Downsizing, shrinkflation, George Costanza in The Hamptons, in whatever form your shrinkage comes, it can spell bad news but here's some shrinkage I think you’ll appreciate.
Aquastar, an emerging but by no means inconsequential name in traditional Swiss diver’s and nautical watches, that I might add burst back onto the scene only a few short years ago and to much acclaim, has just opened up a new chapter in their ongoing Benthos Heritage chronicle, bringing one of their most beloved silhouettes into the 21st Century.
Yet it was barely the twenty-first century when I first found myself up to my ears in this immersive pursuit, this beautiful collision of worlds, the one of horology with that of undersea exploration, finding myself captivated by a watch, a diver’s watch.
I wish I could tell you it was an old Benthos or Deepstar, but that’d be fibbing. Nevertheless, it was a SuperOcean, 41 millimeters of Stainless steel and rated to 1624 meters no less, and I adored it.
I eventually traded it in for something bigger and better, a 44-mm Seawolf, where I found myself at the foot of a rapidly growing trend that would see watch cases reaching the unwieldy, and comical size of 50 millimeters in diameter and beyond!
Common sense however prevailed, and I think most of us rarely invested in anything bigger than 45 or 46-mm, max. And although going up from 41 to 44-mm was noticeable, I quickly adapted. And I kind of found my sweet spot there at 44mm.
And then we got hit out of the left field by a global pandemic. Two years later war broke out in Europe for the first time in 75 years, and the pendulum started to swing in the other direction.
Horological trend-setters once again began to favor more traditional 38 or even 36-mm case sizes, leaving the clown-shoe-sized offerings languishing on the shelves where they probably belonged.
But what about tool watches? I hear you ask. Because by their very nature, they’ve always been the big bruisers of the industry alongside pilot watches. Specifically diver's watches with their robust cases and increased levels of water-resistance.
Surely we won't see these types of watches shrink in size? Those that were designed for real men. You know, big, burly chaps, hairy-wristed, cigar-smoking, red meat-eating, shark-wrangling chaps like you and me, surely they’d continue to adopt larger case sizes?
You're right, they did and they have. Right up until now, that is. Instep the new Benthos Heritage II from Aquastar, measuring a not-so-poultry 40-mm in diameter, fashioned from high-quality, high-resistance 904L Stainless steel. No, not common-as-muck 316L, but Rolex, Omega Proplof and Aquastar Benthos-adopted 904L steel.
However with its water-resistance accordingly readjusted from 500m to a still respectable 300m, perhaps owing to the compact form factor but also, to help more clearly distinguish it from its bigger brothers, bearing the Benthos 500 name.
Meet the Aquastar Benthos Heritage I’s scrappy little brother, the Benthos Heritage II, that little guy in the bar who’s always up for a fight, smaller perhaps but by no means diminutive and just as capable as any other Benthos!
This historic diver, the third member of the iconic Benthos family, hailing from Aquastar’s modern dynasty, will surely capture the hearts of dive watch enthusiasts and collectors worldwide as it makes its debut at the start of a new year.
Inspired by the legendary Aquastar Benthos from the 1970s, the Benthos Heritage II is not merely a re-edition but a visionary interpretation of how the original creators might’ve evolved this horological icon.
Drawing inspiration from recently discovered sketches in the Aquastar archives, this new model seamlessly blends vintage character with modern stature.
“The Benthos Heritage II represents a perfect fusion of our rich diving heritage of the Benthos and contemporary proportions of 40mm and 12mm height," said Rick Marei, CEO of Aquastar. "It's a testament to our commitment to carry the torch of our founders into a bright future for Aquastar."
At the heart of the Benthos Heritage II is a series of core characteristics that were requested by the Aquastar community over the past 5 years. “We listened carefully to the feedback and requests of our supportive community on our official forum and on social media, and incorporated these features into the Benthos Heritage II”, said Rick Marei, CEO of Aquastar.
**BENTHOS iconic Design:** Echoing the archival sketches, the watch boasts two signature crowns positioned at 2 and 4 o'clock, offering both functionality and distinctive aesthetics.
**Modern Proportions:** With a 40mm case diameter and a slim 11.9mm profile, the Benthos Heritage II caters to modern tastes while ensuring comfort on any wrist.
**Premium Materials:** Crafted from corrosion-resistant 904L stainless steel, this timepiece is built to withstand the rigors of deep-sea exploration, crowned with a Ceramic bezel with applied luminous markers.
**Helium Escape Valve:** A Helium escape valve at 4 o'clock enhances the watch's professional diving capabilities.
**Swiss-Made Excellence:** Powered by the Selitta SW200-1 Swiss-made caliber, the Benthos Heritage II promises unparalleled value.
Thoughts? The Benthos Heritage II in 40-mm, it was meant to be. It will no doubt garner the already revered purveyor of Swiss diver's watches some new fans while offering a Benthos that'll sit a little more discreetly on our wrists when we're wearing more formal attire.
But how about the winding crown placement at 2 o’clock? Surely 4 o’clock would’ve been more intuitive? I thought about it, and for diving, having the HEV at 4 o'clock makes more sense.
It's certainly something you guys can discuss among yourselves. But without the manual HEV, it'd be a bit of an odd duck.
It's exciting to see a new Heritage models as they usually pave the way for the next Aquastar archival release while providing an affordable yet satisfying sample of the brand's ever-growing portfolio. I can't wait to see what's next!
Last year was year was significant year for ZRC who celebrated their 120th Anniversary, propelling themselves into a new era of discovery with the release of the PHÉNIX in addition to the launch a new model line based on the SECURICODE from 1960s.
For 2025 ZRC continue to improve and update their flagship MN64 collection which now boasts several new references, including a NEW Titanium model and this beauty!
Introducing ZRC’s NEW range-topping diver’s model, the ZRC MN64 HETERIUM, based on their iconic diver’s watch, developed for the French Navy in 1964.
But ZRC say of the new HETERIUM that it is more than a diver's watch, rather a multi-purpose watch that's just as at home in extreme conditions as it is in everyday life.
Its elegant design and cutting-edge engineering should make it an ideal choice for adventurers, divers and lovers of luxury watchmaking.
Its gradient dial, from navy blue to black, recalls the wild beauty of the ocean, while its 41.5 mm case in 316L in anti-magnetic Stainless steel bears witness to its robustness and refinement.
Equipped with the elaborate Swiss Automatic SELLITA SW300-1 movement, the HETERIUM offers a precision of +/- 5 seconds per day and a 56-hour power reserve.
Its specially engineered deformation case-back system allows for and impressive water-resistant to 1000 metres, tested to 1500 meters.
The HETERIUM is available in 2 versions, with a choice of a black rubber strap (GF421618) or a metal ‘Diver’ bracelet (GF421613).
