Living la dolce vita acquatica with the HTD Aquatìc MkII
Time+TideLet’s say it together: “We love dive watches!” Oh yes, we do, and we cannot get enough of them! When thoughtfully designed, well-made and generously specced, dive watches make for the perfect everyday/all-occasion timekeeping device on account of their technical versatility and visual agility. And the more classically designed and proportioned they are, the better they are at those things. Even though we’ve seen dozens upon dozens of divers in the past so many decades, checking out new ones always feels like a little treat. So, it is with a high sense of delight that we’ll be taking a look at the HTD Watches Aquatìc MkII Bicchierini and SpaceBoy from the Florence-based independent watch brand.
The case
Before we begin, know that both versions of the HTD Aquatìc MkII are made of the same stuff and share the same case and bracelet. So what we have first of all is what’s becoming HTD’s signature flat and elongated case profile, the likes of which we’ve we’ve already encountered on the Tennis Sport and Hesagraph MkII Variante B, which looks and feels amazing on the wrist as it it is really slim and compact: 39.4mm in diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, 11.5mm thick, and a 20mm lug width.
Pair the 11.5mm height with 200 meters of water resistance (screw-down crown and case-back) and an ultra-domed sapphire crystal (with inner anti-reflective coating), and you can imagine how well designed and thought out the case is. It glues to the wrist like an Audi Quattro does to the road, and the long and angular lugs and alternation of brushed and polished surfaces create a commendable wrist presence.
In addition to its elongated profile and aggressive lugs, what perhaps best defines the case of the Aquatìc MkII is the design of its bezel. Not only is the thin bezel insert quite interesting to look at—it is made of glossy aluminum with silver printed markings and a fully graduated diver’s scale—but the bezel itself has an unusual design and profile, where the upper section is made of concave chamfers that showcase a matte brushed finish and a middle section that is fully polished and shaped like waves that frame the cut outs.
The alternation of polished and brushed surfaces on the bezel is quite spectacular and well done, as it is on the rest of the case, which confers an elegant and classic look. However, I must admit that turning the bezel underwater is not something these models excel at (I pool-tested them this summer.)
Therefore, and despite their professional-grade water resistance, the HTD Watches Aquatìc MkII Bicchierini and SpaceBoy are more about design than submersible activities, even though they are highly capable tool watches. (In other words, regardless of specs, the main attraction here is their intense classical and sporty visual character.)
The dials
What differentiates the Bicchierini from the SpaceBoy is how the dials were laid out, and more specifically, the hour markers and minute track. On the Bicchierini, we find one of the most classical diver’s layouts of all time with an inverted triangle at the twelve, batons at the three, six, and nine, and circular elements everywhere else. The markers are all applied and paired to short hash marks on the minute track connected to a thin white circle. Telling time is a beautiful set of polished pencil-style hour and minute hands and an arrow-shaped seconds hand.
On the SpaceBoy, all hour markers are printed and come with a more old-school cool look for the ones at the three, six, and nine are made of squeezed triangles inside of which squeezed numerals are printed in negative relief. This means that the positive is entirely made of luminescent compound (Super-LumiNova BGW9 on both models, actually) and therefore nighttime legibility is excellent. The minute track on the SpaceBoy is also different, as the minute hash marks are much taller and frame the inner negative space of the dial with more intensity.
This layout reminds me a lot of the Omega Seamaster 300 Professional, and therefore, the SpaceBoy is more vintage-looking than the Bicchierini, which has a more classic and timeless design.
The bracelet
Both HTD Watches Aquatìc MkII model variants are shipped on a stainless steel bracelet that also has a classic design: a three-link Oyster-style construction which showcases a predominance of brushed surfaces. The links are screwed together, the end links are of the male variety for extra comfort, and the clasp is a classic (getting tired of this adjective?) double-pusher deployant clasp with four drilled holes of micro-adjustment. The clasp, it should be noted, is thin and quite short.
The movement
For the Aquatìc MkII Bicchierini and SpaceBoy, HTD Watches opted for the Japanese-made Miyota 9039, which beats at 4Hz and comes with 41 hours of power reserve. The 9039 is now a proven workhorse of mechanical horology and is seen more and more often, alongside its date siblings, on many models from upcoming and well-established micro and independent brands. It works well, runs well out of the box, and is easily serviceable by any competent watchmaker.
HTD Aquatìc MkII pricing and availability
The HTD Watches Aquatìc MkII Bicchierini and SpaceBoy are available now on the brand’s website. Price: €796.72, A$1,422.93 (depending on currency fluctuations)
| Brand | HTD Watches |
| Model | Aquatìc MkII |
| Case Dimensions | 39.4mm (D) x 11.5mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel, aluminium bezel insert |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | Black |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Oyster-style stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp |
| Movement | Miyota 9039, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, unidirectional diving bezel |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | €796.72 A$1,422.93 |
Made in partnership with HTD. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.