On the Wrist, from off the Cuff: Mid-Size Swiss Skin Diver Battle, Aquastar Model 60 vs Super Squale

longislandwatc...
longislandwatc...
• Closing thoughts:
o While at right about $1,000, neither of these watches are what I’d consider cheap, they don’t feel cheap either and are still quite affordable considering the combination of brand heritage and model reissue significance. They each have their pros and cons, so which would you choose?

[@canadianwatchmonkey3992]

I like the looks of the Squale over the Aquastar. The bezel is done nicer in my opinion.

[@ericmittens]

I wanted a skindiver and these two, along with the vulcain nautique, were my choices. I ended up going with this super squale and I'm very happy with it.

[@greggusan]

Both are nice but I prefer the look of the Aquastar - the finish on the bezel is very nice. Also prefer its 20mm lug width, and crystal. On the other hand, I wish it did have female end links and no date. I feel aged lume looks better without a white date wheel. Good review!

[@jackbenvent4515]

I just purchased the Aquastar Model 60 from Marc/LIW during Black Friday/Cyber Monday -- and I definitely spent time on the LIW website trying to make this exact comparison between these two watches when I made my purchase. (I also was considering another great retro skindiver on LIW -- the classic Zodiac SuperSea Wolf). One thing you need to know -- you have the ASM60 lug width incorrect! It is 19mm ...NOT 20mm. Trust me -- I have been looking on line for new nato straps all week. This aside, I agree with your assessment -- the ASM60 looks great, is solidly built and a great value for the price -- definitely a good bang for buck. I purchased it to be a summer time seaside watch but it may become my daily driver -- it looks that good and is so easy to wear every day with that case size/design. I was a little hesitant to buy a brand I had never seen in person, and honestly it took me a few days to warm up to it. For me it's all about finding the right strap for it and as nice as the Beads of Rice bracelet is, I felt it needed to be more casual. Finally, and I have no skin in the game when I write this, but I have to say Marc@LIW was a great retailer to purchase from. I have to say I like the AS, and LIW, so much I am already saving up for the AS Deepstar 2 -- that would look dynamite on the BOR bracelet. Thanks Mark -- and go to the AS website -- you will see my dimensions are correct -- 19mm. Thought your viewers should know.

[@johnk9891]

Have a look at the Strap Habit Smooth FKM strap in 19mm. I think it goes great with my Model 60!

[@kevinong1306]

Yes, I noticed a few YT folks listing the lug width as 20mm, when Aquastar’s website specifies 19mm. I, too, am bouncing between the Aquastar Model 60, the Squale, and the Zodiac ZO9215… 🤔

[@shawnsapp1000]

Aquastar for me. I wanted to say the Squale but 18mm is a no go for me. Also the Aquastar seems to have the better build quality.

[@ryanstafford8544]

Love the steel bezel look.

[@gregalonzo747]

Squale is a favorite brand of mine.

[@A_Dude_And_His_Watch78]

Aqua Star for sure.

[@kevinong1306]

Both look to be great watches, but I like the Aquastar overall more. That said, I do prefer the bezel of the Squale; I just like the font and sloped angle, which seems to catch the light better. Thanks for the comparative review, Mark!

[@tozzifan]

Squale fan here, of the two I prefer the Aquastar. The Squale dial sunray is lovely, but don't like the bigger seconds lollipop and the short hours hand. The milky ring kills it for me. Still, the Squale 1521 is high on my wish list.

[@malzahar33]

The squale attracts me more, applied inficie, rectangular 12hr indice, but since my seiko spb297, 70hrs of PR is my new standard. And no date on the squale so If I go, I would go for the aqua star.

[@DookeyRidr]

Rick Marei-despite some critics-definitely knows watches, and knows what watch buyers want. And bravo to him for resurrecting Aquastar & Synchron, and doing it right. I’d buy the Aquastar simply for the La Joux-Perret G100 movement, much better than anything ETA and Sellita have to offer.

[@ProperCh]

Ive experienced the two on person. The buggest thing for me is the Squales crown is disproportionately tiny. Aquastar is more of a true skindiver blocky case. The squale is a hit like the Sub39 but shrunken down. Both are pretty good but overall I like the softer less blocky look of the Squale.

[@martinkaplan1805]

I’m liking the aquastar more. Cleaner design, like the bidirectional bezel. Great comparison. I continue to really appreciate your thorough reviews…just the kind of information that gives me a good feeling for the watches you’re critiquing. Thanks!

[@piotrszmidel]

Aquastar no doubt

[@ragnarone5409]

The milky ring distroys the Squale.

[@elessar2665]

Aquastar 👊👊👊

[@lloydkerr]

I have them both!

[@GaryGiffin]

Aquastar for the win here and the vintage vibe they brought back!

[@brinx8634]

Aquastar!

[@twstrchasr]

I was leaning towards the squale but the 18mm lug width may have ruined it for me

[@mothas23]

I actually just removed the squale from my shopping cart at Marc's because I'm now completely conflicted and will postpone the purchase, probably not what he had in mind. 😅

[@thegorn]

I'd choose aquastar, because Squale gives me TGV vibes

[@AverageBros]

I'm actually a big fan of TGV, as his channel has provided a ton of inspiration over the years.

