proportions dont le ratio entre la longeur et la largeur sont de 1,174... Une nouveaut&eacute; propos&eacute;e en pr&eacute;-commande &agrave; 1,490 &euro; pour une livraison pr&eacute;vue en Mars 2025...
<h2>Quel est le prix d'une montre Serica ?</h2>
Les prix des montres Serica &eacute;voluent et diff&eacute;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre 990 &euro; et 1,890 &euro; selon les mod&egrave;les et finitions. Le mod&egrave;le GMT de la marque, Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre co&ucirc;te 1,890 &euro; tandis que le dernier mod&egrave;le lanc&eacute; par Serica, la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">6190</a> est propos&eacute;e &agrave; 990 &euro;.
Serica est ind&eacute;pendante et produit environ 5,000 montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Serica fait partie du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises">Top 10 des marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises les plus populaires</a>, ainsi que du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_micro_marques_de_montres">Classement des meilleures micro-marques de montres</a>. Pour choisir le mod&egrave;le Serica qui vous correspond le mieux,&nbsp;les avis clients Dialicious sont une ressource essentielle pour &eacute;valuer les diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients
(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2024)

The brand Serica was created in 2019 by J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget and 3 friends in Paris, France. The name Serica comes from a lost region at the end of the Far East that the Greeks and Romans named it like this. This place echoes the genesis of the brand, which aims to design quality mechanical watches in a neo-retro style, ready to follow you to the ends of the world.
The range includes watches such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. One of the particularities of this brand is that its name does not appear anywhere on the dial, in order to encourage the enthusiast to buy a design, finishes and proportions, and not just a name. In July 2023, Serica launched the Serica 5303 COSC, a chronometer version certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfing on the bases of the brand's first reference, the Serica 4512. This 6190 follows the stylistic codes of the brand, lyre lugs, a choice of different dials and the possibility of choosing the position of the crown at 3 o'clock or at &ldquo;Destro&rdquo; mode at 9 o&rsquo;clock. This Serica 6190 is powered with the Soprod M100 caliber COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Certification) certified, like the current productions of the other 5303 and 8315 models.&nbsp;
Since November 21, 2024, Serica has been offering a very daring new collection... A dress watch off the beaten track called &ldquo;Parade&rdquo; under the reference 1174. These 4 figures, like all other Serica references, offer a symbolism derived from the golden number or divine proportions whose ratio between length and width is 1.174... A novelty offered for pre-order at &euro; 1,490 for one delivery planned for March 2025...
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Serica watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Serica watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between &euro; 990 and &euro; 1,890 depending on the models and finishes. The brand's GMT model, Serica 8315 GMT Chronometer costs &euro; 1,890 while the latest model launched by Serica, the reference&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">6190</a> is offered to &euro; 990.
Serica is independent and produces around 5,000 watches per year, all models combined. Serica is part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://preprod.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands">Top 10 most popular French watch brands</a>, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_micro_watch_brands">ranking the best micro watch brands</a>. To choose the Serica model that best suits you, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190 reviews</a> or <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315 reviews</a> are an #1 resource for evaluating different models through real customer experience.
(Updated December 2025)

