Aquastar
IndustryWatch manufacturing
Founded1962
FounderFrédéric Robert
Headquarters
Geneva
,
Switzerland
ProductsWatches
ParentJeanrichard S.A.
Websitewww.aquastar.ch

Aquastar is a Swiss watch brand[1][2][3] focused on watches for diving and sailing.[4][5][6] It was founded in 1962 by Frédéric Robert, a watch designer, scuba diver, and sailor. In 1963, the name of the company Jeanrichard S.A. changed to Aquastar S.A.[7][8]

History

Aquastar was founded in 1962 in the city of Geneva in Switzerland by Frédéric Robert.[9] Robert,took over the brand JeanRichard from his father and soon changed the name to Aquastar to reflect the idea behind his venture: to create professional grade instruments for divers and aquatic activities.[10][11][12]

Aquastar had been awarded numerous patents, based on each patent a new Aquastar family member was born.[13] The inner rotating bezel in the model 63, the multiple dive decompression bezel in the Deepstar, the Benthos and the Regate counter.[14][15] The new crown sealing system and the friction bezel ring were incorporated in every Aquastar and the regatta counter watches.[16]

Aquastar watches were only available through professional diving equipment outlets and ever offered on a large scale to retail distributors.

In 1974, Robert retired and in 1975, Aquastar was acquired by the Eren Group who then sold it to the Seinet Brothers in 1982. Whilstowned by the Eren group, its mainstream dive and sports watches were made available to the general public through retail outlets. Seinet, an avid sailor and 3rd generation watchmaker, wanted to acquire a watch brand with its facilities and resources and promptly created the Alain Delon wrist watch.[17] Following the realization that traditional mechanical Swiss watches were passed down and no longer appealed to the younger buyers, Aquastar developed and patented an affordable timepiece made of plastic and housing robust quartz movements which marked a new era of commercial success for the brand.

After achieving the necessary commercial success, Mr. Seinet decided to focus on his passion, which is sailing and continued the tradition of Frédéric Robert and created multiple generations of quartz regatta watches between 1983 until 2018.

Product lines

Since its inception, the company has launched a number of product lines.[18][19] The model 63 was considered a great commercial success for the company and it was for many years the mainstay in Aquastars offerings. It was followed by the creation of the iconic Deepstar and the first Regatta. From that point onward, Aquastar elevated and became a cult company establishing itself as one of the most important specialized watch making companies. The Deepstar was first chronograph of the brand, and probably the most famous Aquastar model.[20][21] The Deepstar is highly sought after by collectors and it is considered one of the most iconic diver chronographs of all time.[22] The Deepstar demonstrated the design ethos of F. Robert since it was elegant and functional at the same time.[23][24] Below are the major watches of company:

  • Model 60
  • Aquastar Atoll
  • Aquastar Seatime
  • The Deepstar[25]
  • Aquastar Regate[26]
  • Aquastar Benthos 500[27]
  • Aquastar Ethos

References

  1. ↑ "Aquastar Regate Yacht Timer Watch". The Jensen Museum. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  2. ↑ "The History of the Yacht Watch". www.schwarzschild.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  3. ↑ "Aquastar Benthos". Dive into Watches (in German). January 2004. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  4. ↑ "AQUASTAR 2020 Deepstar RE-EDITION [Reemergence of a Shining Star of the Sea]". OceanicTime. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  5. ↑ Heaton, Jason (October 9, 2020). "In-Depth: The Aquastar Deepstar Resurfaces". Hodinkee. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  6. ↑ "Aquastar - 2020 Deepstar Chronograph Re-Edition". Time and Watches. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  7. ↑ The Aquastar Deepstar May Be the Coolest Vintage Dive Watch You've Never Heard Of. 2019-05-23.
  8. ↑ "What Is a Yachting Watch?". Crown & Caliber. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  9. ↑ "The world's first Regatta Yachttimer wrist watch". Jensen Museum. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  10. ↑ "An Iconic Cousteau-Era Dive Watch is Back from the Dead - Airows". airows.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  11. ↑ "First Look: Aquastar Brand Dives Again With New Deepstar Re-Edition Chronograph". aBlogtoWatch. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  12. ↑ MasterHorologer (2020-10-10). "Aqaustar Watches". MasterHorologer. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  13. ↑ Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office. U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent Office. 1959.
  14. ↑ "Aquastar Introduces the Deepstar Chronograph". 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-24.
  15. ↑ "Aquastar Benthos 500". Watch Freeks. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  16. ↑ "Το θρυλικό καταδυτικό ρολόι Aquastar Deepstar επιστρέφει καλύτερο από ποτέ!". Perpetual Magazine - Life & Style For The Everyday Man. 2020-10-11. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  17. ↑ "Aquastar 2000's". Regatta Yachttimers. 2014-05-10. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  18. ↑ Penate, Michael (2020-10-09). "Aquastar Deepstar Chronograph Re-Edition". Two Broke Watch Snobs. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  19. ↑ Kessler, Sam (2020-10-09). "Introducing: Aquastar Deepstar 2020". Oracle Time. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  20. ↑ "Aquastar revives the 1962 Deepstar with a new Re-Edition - Acquire". www.acquiremag.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  21. ↑ "Hands-On Aquastar Deepstar Re-Edition (Video)". Fratello Watches. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  22. ↑ "Aquastar Deepstar 'Rally' Chronograph by Duward". vintagewatchcollective.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  23. ↑ "The Aquastar Deepstar May Be the Coolest Vintage Dive Watch You've Never Heard Of". gearpatrol.com. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  24. ↑ Hartov, Oren (2020-10-09). "One of the World's Coolest Chronograph Watches Is Back". Gear Patrol. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  25. ↑ "Introducing - The 2020 Aquastar Deepstar Re-Edition (Specs & Price)". Monochrome Watches. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  26. ↑ "Lauritz.com - Vintage Aquastar Geneve 'Regate', men's watch". www.lauritz.com. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  27. ↑ Aquastar Benthos (in German). January 2004. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
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