Selling part of a friend's collection with my 100% backing. I am in possession of the watch and will handle the shipping; payment will go directly to him.

Up for sale is this genuine vintage Aquastar Benthos 500 automatic dive watch with unique elapsed time complication. This great vintage diver is 100% original and dates from the late 1960s/early 1970s. The Aquastar Benthos 500 has become an icon to vintage dive watch enthusiasts and this is a gorgeous example with navy blue dial, unpolished case and perfect blue-gray original bezel insert. Overall, the watch is in Excellent+ to Near Mint condition and is keeping great time with the orange minute counter hand activated by the pusher at "4" operating as it should.

The asking price for this exceptional example of Aquastar Benthos 500 is now majorly ON SALE for just $2325 USD OBRO including fully insured FedEx shipping worldwide. Bank Wire preferred but Paypal is OK on this transaction with +2% to the buyer. Payment must be made directly to my consignor in US DOLLARS. Watch will ship upon full clearance of the funds, as well as any necessary bank vetting.

CASE & BACK: Large 43mm wide (not including crown) x 46mm long x 14mm thick tonneau-shaped stainless steel case in Excellent+ vintage condition shows its original satin finish with only some minor scuffs and one knock to the non-crown side. This Benthos 500 is truly in exceptionally clean unpolished condition and most other examples I've seen are not even close. Screw in water-resistant caseback is also extremely clean -- Excellent+ condition with a crisp Aquastar logo and & reference/serial numbers and only minor swirlies. There is no internal nomenclature on the inner back and it shows no corrosion.

DIAL & HANDS: Near Mint condition original matte navy blue dial with applied Tritium luminous-filled markers that have acquired a handsome biscuity patina and are still mildly light reactive. Original hour and minute hands, as well as in the big triangle bright orange minute counter, are Excellent with just some small signs of age to the luminous and they will also glow briefly after light exposure. Unlike conventional chronographs, the white sweep seconds of the Benthos is constant and circles the dial whether the counter is activated or not.

CROWN & PUSHER: Original unsigned crown at "2" screws down and pulls out to the winding and non-hacking time-set positions as it should. The slightly recessed pusher at "4" starts the minute counter and snaps it back to "12" crisply

CRYSTAL: Original high-pressure mineral crystal is very clean and with only a hint of the typical clouding one so often sees--Near Mint to Mint.

BEZEL: Original thick ratcheting unidirectional rotating elapsed time bezel is exceptionally tight and clean with sharp, well defined knurling--easily Near Mint. The original fat font blue-gray & silver inlay is also super clean and without scratches, likewise Near Mint condition, and its sunken luminous "12" triangle is intact and has acquired a handsome patina.

MOVEMENT: A. Schild 17-jewel caliber 1902/03 full rotor automatic movement with unique pusher-activated added minute counter complication is running strong and all functions work as they should. Once the pusher is depressed the big orange hand begins its 60-minute journey around the dial and while it can be reset back to zero it will not stop counting until it has made it all the way back to "12". The watch was last serviced about 3 years ago and is working very well and that is guaranteed to be the case at the time of shipping.

STRAP: This Aquastar Benthos comes on a vintage blue genuine Tropic strap that compliments the dial beautifully and is in Near Mint condition. While the strap has 22mm ends the watch actually has a 20mm lug width. These genuine Tropic straps are great added value to any vintage diver.

I make NO guarantees for the water resistance of this watch in any way, shape or form. Have it tested if you want to use it as a diver or for any other aquatic activities.

This great Aquastar Benthos 500 is offered with a 3-day inspection period from the date of receipt and may be returned for a full refund (less any shipping costs incurred by the buyer). This refund is unconditional and once I get the watch back in exactly the same condition as it was sent to you, your money will be refunded. Of course, once the 3 days are over the sale will be considered FINAL.

Thanks for looking,
T.
tomvox1@hotmail.com