Jeanrichard Geneve, Aquastar, ref. 1701, Dated, circa 1960

Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist

A Very Rare Jeanrichard Geneve Aquastar 60 Dive Watch with Handsome Black Dial, Dauphine Hands, and Date Aperture dated to c.1960 The JeanRichard Geneve AquaStar, sometimes known as the 'Aquastar 60’ , is an epic dive watch that was only produced for four years between 1958 and 1962. Despite its short production run, this unassuming watch achieved rather extraordinary feat... In 1960, it was worn by Don Walsh at the first-ever DeepSea Challenge descending to the Mariana Trench , the deepest part of the ocean on earth. The watch was designed by Frédéric Robert who was chief designer at JeanRichard, Genève, and later became chief of design and the genius behind Omega's major success with the Seamaster. What's On Offer A handsome watch with plenty of character, this Aquastar has been well preserved and remains in excellent, original condition. The black dial is blemish-free and boasts stylish silver Dauphine hands, a central seconds hand, an outer minute track, luminous oversized hour plots, and a subtle red date aperture at 3 o'clock. The JeanRichard signature and crest are still crisp, as is the Aquastar at 6 o'clock. The oversized hour plots with the triangle at 12 give this rare vintage dive watch a contemporary feel. The lume has aged to a charming, light sand colour. The 36mm stainless steel case , crown, and engraved bezel are very well preserved. There are light signs of wear, but nothing that takes away from its charm. It’s a vintage watch after all, and was quite possibly used for purpose at some point, strapped around the cuff of a wetsuit on a diving expedition. The caseback features a decorative engraving that advertises its most notable features: 100% waterproof, Incabloc (shock protection), antimagnetic, Swiss-made. Inside is the automatic AS 1581 calibre movement, which continues to run flawlessly and keeps good time. This is a fantastic piece that would be an affordable introduction to vintage watches for anyone. It’s also likely to increase in value due to its rarity, making it a very collectible potential investment piece.