Great review, Bruce. Glad you finally got to do the review on the Helmsman 2. I'm glad to see you have a video on the Helmsman 2. I haven't seen much as most people are reviewing the chunkier Hammerhead, Abyss 2, and Mako. I've only seen maybe 1 or two other reviews on this watch. I plan to make one myself after about another month or two of wearing it with some pool activities to give some the idea of what to expect once that patina really starts to develop. As such, I am still very surprised the Helmsman 2 has mostly been ignored. And, most people are so focused on the Mako these days... I think possibly made too big a deal that it is a 40mm diver, which I may indirectly address in the Helmsman 2 below in the comments. This self-proclaimed flagship model should have been given more review time, imho. To me, it is by far the best executed Zelos diver of the lot with the details and finishing and proportions. I agree on all your points. The value, especially if you could get them at the earlier pre-order price or with discounts such as the one you have here, is very good. Even at current price, for all you get, it's pretty darn good. It has a lot of mixed finishing that is very well done. The level of detail put into the dial work and everything around it is quite high. Definitely, the dimensions on paper are deceptive, much like Seiko's. My experience is the watch wears smaller about 2mm in all directions. The case is 42mm, but because the bezel actually measures more like a 40mm, and the dial itself doesn't spread out totally to the edge of the crystal, it visually looks more compact and smaller than most may think. Even next to your 40mm Rolex it visually looks about the same if not smaller. And, the height or thickness doesn't even really come into play.. wears very much how a lot of Seiko divers might wear. It feels, to me, to wear and look like a 40mm watch. Thus, technically, not Zelos's only 40mm watch when worn and in practice. Your notes about the downs? Yes, you have to nitpick any potential negatives because the watch overall is pretty darn good. The movement isn't a big deal, to me. The NH35 movement is solid and mine has been running well within COSC at about + or - 2 seconds per day on average usage. Swiss ETA movements are overrated. Rather, NH35 and general Japanese are underrated. They can and have been just as good as any Swiss ETA (and their clones) I've ever used. And, if they are out of the box, they can be regulated fairly easily to be as good if not better in some cases. As some of us know, even a microbrand with Swiss ETA movement is hard enough pill to swallow once it starts to reach and cross a certain price threshold... people start to argue they wouldn't pay that much for a microbrand even though it has a very nice ETA movement. It's a lot of hypocritical BS and excuses to not consider a watch because it's either a microbrand and/or it's movement. How many Swiss brands do some pay $1000's more for have just an ETA or Sellita movement? Anyways.. My point is for the cost you can get a Zelos for, the NH35 is a solid movement for well under $1000 and within reason that most, currently, are willing to pay for a microbrand. I would say the crowns could are just a bit on the small side. It be better had their maybe been more grip on them as well as the fine lines around them do not offer a lot of grip. I can appreciate the meteorite dial option, but I personally enjoy the radiant dark blue dial for my Helmsman 2 in bronze. For me, it is a little too much texture and makes the dial look too busy for my taste. Additionally, I have owned a meteorite dial watch before so it is not such a big deal to have to own one again. In fact, it had a Gibeon meteorite dial, too. Interesting you say the Gibeon meteorite dial was or is illegal to export. I used to own a watch that had one and was sold within the United States. This brand used to make several watches using Gibeon meteorite dial, actually. I wonder if it's a recent thing that it is illegal? Anyways... Is the rubber (i think it's maybe polyurethane or a mix?) strap really dark green? It looks mostly black, but having taken it out recently and on more occassions, to me, it looks more like a dark gray.. Eh, doesn't matter, maybe one of us color blind in one way or another. lol. It's still a decent strap option and actually comfortable. Pliable enough and the isofrane style with the vents definitely allows the wrist to breathe if used in water or just on land and it's hot as hell like it has been for me at +100 degree F weather. And, I've said it in other Zelos reviews, and I'll say it again. I REALLY wish they would include the matching hardware for the extra straps included. it is a minor inconvenience to have to swap buckles and spring bars, but an inconvenience none the less. It just feels like the overall package was cheapened or went frugal when it came to the extra straps. How much more could it cost to include the buckle on the extra strap AND spring bars?! I've owned several watches before that have included extra straps to change and they have all included the required buckle and spring bars. That's why I was really surprised and disappointed they were not included in the Zelos package and you have to provide your own and/or buy the matching buckle and/or spring bars. Had Zelos included these things, the overall package would be A+ for sure, but as is, It's maybe a B+ to A-.

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

Agree Tony, great comment I'm pinning. Looking froward to your video man!

Another great watch I've had my eye on for a while now. Excellent review, nice close up shots showing it off

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed Peter

Great video, and the watch looks amazing. Hope to check more from Zelos.

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

I will send it to you to check out too. Put it in Lake Michigan for me. Need some patina

Very nice review and VERY nice macro shots. What a great subject to capture too! Stumbled across this channel due to the Helmsman and you now have a new subscriber. Well done.

I love this particular colourway so much! I hope one comes up for sale one day. This and the ZX6 from around the same time are just amazing.

Love you macro shots. Nice review too!

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks bro!

That dial is crazy!!!!!

Beautiful watch

Great in-depth review. The watch seems done well from the mixture of brushed and polished finishing, double domed crystal, meteorite dial, etc.... The lume shot on this watch is excellent. Zelos even lumed their logo on the crowns.

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

Funny how something non functional like a lumed crown is so nice to have

They're all incredibly bold. And I now want them... all... Love the craftsmanship though, pushing boundaries and using odd materials/techniques is something we like! Best, IC

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks IC, there hasn't been a release from the brand that I didn't think was cool

Another great video!Keep it up,Bruce!

