Aquastar Deepstar 2020 Review: A Dive Watch Fit for Jacques Cousteau

[@jdhacken]

I bought one of these and it is definitely one of the finest watches I've ever owned!

[@gambee_]

First video I’ve seen of yours and I am really impressed. Greta storytelling. Subscribed.

[@justthepip]

One of the best releases of 2020. These guys are going places.

[@marcelodietrich8674]

GLORIOUS watch! Another fantastically done review, Armand! Thank you.

[@D6EH]

Yeah, I’m late to the party…. Just picked up the “vintage black” 2020 and regardless of the photos or review, the piece is so much better in person. It’s absolutely lovely. If you have the opportunity, this is one not to be missed.

[@michaelfierman3256]

About as handsome a dive watch as I have seen in a while as i was unaware of the original. Great presentation as always.

[@niallvbrennan6629]

Vostok offer a blue strap very similar to the one shown in Armand's video. The watch itself is beautiful, a product with pedigree. Thank you Armand for bringing this to us.

[@watch_hawk]

So glad I found this channel. This is how all reviews should be done. Bravo

[@marcomastrodonato1420]

This is a masterpiece in the diving chronograph world but yesterday I got a striking offer on a Longines Heritage Diver 1967,similar Heritage and movement at 1600 euro...I ordered it.

[@p.j.mendes]

Great hystorical time piece.,wich I've never heard before. Absolutely fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

[@edteach3r]

An awesome watch to start off 2021... superb in all respects. Well done, Armand; and a very happy New Year to you!

[@roygardiner2229]

The blue variant is just gorgeous. I would, of course, like to own the watch but it's outside of my budget. By the way, I loved the choice of music. It was so apt and atmospheric.

[@GaryGiffin]

Cant wait to see what Aquastar has coming 11/19!

[@userone7618]

This is an incredible piece! Thanks for the video.

[@omarbegreen]

Interesting piece of history. Love holorolgy.

[@yoinkhaha]

It's certainly a looker. I dunno if it isn't just a bit too expensive, but definitely looks great.

[@federicoacker5672]

Great review !, And a great time-piece ! Just one detail to add: the unidirectional bezel was patented by Blancpain, for the 50-Fathoms (in the ´50s). So every dive watch of the era (including Submariners and Seamasters) were bidirectional, until 1980, when the patent rights expired. Thanks for share it. Cheers!

[@patweinberg4517]

Not true

[@federicoacker5672]

@@patweinberg4517 OK sir, that's what I knew, but may be I was wrong. May be you can illustrate us, please explain. Thank you

[@timeandnourishment1961]

I thought you were going to say about $8000 at the end! Seems almost reasonable now....

[@mauriciomucino1015]

I would've love and choose the purple dial...

[@supportdesk7703]

Let’s hope they keep the brand alive, as a owner of a Benthos, it has been impossible to service it over the last 10 years. So let’s see if they get the importance of retaining heritage pieces..

[@Iuckylukey]

I would buy it if it had a sapphire case back, that movement is beautiful.

[@henyujurai3907]

I want one this watch is awesome awesome to the max

[@arnoldduran4953]

the appeal to me of this watch is the unquie design of it - and its well executed too. Edit - The price to me, makes it comparable to some seiko ProSpexs - more specifically the Marine Master

[@stevefox8605]

Not as much as I thought, but lots of other options at that price. Cheers, happy new year 👍🏻👍🏻

[@JEBurda]

Great video. Thanks!

[@johnmoorefilm]

Stunning, way more interesting than the Omegas

[@kahuhipajae4088]

Great bit of history.

[@Iuckylukey]

I loved your interview of Rick Marei. He is a real hero of the watch world, a man with a mission. I own one of the post-Marei Doxas, so does that watch have bad karma because of how the family took back control their brand from Rick? No, I think not. A model like Doxa is somehow an archetype that is bigger than any human, just as we say the office of the president is bigger than any particular person who holds that office. Or how Zen masters pass down the lamp of the dharma from generation to generation, they are not the dharma only its temporal servants. Rick’s work lives on in the post-Marei Doxa, and it’s his legacy he can be proud of. His true calling is to revive heritage diving models so they do not disappear, so you can argue that the family did him a favor by stealing his baby, so he could go on to make another one like the lovely Aquastar you are now reviewing, with a singular focus and no distractions. I only wonder what is the next model he will take on. Any ideas? I hope it will be one of the skin diver watches with those long slim lugs.

