Aquastar 1983 – 2019

 

 

Aquastar_logo

 

In 1983 the Aquastar company is sold by the Eren Group to the brothers Gaston and Marc Seinet, and the companies name changed to Aquastar Instruments SA, again located in Geneva, Switzerland. At first they continued to sell the Regate with the Lemania 1345 movement for a number of years.

The Regate Newport was the last regatta yachttimer watch with a mechanical movement Aquastar produced in the 1980´s. In 2006 Aquastar Instruments introduces on their website a new regatta watch with the popular caliber ISA 8270 quartz movement, the Regate Match Racing series. With the internet now popular, the watches are available through their webshop and their marketing concept is solely based on internet.

 

Aquastar_RT8000Aquastar_RT8005Aquastar_RT8070Aquastar_RT8075

Aquastar Regatta Timer, RT 8000, 8005, 8070 and 8075.

 

Model: Aquastar Regate Match Racing.
  • Reference: RT 8000 with steel-grey dial and navy-blue leather strap.
  •                   RT 8005 with steel-grey dial and blue PU-rubber strap.
  •                   RT 8070 with black dial and black leather strap.
  •                   RT 8075 with black dial and black PU-rubber strap.
  • Caliber: ISA 8270 quartz regatta movement.
  • Case size: Ø 41 mm.
  • Year: since 2006.

 

The watches are named Regatta Timer on the website, but on the dial is says ‘Regate Match Racing’. Over the last decade the reference numbers have changed a little, and today only the models RT 8070 and RT 8075 are presented in the Aquastar webshop.

You can download a PDF version of the user manual here, and read how the countdown function works.

 

Aquastar_RegateTimer

Prototype of the Aquastar Regate Timer, with alarm function.

 

The Aquastar Regatta Timer was first presented as ´Regate Olympic Start Alarm´ with an alarm function, the date window at 6 o’clock and with a steel bracelet. This however was a prototype, and never produced as such. The watch is only sold as in the above pictures.

 

x – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – x

 

In 2008 Aquastar again launches a new quartz regatta model, the Match Race II . Although with a big LCD dial, it has the 5 balls for the countdown system back in function!

 

Aquastar_LCDdial

Aquastar Match Race II with a big LCD dial and the 5-dot countdown system.

 

Aquastar_MatchRaceII_MR8000Aquastar_MatchRaceII_MR8005Aquastar_MatchRaceII_MR8010Aquastar_MatchRaceII_MR8015

Aquastar Match Race II, MR 8000, 8005, 8010 and 8015.

 

Model: Aquastar Match Race II.
  • Reference: MR 8000 with a navy-blue leather strap.
  •                   MR 8005 with an orange leather strap.
  •                   MR 8010 with a black PU-rubber strap.
  •                   MR 8015 with a dark blue nylon strap with Velcro clasp system.
  • Caliber: Aquastar LCD 9000 quartz movement.
  • Case size: Ø 42,6 mm / H 11,7 mm.
  • Year: since 2008. the model MR 8015 was added in 2010.

 

At first all four models in the Match Race II  series had a 90xx reference. But with the introduction of the Match Race III models, with the same Aquastar LCD 9000 quartz movement, they were renumbered with a 80xx reference.

You can download a PDF version of the user manual here, and read how the countdown function works.

 

Variations:

The start/stop pusher at 2 o’clock is shown either as a screwed-pusher or with a side protection:

Aquastar_pusher1Aquastar_pusher2

On request the Match Race II  is available with a special engraved case-back:

Aquastar_caseback

 

x – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – x

 

In 2010 Aquastar introduced the Match Race III  models with the same LCD 9000 quartz movement, but with a slightly bigger case. The only difference is that whereas the Match Race II  models only had the start/stop pusher protected, the new Match Race III  models have all 4 pushers protected. And therefor a slightly bigger case of 45,8 instead of 42,6 mm. The existing Match Race II  series is renamed into the MR 8000 models, and the new Match Race III  series get the MR 9000 reference instead.

 

Aquastar_MatchRaceIII_MR9000Aquastar_MatchRaceIII_MR9005Aquastar_MatchRaceIII_MR9010Aquastar_MatchRaceIII_MR9015

Aquastar Match Race III, MR 9000, 9005, 9010 and 9015.

 

Model: Aquastar Match Race III.
  • Reference: MR 9000 with a navy-blue leather strap.
  •                   MR 9005 with a yellow PU-rubber strap.
  •                   MR 9010 with a black PU-rubber strap.
  •                   MR 9015 with a dark blue nylon strap with Velcro clasp system.
  • Caliber: Aquastar LCD 9000 quartz movement.
  • Case size: Ø 45,8 mm.
  • Year: since 2010.

 

Aquastar_instructions

Simplified user manual for both models MR II & MR III.

 

In 2014 Gaston Seinet informes me that studies are being made for the re-launche of an Aquastar Yachttimer with an automatic movement. That would of course be great news, but sofar this didn’t happen.

Around 2018 the company ceases all activities.

 

Source:
  • Many thanks to Gaston Seinet of Aquastar Instruments SA for answering my e-mails and your given information.
  • http://www.aquastar.ch