Happy Birthday Zelos! Helmsman 10th Anniversary Review

[@VulcanSpock]

I really like the look. It is stunning. Looks like a very versatile watch, both for the office and for casual-to-sporty occasions.

[@gatlinguts]

I absolutely love that dial. The color tones remind me of high-end titanium performance exhaust that have been heat treated for a similar color effect.

[@griggsbuild]

This one doesn't need a review! It will sell out in 10 seconds anyway 😊

[@tivobelievo]

Haha, true. But that's pretty much the case for all Zeloses. 😉

[@tailsneon556]

1 minute and 35 seconds. Gone.

[@williamsipe1151]

I think it was about 48 seconds, but I got one.😊

[@michaelredding6219]

This one grew on me over the course of the review, i'm a fan of the blue tones on the rubber strap, it pulls it all together!

[@Justme0495]

I really like Jody's new review style. The new backgrounds and B-rolls just elevate these great reviews! Keep the good work up!

[@soerenwizard]

I'm not a big collector, but I do have a white dialed Zelos Horizons. Nice look and great lume.

[@tivobelievo]

Zelos! Yesss... Now we're talking! But no mention of the 38mm teal Aurora Ti; the coolest watch Zelos has ever put out (well, maybe second to the tourbillon)? 🤔

[@erod818]

Happy birthday, Zelos!

[@jodee8831]

I just got my Mako GMT in "cracked ice" today... happy with it so far

[@StrikeWarlock]

Don't forget to buy a UV light

[@briggslipsitz9342]

HAMTUN!!! Jody is a complete savage for splashing that on the screen.

[@perdendosi]

I bought two of those... Whatever happened to that guy?

[@stanleynadulek4195]

He stole our money and vanished

[@elarson312]

@@stanleynadulek4195 yes he did

[@adk7962]

Congrats to Zelos! I really like the watch (maybe minus the bright blue touches). As a Date Only Guy, that Spearfish might be my grail… thanks as always!

[@Hrethgir]

I've got a Mako V3 Titanium Frost, such a great watch.

[@nikc1313]

I sold off all my zelos over the last year or 2 when I moved my collection over to more swiss pieces but my alarm will be set to try and get this one. I doubt I'd wear it much but it would be an awesome watch to have in the collection. Will be changing the strap immediately though!

[@niveusgaius]

Congratulations on 300 subs!

[@brianmurphy8154]

I dont care for the designs overall. However I really like the company and applaud their success. They are full of originality, great build quality ( I owned one ) and great customer service. Just not for me but a great offering for the watch community.

[@azdbuk]

They are nice but little busy for me, I am sort of plain vanilla, traditional Seiko divers, Casios, and if I ever got into the 2k range for a watch it will be a Ball Engineer III or similar.

[@paulkukula6541]

I believe they are great quality. None of their styles have ever really appealed to me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Great review.

[@markplayford5836]

I really like it, although I had to look very closely to find the meteorite. Like the strap too, it suits it. 👌

[@l8erzmonkey]

They dont allways sellout anymore there are multiple models in stock and have been for months. Before people say its due to more production its not for examble the swordfish field in purple had a run of 250 where as mako ti was runs of 400 and that did sell out. I like this new watch and i will still try get it

[@markymark3572]

I'm a huge Zelos fan, I have 4 now, Happy Birthday😎

[@godGottgod]

The Damascus looks cool. The meteorite is unnecessary. If you didn't mentioned it I wouldn't even seen it. And even after knowing it I hardly see it.

[@Conundrum191]

As a Zelos owner I like this, but given the looks I agree the price is a bit too high at least for my tastes (when converted to Canadian). Had it been the original pricing, I'd probably be setting an alarm for the launch time.

[@piotrszmidel]

Not a fan of colour combination,would prefer either blue meteo bezel or gray damascus or gray meteorite dial.Im surprised actually he used timascus for a dial since there wasnt as many Zelos watches using this material as a dial.

[@mocha8232]

I will try to get one as a fan. But I ain't too sure about the colourful dial that looks like the reflection of oil on water surface.

[@Jaydub-on1zc]

Not a Zelos fanboy, but I still like this watch based on what I see in this video, especially in terms of color choice and materials. Enough to purchase it? Well I definitely would if offered at the original price!

[@hattyfarbuckle]

Love the damascus dial. I sold my Bronze Swordfish as i grew to tire of the overpowering bezel lume - think this would be the same for me.

