H2O Watch KALMAR 2 DEEP DIVER 25000M [unlocking the depths]

Brutalism is back baby! Hmm, perhaps it never went anywhere to start with. Panerai, Ulysses Nardin and to some extent even some of those more mainstream Swiss names like Omega, Oris and Rolex are still building big sturdy watches, watches for adventurers and explorers of the deep. Watches for hairy-chested, shark wrangling, bear-wrestling, monster-truck driving, muscle-car racing, beer drinking, meat-eating, red-blooded men - who just happen to have a keen eye for detail and more than a passing appreciation for technical engineering. But here's the thing I think a lot watch enthusiasts still misunderstand about diver's watches, they're supposed to be big, they're supposed to be bulky and why because diver's want highly legible dials to shine in the depths and they require solid build quality that can stand up to the rigors of the deep. When it comes to high legibility, scratch that, insane levels of legibility, and when it comes to tank-like and you can scratch that too, nuclear submarine-like case construction few do it better, none go deeper or burn quite as brightly, and for less than H2O Watch of Germany. For Spring 2025 the King of Customization, the Ruler of the Deep and the new Lord of Luminosity is back with a newly updated version of their record-breaking DEEP DIVER 25000M. Unfathomable levels of customization and water-resistance. The H2O Watch KALMAR 2 DEEP DIVER 25000M resurfaces from the depths owing to public demand and boasting H2O’s stunning NEW “porthole bezel”. An unfathomable level of customization. Customization is king, it's what sets H2O Watch apart from its contemporaries. It's what allows their loyal following of customers to create the perfect configuration every time they invest in one of our highly engineered creations, allowing them to become a part of the creative process. And it's why H2O Watch believe customization is everything! With the H2O Watch KALMAR 2 DEEP DIVER 25000M you can create your dream watch with a plethora of customization options. Interchangeable crown guards and bezels, closed or display case-backs, in addition to 21 different dials to choose from. And it doesn't stop there, case-finishing, straps and more allow for almost 1.5 million combinations that are yours for the taking. An unfathomable level of water-resistance. From the depth of design to the depth of emotion experienced when you wear one of their depth-defying creations on your wrist and gaze in awe at this marvel of modern dive-watch engineering. H2O Watch has become one of the most important names in extreme water-resistance. From the outset, they have strived to reach the plummeting depths of the ocean. From their humble beginnings in 2010 when we debuted our inaugural deep diver, the Kalmar, tested to 600 bars of pressure, the equivalent of 6000 meters under the sea. To their record-breaking H2O Watch KALMAR 2 DEEP DIVER 25000M which we are proud to announce is back by public demand and boasting even more customization than ever. The H2O Watch KALMAR 2 DEEP DIVER 25000M is the final word in mechanical watch water-resistance, not only leaving the competition floundering in the relative shallows. But smashing any pre-existing records by some considerable margin. Thus establishing the H2O Watch KALMAR 2 DEEP DIVER 25000M as the deepest mechanical diver's watch to have ever been produced both commercially or as an experimental project. The H2O KALMAR 2 DEEP DIVER 25000M was tested and officially certified by an established German institute to withstand a pressure of more than 2500 bar.

FEATURES * Solid Titanium Grade 5 (case, bezel, case-back) * Domed Sapphire Crystal (8.25mm or 10.55mm) * Turbine-Style Unidirectional Divers Bezel * 25.300 meters Certified Water-Resistance with 8.25mm crystal * Sunburst Dial fading black to blue * Swiss Super-LumiNova® BGW9 * Swiss SELLITA SW300 Self-Winding Movement * Discreet lug serial number engraving “0000 / 1010” 

MOVEMENT * STANDARD PACKAGE: SWISS SELITTA SW300 movement * 

UNLIMITED PACKAGE: 

SWISS ETA 2892 TOP GRADE * Hours, Minutes, Sweep Second * Self-winding Mechanism with Ball Bearing * Stop Second Device * 28.800 Vibrations per hour; 4 Hz * 11 Lignes ½ ‴ / Height 3.60 mm / Diameter 25.60 mm 

DIVERS FEATURES * 120-Click Unidirectional Rotational Bezel * Guarded & Screwed Multi-Sealed Crown-System * Solid Ti G5 Multi-Sealed Case-Back * BGW9 SL Hands and Markers * Multi-Layer AR-Treated Sapphire Crystal 

DIMENSIONS Case Diameter - 42.50mm Bezel Diameter - 44.00mm Case Height - 22.85mm (including 8.25mm sapphire crystal) // 25.10mm (including 10.50mm sapphire crystal) Case Length - 53.50mm Sapphire Crystal Height - 8.25mm Crown – 8mm Lug Width - 24mm Weight - 126g (watch case)

PACKAGING CONTENT - 

STANDARD PACKAGE: With Sellita SW300 movement - 

UNLIMITED PACKAGE: With SWISS ETA 2892 TOP GRADE / H2O TITANIUM PEN / H2O LEATHER POUCH - H2O 25000M DEEP DIVER Rubber Divers Strap - Handmade 5mm Black Calf Leather Strap with black stitching + H2O CNC Buckle - Hex screwdriver - H2O Security Dry Case with Vent - Warranty Card 

H2O TAKES OVER THE 10% IMPORT TARIFF FOR U.S. CUSTOMERS! 