[@ArmandTheWatchGuy]

+ Daniel D'Esposito: Thank you very much for your kind words - I think that what you say holds an awful lot of truth. Doxa, like all brands, will run its course with the respect for the past which Rick gave it during his tenure. Speaking of Aquastar, I am rather glad that Rick has revived this other brand which, for me, has always been a wonder but also one which was somewhat unapproachable due to a lack of knowledge about it. I'm looking forward to what it will bring to the table in future.

[@VivekSingh-hy1dk]

What's the compass thing? And what's it's use?

[@thomasmoll8822]

From the photos, I was thinking that the blue version was the way to go, but now I’m wondering whether it does not look too “modern” for such a vintage-heavy piece 🤔

[@commentjedi]

I love the look of this watch and admire the history. But at this price, I'd choose another one I feel more towards... The Tudor PO1

[@federicoacker5672]

Great review! is difficult to talk about pricing in this kind of pieces, because obviously they are no longer pro-diver options, so what are they? for collectors?, for people who like the design but never in life are going to use them to diving?... For people who knows the history behind the scuba-developing era, so they are willing to pay the cost? I don´t know... May be for all those people. The price is high if you don´t know the history behind, but for the "connoisseur" I think is worth. Cheers

[@steves8322]

Where did you go Armand? Miss your videos!

[@henrywest7217]

That was excellent.

[@NWind-go9qn]

Beautiful watch for a collector and at a collector’s price. As a tool watch… and even as a diver’s status symbol, there are too many other options a professional diver might go for and at better value propositions.

[@camarocarl7130]

Possibly worth it with a 7750 or an ETA but not the movement they unfortunately used.

[@Thelimey]

Deepstar looks fantastic....Doxa killer 💯🙌

[@stevebolt7132]

What with just 200m?

[@Thelimey]

Yeh mate 100%

[@frankschroth1919]

A Doxa killer at $ 4318 ? Really?

[@markdance574]

Looks nice - but at that retail price I’m not sure . For a similar price you can buy some great pre owned watches .

[@elliottandco]

Would you buy it in a 39mm version [ mid size for 2022 ] for $2,790 special offer [ only 300 for the year ] and discounted BOR bracelet for $79 ...?-- I have , now sold out in grey. The MLJP column wheel movement cal 7773 wheel movement may be considered thick...but what would be considered a slimmer auto movement instead ? - without punching up costs. 55 Power reserve / 28 Jewels. The new Rolex sub movement Cal 3235 -/ 70 hr pr / 31J maybe thinner as an example ? -but not column wheel chronograph.

[@ArmandTheWatchGuy]

+ Elliott & Co Elliott: That's an interesting question. Given that I own the original limited run, I wouldn't replace it for the sake of exclusivity, the knowledge that I own the watch which relaunched Aquastar and because my wrist fits this version very well. However, I have no doubt that the 39mm will be better for most wearers even if it may be a bit top-heavy on account of the shorter lug-to-lug length combined with the same thickness.

[@elliottandco]

@@ArmandTheWatchGuy Enjoyed your work on this video btw. Im looking forward to mine, no doubt there will be some reviews on the 2022 Deepstar in due course.Cheers

[@stevebolt7132]

Available in the UK?

[@christhe812]

I absolutely love this watch, but unfortunately the sizing is just too big for me. I wish they would make a 38mm model of this.

[@timmanion7459]

I've been looking at this re-issue for over a year and am leaning towards pulling the trigger on it soon . Your video was most illuminating. There's another watch I'm very interested in but can't seem to find a video on , or a lot of independent info . Aletier Millesimme makes what would appear to be a very well made dive watch called the Monarque. I would love to see a video on this peice, as it appears to be a high horology class watch . Just a humble request. Thanx

[@davids.2317]

A blog to watch did a review on the monarque , no video, but a pretty in depth review.

[@timmanion7459]

@@davids.2317 Thanx for the heads up. I have looked to find all the information on this watch and company. Not a lot of in-deapth info that I could find . I'll look for this review. Again, thanx.

