Junghans Goes All-In on Its First True Dive Watch with This 500m Aquaris

Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks after all. Junghans, one of the oldest watchmakers in the world, has just recently debuted what it’s calling its first-ever dive watch collection. And while that’s not technically true (there were some half-hearted efforts in the ’70s and ’80s), the new Aquaris Diver is effectively the brand’s first “true” diver, and it’s quite the beast.

A Long Time Coming

Junghans has been operating out of Schramberg, Germany since 1861, and has spent most of its existence being better known for its Bauhaus-inspired Meister line and its radio-controlled Mega watches than anything you’d wear underwater. The brand did flirt with dive-adjacent territory in the ’70s with some quartz-powered models, and again in the ’80s and ’90s with military-style sport watches that had rotating bezels and modest water resistance, but none of these were ever certified divers in any meaningful sense. They were closer to lifestyle pieces wearing dive-watch clothes. The Aquaris finally closes that gap for real.

Built Like a Tank

The Aquaris Diver is not subtle. At 46.9mm wide and 14.5mm thick, this is a big watch with a cushion-shaped stainless steel case, satin brushed with polished accents, and a prominent central crown guard flanked by two screwed crowns at 2 and 4 o’clock. The top crown controls the inner rotating bezel (counterclockwise only, as it should be), while the lower crown handles winding and time-setting. At the risk of burying the lede, the timepiece boasts 500m of water resistance, which puts it well beyond what most divers will ever need, but also slots it firmly into the tool watch category.

Inside is the Junghans Caliber J830, a customized automatic movement with a 48-hour power reserve and soft iron magnetic shielding. Junghans’ own specialists added a proprietary gear bridge, a custom rotor, and a modified balance cock, so while the base architecture has Seiko roots, this isn’t a straight off-the-shelf movement by any means. It’s hidden behind a screw-down caseback embossed with a school of fish in polished relief, which is a nice touch.

The Details That Count

Under the domed sapphire crystal with dual-sided AR coating, the Diver variants come with dials in matte dark grey that feature oversized arrow-shaped minute hands. Meanwhile, the lifestyle-forward red and blue sunray options have straighter stick hands. Either way, the hands and applied indices are all loaded with Super-LumiNova X1 Grade Green, which is about as bright as lume gets. The first 15 minutes of the bezel are marked in either green or orange for the gray models (matching the accent on the arrowhead of the minute hand). The red and blue models feature monochrome bezels.

Lastly, the three-link steel bracelet ships with two separate extension options: a standard fold extension for wearing over a wetsuit, plus Junghans’ own click adjustment that can be operated with the clasp closed. Both the bracelet and the included rubber strap use quick-release spring bars for easy swaps.

Perhaps down the road we’ll get something a bit more everyday-friendly in size and capability. Nevertheless, the Aquaris Diver is a confident first go for Junghans.

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

The Aquaris Diver is priced at €2,790 (~$3,240) and is set to arrive in May 2026. It’s offered in two colorways, green accent and orange accent, and comes standard with both a steel bracelet and a rubber strap. The more lifestyle-oriented Aquaris Red and Blue are also available at €2,690 each.

Recap

Junghans Aquaris Diver

Junghans just dropped its first real dive watch — the Aquaris Diver — a 46.9mm beast with 500m water resistance and a custom automatic movement that proves the 160-year-old German brand was well worth the wait. It’s a serious tool watch with thoughtful details throughout, though the size will be a dealbreaker for some.

Learn More: Junghans