Hot Take: The Aquastar Model 60 Greenwich Edition
Last year, Aquastar released a modern interpretation of one of its earliest watches, the Model 60. The no-nonsense black dial paired with a utile skin-diver case made it an instant hit. Now a new dial color joins the fray. The limited-production Greenwich Edition has a dark green dial that works well with the design.
It took nine months, but Aquastar is back with a second dial color for its popular Model 60. It’s a familiar move from the brand and a name consistent with past releases of modern Aquastar models. The Greenwich Edition features a dark green dial and “Old Radium” Super-LumiNova. The idea is simple enough, yet it brings a decidedly different look to an otherwise straightforward design.
The Aquastar Model 60
I had the chance to review the original Aquastar Model 60 last May when it debuted. The 37mm × 47mm diver was a real hit on my wrist — not a surprise considering its identical footprint to the earlier Deepstar II. It turns out that the watch was popular with others too as the response was overwhelmingly positive. I also like that the Model 60 in its black guise is a serial-production piece, so it’s always available. Today’s Greenwich Edition won’t be around for long, but I’m okay with a sprinkling of these limited efforts.
The Greenwich Edition
The Aquastar Model Greenwich Edition features a dark green sunburst dial. The aged Super-LumiNova carries over from the regular black edition, but the indices now have metal surrounds. I think the color combination complements the dial color well. The watch keeps the same 37mm diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, and 11mm thickness. That last number includes the domed sapphire crystal with a triple coating of antireflective material. There’s also a bidirectional 120-click dive bezel with a luminous marker at 12 o’clock. A signed, screw-down crown and the distinctively shaped screw-in case back help achieve water resistance to 200 meters.
Using the ETA 2824-2
Inside, Aquastar has managed to source original Elaboré-grade ETA 2824-2 automatic movements. This differs from the black model, which uses a La Joux-Perret G100. While these have a lower power reserve of just 38 hours, ETA movements are becoming a novelty in new releases from brands outside the Swatch Group.
Just 100 pieces
Aquastar will offer the Model 60 Greenwich Edition on its beads-of-rice bracelet. A dark green seatbelt-style one-piece nylon strap is included in the package. Dark green 19mm Tropic straps will be available separately. Overall, adding this color is a no-brainer, and I expect that fans of the brand have been waiting for this release. As I stated, I think the green infuses this model with even more depth and character than the original black edition. It’s a nice release indeed. Unfortunately, just 100 will be produced. The pre-order price is US$990 and will ultimately rise to $1,390. I think that’s quite fair considering the specifications and laudable build quality. The Model 60 Greenwich Edition is available for pre-order on the official Aquastar site and will begin shipping at the end of May 2024.