[@DavidDatura]

A really lovely and individual looking watch. Very desirable too I’d say, but that 52mm lug to lug would concern me. That’s if I could afford one of these, which I can’t.

[@junkyardparadise]

I have seriously considered purchasing this watch, but at this price point I feel its over priced.

[@pierremartin9048]

It is indeed nice looking, but too expensive as a reintroduction piece, personally.

[@DongHoDocLa]

good day my friend

[@jameshoward9700]

Excellent review of this eccentric diver! I agree - the watch world needs more unconventional designs (though an original design would be nice - hurrah for Seiko). In it's oddball, unrefined way I rather like it. It's design is a product of passion and vision, not committee. A good thing. The finish looks very good (excellent macro, BTW!) and the movement is more than you'd expect of 'another' retro-inspired micro brand. But there's the problem - it's expensive. Not necessarily poor value, but a lot for an online punt, for a brand that has no continuous trading heritage, like eg Dodane. A lot more than the Ollech and Wajs C-1000, which looks as well finished, albeit with a lesser movement. Yes, Doxa is more, but that says more about Doxa pricing (extortionate now). But, that said, its a punt I might take, were it not for that lug dimension: 52mm. Ouch. I regularly wear big divers, even a 52mm Tuna, but 52 lug-to-lug? Unfortunately, a deal breaker for me.

[@termit520]

I'm not sure is this watch a real Jacques Cousteau's style, yes, maybe for a pictures in a newspapers...but in reality for a real diving i'm really not so sure. That bezel is completely unusable at the depth of the sea, simply because there's no enough lumed markings....diver really don't have any need for a guessing what's happening and what's the time....maybe even a lume on a dial is not good enough but ok, there's no lume on the right side of a dial at all..... Anyway, a nice saloon diver, and off course, a nice video. A big like

[@scherzandokarasu6353]

I think it's a bit fussy. Although I yield to no man in my admiration & love of the great Jacques Cousteau.

[@frankschroth1919]

Update: the price of the watch is now 4318 $!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!

[@pmewUK]

Armond, I've been a subscriber for a good few years but your new background music is really annoying, that sonar beep every five seconds or so really grates. Any chance you could change it? Your last few videos I've stopped watching part way through because of the ringing beep in my ears. ☹

[@johnlacroix1639]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA+++++++++++++ very kool info. keep up the great videos,, better than TV Sir

[@rumatadestora]

I like this watch except the oversimplified second hand. Because of it the accuracy goes to hell

[@jackbenton2892]

same

[@totkamacedonia1337]

I have a deepstar 2 with a misalligned bezel. 3 emails later - ZERO response! DO NOT BUY FROM THESE GUYS!

[@YELLOWSINGLE64]

On the other hand, the after-sales service is completely non-existent and only partially responds to the email #aquastar

[@cedarcanoe]

WHERE ARE YOU ARMAND??

[@milesblack8485]

Not your run of the mill looking diver. Originality at its best both past and present! However, is it worth $3,500?

[@tzymische]

The whole thing about diving watches is so funny and dumb these days. Nobody literally nobody goes diving with them anymore - it is stupid, useless and in most cases plain dangerous. The fixation watch bloggers have on ‘diving’ watches is absolutely ridiculous - it is gimmick, the whole helium valve is an useless feature that leads to nothing as nobody will ever dive with watch to these depths as it is as useful there as a hole in the head. Jacque Cousteau would not dive with watch nowadays - back in the day it was necessity - now it is just a fashion piece.

[@tomwreford6624]

Oh dear. You seem a bit grumpy. Don’t buy one.

[@junkyardparadise]

I'll agree with tzymische in his pov. Dive watches are just a statement imo. I dive myself and would dive with a diving computer.

[@tzymische]

@@tomwreford6624 Maybe I am - but I am just tired of bloggers pushing dive watches like they are useful to an actual diver.

[@tzymische]

@@junkyardparadise my real estate is super limited on my wrists - I have dive computer, backup dive computer, compass, wet notes and maybe bottom timer. Wearing watch that only can count time with manual intervention isnt something I want or need underwater. Additionally, I am willing to bet 100 euro ;) - 90% people wearing 'divers' have no idea how to use it.

[@contaygious]

You are my man but this music loop stopped me from watching. That chime ong