Aquastar Deepstar Chronograph is a model launched in 1965, conceived as a mono-compax dive chronograph with an engraved decompression-table bezel, a steel skin-diver case and water-readiness for underwater use; recognizable by its oversized 30-minute register at 3 o&rsquo;clock and running indicator at 9, it returned in the 21st century with a La Joux-Perret automatic column-wheel movement, tall domed sapphire crystals and case sizes of 40.5 then 39 mm that preserve the look of the original Valjoux-powered pieces.
<h3>Design &amp; legibility: the model&rsquo;s identity</h3>
The Deepstar&rsquo;s signature look pairs a sunburst dial with applied markers, a large single register at 3, a central chronograph seconds and a small running indicator at 9; the bezel works as a dive aide-m&eacute;moire and its concentric engraving remains readable as light fades, such that the &ldquo;dive minutes &ndash; main hands &ndash; 30-minute totalizer&rdquo; hierarchy pops at a glance without graphic clutter.
<h3>Case, bracelet and everyday comfort</h3>
Originally housed in a sharp-flanked skin-diver case, the modern Deepstar uses 316L steel, a bi-directional bezel on a ceramic bearing and a highly domed AR sapphire, first at 40.5 mm (2020 re-edition) then 39 mm (2022 collection) with ~49 mm lug-to-lug; 21&ndash;22 mm lug widths depending on series, beads-of-rice or Tropic straps, and a screw-down crown make for a stable stance, so despite the perceived height from the dome, it wears &ldquo;short,&rdquo; sits flat and tucks under a cuff.
<h3>Movement: architecture, performance and care</h3>
Period pieces ran Valjoux 23 or 92 hand-wounds, while the 2020&ndash;2025 reissues adopt an integrated automatic column-wheel chronograph by La Joux-Perret (4 Hz, ~55 h, bi-directional winding); the mono-compax layout with central chronograph seconds favors positive pusher feel and amplitude stability, so a 4&ndash;6-year service cadence plus periodic pressure checks will keep reliability high in mixed sea/desk use.
<h3>Timeline &amp; main models (1965&ndash;2025)</h3>
(1965) Aquastar Deepstar Chronograph &ldquo;Valjoux 23&rdquo;:
First generation: steel skin-diver case, bezel engraved with a decompression table, dial with a single large 30-minute register at 3 and a running indicator at 9, baton hands packed with luminous compound and a domed acrylic crystal. The pared-back face simplifies short-interval timing underwater, while the bezel acts as a quick reminder. Hand-winding and assertive pusher feel underscore the tool spirit.
(1966) Aquastar Deepstar Chronograph &ldquo;Valjoux 92&rdquo;:
Movement variation to Valjoux 92 on some runs; near-identical aesthetics, with hands/typography tweaks by market and occasional co-branding (Lorenz in Italy, Duward in Spain). Core functionality remains: large 30-minute totalizer, generous lume and the table bezel. This continuity cements Deepstar&rsquo;s place among 1960s dive chronographs.&nbsp;
(1967) Aquastar Deepstar Chronograph &ldquo;Decompression Bezel&rdquo;:
Consolidated multi-function bezel with decompression markings, compact case and period-correct water rating; intended to give quick reminders without cluttering the dial. Finish details evolve by batch (logos, print, caseback work). This phase permanently defines the Deepstar&rsquo;s identity as a distinctive diver&rsquo;s chronograph.
(1970) Aquastar Deepstar Chronograph &ldquo;Co-brand Lorenz/Duward&rdquo;:
Southern-Europe distribution under partner brands, with Aquastar geometry and dial language, Valjoux calibres and the table bezel retained; these variants broaden global reach and now attract collectors for their specific markings. Dimensions and read-out remain constant, nurturing the &ldquo;utilitarian yet elegant&rdquo; reputation.&nbsp;
(2020) Aquastar Deepstar Chronograph &ldquo;Re-Edition 40.5 mm&rdquo;:
Official return: 316L steel, 40.5 mm, AR domed sapphire, bi-directional bezel, and crucially an integrated automatic column-wheel chronograph by La Joux-Perret (4 Hz, ~55 h), with central chrono seconds, a 30-minute totalizer at 3 and a running indicator at 9; sunburst dial options (grey, blue, green). The brief is to respect DNA while upgrading comfort, reliability and serviceability.&nbsp;
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
An emblematic 1960s diver&rsquo;s chronograph thoughtfully reissued, the Aquastar Deepstar Chronograph suits wearers who want a readable retro-leaning tool powered by a modern column-wheel engine, instantly recognized by its oversized single register and table-style bezel. Pick it for the 39 mm comfort, the aide-m&eacute;moire bezel and the clean read-out, then tune it with straps and dial tone; to close your decision, lean on Dialicious customer reviews for comfort, stability and finish longevity.
(Updated October 2025)

Aquastar Deepstar Chronograph Owner Review : Retro, historical and inspired

Revisited diving watch that takes up vintage codes

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