US. customers are eligible for a 10% import tariff refund, applicable to the new import tariff paid to FedEx upon receipt of their package. 

This applies also to existing orders and shipments from U.S. customers. To process the refund, customers must submit a copy of the FedEx invoice by email indicating the amount of tariff paid. 

Please note that only the 10% import tariff increase will be refunded. Customs import fees and handling charges imposed by FedEx for the import will not be covered. As these tariffs are new both for U.S. customers and for business owners outside the U.S., we understand that this is an evolving situation.

We will continue to monitor how these tariffs impact our customers and adjust our policies as needed to ensure the best possible experience.

 

ZRC MN64 HETERIUM [dive watch of distinction]

A new era of ZRC diver’s watches has begun! 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).

AQUASTAR Airstar Chronograph 60th anniversary Re-Edition STEEL [versatility is its middle name]

Introducing the NEW Aquastar Airstar Chronograph 60th anniversary Re-Edition in Stainless steel, the pilot’s watch that likes to get wet! While the Airstar with its classic syringe-style hands, tachymetric scale and bidirectional timing bezel allude to the model’s true designation as that of a pilot’s watch. It’s features like its old school skindiver case, water-resistance to 200 meters and screw-down case-back and crown that make it one of the more versatile models in Aquastar’s modern-day lineup. And while the Airstar is indeed a proud pilot, it was produced by Aquastar, a company largely focused on nautical watches, specifically diver’s and regatta watches, those made as traditional tool-watches. Like the ones that accompanied some of the diving and horological industries’ most celebrated divers and aquanauts, Jacques Mayol and Phillipe Cousteau to name but a few. So it is not surprising that the Airstar’s design and build was heavily influenced by and ultimately benefited from the kind of robust construction techniques employed in the world of traditional Swiss diver’s watches. Much like any other modern-day Aquastar model reimagined from their catalog of models, gleaned from their historic archives, it is an almost perfect one-for-one likeness safe for the inclusion of the most up-to-date watchmaking materials and perhaps a tweak here and there in its dimensions. Thus offering the wearer a truly authentic experience along with the peace of mind that only comes from wearing a contemporary tool watch. While the original Airstar’s 38mm in diameter case housed the venerable Valjoux 72, its modern-day successor, the Airstar Re-edition in Stainless steel’s 39mm skindiver case is home to a reliable Valjoux 7753 automatic mechanical movement. And just like any other pilot’s watch, the Airstar is destined for the skies but will likely take to the seas like a duck takes to water. Perhaps as few as just 200 examples of the vintage Airstar were produced. Likewise today’s Airstar STEEL has been produced in a Limited Run of only 300 pieces. The Airstar Black Edition is already SOLD OUT. The NEW Aquastar Airstar Chronograph 60th anniversary Re-Edition in Stainless steel is available for PRE-ORDER now. Please follow the link for more on the Airstar and other models from Aquastar.

A few words from Aquastar: “Among many of the innovations pioneered by Aquastar founder Frederic Robert, the Airstar Chronograph from 1964 was a departure from the traditional tool dive watch” says Rick Marei, Aquastar’s modern helmsman. 

“The Airstar features a depth rating of 200 meters, a screw down crown and many attributes essential for serious water resistance, yet combined with aviation grade capabilities”.

Airstar STEEL Specifications: 

DIAL: black sunburst dial design. High density filling old light Radium super luminova application 

CASE: Bi-directional rotating bezel on a ceramic bearing 316L Stainless Steel case with highly domed, AR triple coated sapphire crystal 

Case Diameter: 39mm Length from lug to lug: 49mm 

MOVEMENT: Genuine Valjoux 7753 Swiss Made mechanical Chronograph Caliber Number: 7753 

Movement Type: Automatic Jewels: 27 Power Reserve: 48 hours Diameter: 30.00mm Height 7.9mm 

Vibrations Per Hour: 28,800 Lift Angle: 49 degrees Shock System: Incabloc Regulator: Etachron Rotor 

System: Ball bearing Winding Direction: Uni-directional > clockwise Country of Manufacture Switzerland 

FUNCTIONS: Hours, minutes, small seconds, central chronograph seconds, 30 minute counter, elapsed time 60 minute bidirectional rotating bezel 

STRAP: Comes on a stainless steel BOR bracelet, genuine Tropic® strap, black NATO strap included. 

SHIPPING: September 2025

 

AQUASTAR Benthos Heritage II [good shrinkage]

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!