2015 Aquadive Bathysphere 500 Fleurier Twin Barrel
Ref: 5001.14.VMF.5112

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with its original Aquadive card and CD. The watch comes paired on its original ISOframe rubber strap with a signed buckle. The watch is from January 2015 and is sold in worn condition, but overall very fair as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Month Warranty.

The Watch

Aquadive was founded in the 1960s at the height of sports diving. Their watches were sold next to the dive suits and proved popular and were also worn by Mercury astronaut and US Navy SEALAB aquanaut, Scott Carpenter. In 1970 they introduced the Time-Depth “Model 50” at 47mm, 20mm thick it was a huge watch of its day and still would be today! An Oil-filled depth gauge was incorporated and a Dynatron electronic movement was used which was cutting edge at that time. Sadly during the 1970s and 80’s “quartz revolution”, the brand closed down. But in 2011 Rick Marei an avid dive watch collector revived the brand. They are now part of the SYNCHRON Group which also owns ISOfrane and Tropic strap brands.

Here we have a 2015 Aquadive Bathysphere 500 with a 43mm Tonneau-shaped stainless steel case made in Germany and based on their 1970 “Model 50” design. Its chamfered edges are polished with brushed sides. A lug to lug length of 49mm and a case thickness of 12mm gives the watch an impressive wrist presence. On the right side is a signed screw-down crown. The stainless steel bezel has deep knurling for extra grip and a black dive insert with white printed numerals. A slightly domed sapphire crystal is AR coated sitting above a black dial. An outer minute track has baton indexes coated in 8 layers of C3 SuperLumiNova marking the hours. At 3 o’clock a date window. Slender sword hands are complemented by a sub-second register at 6 o'clock with an orange hand. Text at 12 o’clock with the Aquadive motif, Bathysphere 500. 500m/1500ft. On the reverse, a screw-down exhibition case back with sapphire crystal. Inside a collaboration movement made by Vaucher/Parmigiani Twin Barrel, This high-end Swiss movement has twin barrels to give it its steady chronometric rate of 28,800 Beats per hour. The movement has been expertly finished with circular graining, rhodium-plated Bridges with Geneva Waves, and diamond machined chamfers and bevels. The watch comes fitted on its original 22mm vanilla-scented ISOfrane rubber dive strap and comes with its Aquadive card and CD.

Personal Note

I have been fortunate enough to have seen a few of the Aquadive models on the wrists of collectors, but this is the first one we have had in stock and the first one of the more elusive models featuring the incredible movement which truly makes this stand out! If you are in the market for a unique dive watch and something that very few others will own, this is the watch to come in and try on for yourself and fall in love with!