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Thanks for the discount code Bruce, just about to purchase one thanks for your brilliant review...in fact I will probably purchase a few different models.

Not normally my kind of watch but this one is a beauty

The rubber strap colour is not consistent. I've seen straps that are dark-green tinted, while others are black. Mine is mostly black. I doubt it was intentional tbh. But no complaints here, am really happy with the watch and straps that I got 😊

Can't seem find that exact model on their website...? You have a link?

I want this but it's just too far out of my price range after pre-ordering an szsc005. I could cancel the pre-order but still I think I would regret it. Do you have a discount code for the zelos hammerhead 1000?

Great review Bruce. Would love to see you review a Helson Shark Diver in the near future. Keep up the great work.

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

That would be awesome, they look great

@rerami30

6 жыл бұрын

Bruce Williams they sure do. I am looking in to getting one in 40mm.

Nice review - I have a Mako Bronzo with the Meteorite Dial and it is truly wonderful to have an mineral on the wrist that is older than the earth :).

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

It is really cool when you think about its origins

Gorgeous watch. A diver that doesn't look like the rest with all the function. I can tell you really like this one, as do I.

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

I haven't been this excited about a watch since I got the GMT Master. It checks all the boxes

Was the actual price of the watch mentioned in the video? I didn't know if I missed it while I was looking at the watch?

I own many luxury brands. I am more than impressed with this Zelos.

Great review Bruce. Man this is one cool looking watch. Imo best looking micro brand watch in current market

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

I would have to agree with that Jay

Love it,

Is that actual bronze, or bronze plated? Also forgive me if I missed it, but is it sapphire crystal?

Interesting piece. Though the dive time bezel seems to be unusable for diving. Unscrewing the crown when wet (like in the water before your descent) would presumably defeat the water resistance. So in contrast to what Zelos' website says "The Helmsman 2 was designed to be a diver's watch", this is not a usable dive watch. Of course that will not matter to many wearers.

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

True, internal rings are meant to be operated on the boat or shore before going in the water. Love the idea though, I think it was JLC or Longines that first did it

Hi Bruce, do you know if the discount is applicable to the rest of the line?

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

I think so, give it a try!

@tailsneon556

6 жыл бұрын

I just tried on a Mako 500m diver. Nope

Nice! Have you ever seen the watches from Helm? They've been on my radar.

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

I haven't heard of them but will def check them out, thanks!

Zelos is one of the most unique micro watch brands around. They have their own distinctive styles and aesthetic designs on all of their watches which sets apart from most of run of the mill new micro brands. what I would love to see is that they can come up with some sort of high grade & "modified to their specs" movements for their watches, inviting us to enjoy something remarkable and unique "movement" to compliment their idiosyncratic & special designs.

Nice review! Quite nice looking watch. Just bad they used a low level Seiko movement.

@poshrek7482

6 жыл бұрын

Jean-Marc Brechbühler I totally agree. It’s at least $200 overpriced.

das nice 😛

Coooooooool!

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

Seriously cool

Wowowowowowow

Holy smokes is that one sexy watch! 😍 But man o man is that charging a lot for a Seiko NH35A movement! 😩 For that price, I can get the Swiss ETA 2824-2 Movement 🤔 I gotta admit however, the design is fantastic & beautiful 😍

I wanted it by 3:00, had to have it by 5:00 --- $150??? Wow!

@1okanaganguy

6 жыл бұрын

Bruce 150 went stale, tho...dang.

@hilaryho2362

6 жыл бұрын

hmm? have you tried BRUCE150, though?

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

I know right!

@DMBVR4

6 жыл бұрын

Bruce Williams I actually had an order filled out on this exact reference in January.... but I backed out because I couldn't decide between Bronze or Steel 😟

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

If they offered it on bracelet, I would probably pick up a steel blue dial as well. Love releases like this

Beautiful watch. Way too expensive for an NH35. $849 for the meteorite version. $649 for the regular dial. For those price tags you can already shop around for Swiss made or watches with Swiss movement with heritage. The $150 discount is very generous. But it only makes me feel cheated. If they can hand out that much for discounts and still make profit? Then how much are they making off with at regular price?

@BruceWilliams

5 жыл бұрын

I would hope like any self respecting business they are making double what it costs to produce

Pants!

Con này đẹp nhưng lúm to quá

The dial seems too shiny :/

NH35 movement... again and again

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

My last Zelos was a SW200. Nothing wrong with a good NH35

@sadaka201

6 жыл бұрын

Bruce Williams had 2 watches with NH35. Both crap!

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

I've had probably 20 NH or 4Rs. I have had issues with 2 of them, both times it was a QC issue from the factory. I wouldn't say the movement is crap, as when it is executed properly from the factory they do well

Poor watch!

What are you talking about? How do you not see this is a mishmash of materials, shapes, and design with no cohesion? It's unreadable. It's HUGE. This watch doesn't match the words that come out of your mouth. Name another watch that's with such disproportionate elements that aim for unreadableness. It's an unusable super compressor in bronze with a meteorite dial, gigantic hands, and an awkard inner chapter ring that serves no purpose. "Not done in an outlandish and in your face way"? Come on dude. Just say what it is.

@BruceWilliams

6 жыл бұрын

lol no way man your the one who makes no sense. I guess it goes to show that design preference is purely subjective.

@roadracerqx893

5 жыл бұрын

Wow AP.....what an old fart, with no imagination or style. Guess it’s monochromatic, plain dials with dot indices for you. Enjoy.