Circula AquaSport Old Radium
Shortly after I became interested in micro brands I noticed the German brand Circula and their AquaSport 2 Skindiver. The design and case shape appealed to me immediately but the used colors weren’t really my thing. Just too much orange. I regularly visited their website and was looking out for a now color-scheme that they would hopefully release but all I saw was a rising price.
They did release a new color eventually but it was again not what I was looking for. But than I started to look for their previous model, the AquaSport with a STP 1-11 ETA 2824-2 clone. It was released 2-3 years ago and there were two blue dial variants available. One with white markers, surrounded by a yellowish frame, and another one called old radium with yellow markers.
The vintage case shape combined with the shiny blue dial and old radium hour markers were the perfect design combination for me. So the hunt could begin. I found two offers on Chrono24 but the prices for a slightly used were 100-200€ higher than the retail price. Not really what I wanted to pay. But I kept them on my list and waited.
A couple of months later one of them, that was offered by a German dealer, began to fall in price.
I kept looking regularly and finally sent him in offer last week, which he declined. But a few days later he sent me an offer that was still working for me and I accepted.
Two very long days later I finally received it and the wait was rewarded. It is very comfortable to wear and the size is perfect.
@circula Thank you 😉
Designer | Engineer | Enthusiast Reentered the rabbit hole after not wearing a wrist watch for almost 10 years. Now i have to make up for the lost time.
Nice watch, my kinda colour and style
Well done 👏🏻👏🏻
Nice watch, my kinda colour and style
Well done 👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you!
Love the case back
I think the micro brands do vintage better than nearly every heritage brand. Nice looking watch 👍
using “old radium” in the name of any watch color is a bold marketing choice for sure lol
Very nice! I'm sure you know but Cornelius is on the forum @circula
I think the micro brands do vintage better than nearly every heritage brand. Nice looking watch 👍
You‘re absolutely right. I guess the „old“ brands don‘t want to risk anything.
using “old radium” in the name of any watch color is a bold marketing choice for sure lol
I had to check twice if it‘s really old
You‘re absolutely right. I guess the „old“ brands don‘t want to risk anything.
There’s also the thing of how to approach it. Using the Ranger for example, once could go about it in a 3 ways (i could think of). * 1.) you do a faithful reissue in larger or original-ish sizing like Tudor has done. * 2.) you do a modern take on it that makes it look fancy, like San Martin did in their sort of real-homage to it. They gave it an Explorer-esque update * 3.) You do a modern take on it that is true to the original spirit of the watch, like imo Dryden did very well.
Thank you for sharing your excitement about the AquaSport and congratulations on the new watch!
The AquaSport is actually a modern interpretation of a Circula skin diver of the 70s, made by my dad back then.