[@flow2tech]

​@@AverageBrosagreed.. hes an og..one of the first channels i subbed to

[@Chef_Alpo]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of his brand or the reverse-snob snobbery clique that his fans tended to have when I used to watch his content. Somehow they could hate on Rolex while ignoring the fact it was taking over TGV's collection?

[@BillSmith1]

I ordered the Super Squale Sunray over the Model 60, for the following reasons, 1) I collect Squale, love the brand, love their history and had great experiences with their watches, 2) The Aquastar Model 60 is a really cool watch, don't get me wrong, I pondered over these two for a while along with the Vulcain Nautique, in the end Squale won out because of price, and more importanly, ease of service, same with the Nautique. Any decent watchmaker can work on an Eta 2824 or Selita SW200 with their eyes closed all day, every day. The Model 60 has a very new movement. Great spec, but will indie watchmakers have the same comfort level to work on it?

[@luispinheiro7264]

Aquastar 🙌🏻

[@lancehunter3821]

Thanks for another awesome comparison review, Mark! After seeing this I'm leaning more towards the Aquastar which I've been considering getting. That said, would it be possible for you to review the 38mm Certina DS Action Diver Titanium? It's that one or the Aquastar I'm considering. I've seen other reviews on the Certina, but nobody reviews watches as well as you do, especially with the light transitions! Thanks in advance.

[@AverageBros]

Thanks for the continued support, as for the Certina, I ended up going with the larger 43mm version, as I felt it was the better package over the 38mm variations.

[@lancehunter3821]

@@AverageBros Thanks for the quick response. I know you reviewed the 43mm stainless steel version (in blue) which is way too big for my wrist. Any chance you can review the 38mm titanium version, if you get a hold of one? It's entirely different from the SS versions (metal and bezel colors) and the blue dial markers are really unique. Thanks again.

[@AverageBros]

@@lancehunter3821 sorry, I don't have any connections with Certina and only have featured ones I've purchased and I don't plan to purchase the 38mm.

[@lancehunter3821]

@@AverageBros Ok, thanks for the response Mark. Appreciate your honesty! Keep up the great videos.

[@steves8322]

100% Aquastar..the Milky Way around squal-aaaaa dial is a deal breaker for me…I purchased the model 60 and the deepstar and the case finishing and dial quality is excellent. My only gripes with the model 60 is crown operation can be very finicky and there is some serious rotor wobble but both certainly acceptable in this price bracket.

[@nikolaikrustev1159]

Never mind the generic watch with the silly logo(s), I'd pick the Aquastar over the much more expensive Seiko 62MAS reissue.

[@SmurfPerfect]

Aquastar >>>>>> Squealy

[@Bazo_watches]

I would have prefered ‘Geneve’ stamp than ‘Suisse’ on the dial

[@lloydkerr]

Oh man I actually have them both! What can you do? Love em!

[@AntonioMiccoliDj]

Aquastar for me...👌

[@d.kashani]

aquastar>

[@rosaliaaurino4266]

Squale più professional ghiera squale winner

[@pedromanuellopez142]

Dude, do something about the focus.

[@michaelsigman8942]

I think it’s pronounced ‘squal-ay’ ?

[@AverageBros]

It's not, it's the French pronunciation, the Italian pronunciation was popularized on KZbin but the French pronunciation is the technically correct one.

[@michaelsigman8942]

Oh interesting my bad!

[@AverageBros]

@@michaelsigman8942 it's fine, the Italian pronunciation has become acceptable at this point, just not the historically accurate way.

[@michaelsigman8942]

Maybe but I’m going with the French, since wiki and you taught me it was named after a French word! Seems straightforward.

[@tozzifan]

Fun fact, the Geneve born Squale company is currently owned by an Italian (milanese) family... I'll leave with you to sort it out - I'm Italian and switch constantly between the two pronunciations 😅

[@timmanion7459]

Bro ,learn how to pronounce Squale' !!!

[@AverageBros]

French pronunciation is correct as skwal

[@timmanion7459]

​@@AverageBrosn Ubuntu Gentry was at the Squale shop touring with the actual owner , he pronounced it Squale'. Just going by him and Urabn Gentry. I'm pretty sure they got it right bro .

[@AverageBros]

@@timmanion7459 no, you're just doing an impression of an Italian guy's accent.

[@hugejohnson5011]

Seeing as this is a Swiss Italian dialect for "shark", and standard Italian for shark is "lo squalo", "Squale" really is "Skwal-ay". At least that is how the company explains it.

[@AverageBros]

@@hugejohnson5011 Squale SA (French: [skwal]) is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1959 by Charles von Büren, specializing in professional diving watches.[1] Squale is owned by the Maggi Family, who had previously been distributors of von Büren/Squale watches in Italy. When founded it was named in French dialect. Them being owned by an Italian with an accent doesn't change the historical pronunciation.