[@jonathanwright7975]

Where did you get that T-Shirt! My girls favourite film Jurassic Park so she would love this

[@brianlehmkuhl8162]

Happy Birthday Zelos🎉

[@russparkin6722]

im not sure about that at all, looks like the raided a load of parts bins ans popped it together

[@MrFreakMeister]

A few in my possession, brilliant dials 👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧

[@Azspeedin]

2nd that!

[@ukrainefan4889]

10 years later and still only making 300 watches, we've come a long way in the micro world

[@jacks3735]

Not everything needs to scale up. If the owner is happy with a lean and profitable business, why should he change?

[@lobek333]

@@jacks3735 I don't think this is an issue of scaling up, surely there is not that much difference between selling 300 and 1000 for brand like Zelos. It is just how some brands operate based on exclusivity and FOMO. Because they are limited I imagine they hold up their value nicely, on the other hand if you don't manage to buy one new then you are out of luck. If you manage to find one second hand then you are probably not getting it much cheaper than MSRP.

[@gregtolley3455]

Still sells 100% of what he wants to make almost instantly. Any Fortune 500 co on earth would kill for that.

[@5ifty_cow997]

It's called a limited edition? You must be used to Seikos "limited editions." Also, I don't think you know how TiMascus is made lmao.

[@brianmccord7387]

Exactly, it’s either buy a Zelos in the first 30 seconds after it drops or wait five years for a Helm

[@erikknudsen2971]

I might be confused, but was the Skyraider ever part of Jody's collection? I always loved that watch.

[@simonwright6882]

I really like all the changes and every aspect of this one. Maybe it should be a sw200 at this price but the dial is the only deal breaker for me. Happy birthday Zelos 🎂

[@gregamos8793]

Honestly, I love it! Don’t usually like the over the top looks! More a Tool watch guy myself. I’ve got 2 Helms. That warranty does suck though!

[@peterleenicholson]

I love the swordfish design I have 5 of them

[@PG-pg3ey]

Maybe a stupid question about mine : is it normal that color intensity is not uniform on a timascus dial. Mine can be blue and sometime it is nearly white shade

[@anonymousname2507]

They look amazing , just wish I could actually buy one !

[@lordirek1]

Wow, I love this thing. I'll say I own one Zelos, a midnight blue and bronze hammerhead 2 I got something like 6 years ago. I own probably 20 other micros as well. Zelos has always been my favorite of the micros, with Islander coming a close second. I was seriously considering the purple dialed swordfish field, but this is giving me a bit of a dilemma. I own plenty of staid, subtle watches, and only maybe 3 "out there" ones, and I've been looking for a vibrant purple-hued watch for a while. Your Origin would have been it if the bezel was color matched and not black. The Ascents are nice but they are too quiet when they're out of direct sunlight. This, with an aftermarket purple fkm strap might fit the bill. Hmmm. Also, on the one year warranty side, yeah that sucks, but honestly, I've had multiple interactions with Elshan and every single thing has been handled easily and pleasantly. When, after 4 years, my hammerhead got a strange click in the bezel, I asked what bezel springs it used and he said "just send it to me, pay shipping and I'll get it fixed up." A few weeks later it turned up and he had completely re-cased it. I cannot say enough about how truly awesome Elshan's customer service is, Zelos (and Islander, for that matter) as a company has earned my business without reservation, unlike some other micros out there. I know I'm going to get outstanding quality, and if it's not, I know Elshan will go to great lengths to make it right. Just a fantastic company. All this to say, yeah this is busy, yeah this is almost shocking. Fur me, make it even brighter by adding the people strap haha. And I may be in the minority here, but $650 isn't bad for anything containing any amount of timascus. Any of their watches that were available in timascus and other materials, the ti added like 2k to the price. I was expecting something around the $1,200 mark, this is a decent price for what I i expected. (For reference, if you go to tactile turn and buy a simple bolt action titanium pen, you can change the pocket clip from titanium to timascus for an extra $100, which doubles the cost of the pen. The bolt, which is only a disc maybe 2mm across, adds $20. Timascus ain't cheap.)

[@jodee8831]

Hello?! Mom?!? My mother is the only other person I know who treats a comment section like a novel

[@lordirek1]

@@jodee8831 yes, and I'll bet she can articulate an idea beyond "hurdur, long comment bad!" I truly do not understand the allure of trolling. Such a small, sad way of passing time.

[@jodee8831]

@lordirek1 sad, but satisfying

[@Jason-hv4eu]

Good video and review! I would like to see this model in stainless with a toned down dial and a bracelet 👍🏻

[@grahamwallace]

I’ve been a fan of Zelos for a while and have bought three pieces over the years. I’ll give this one a hard pass though as that dial doesn’t do anything for me. Also, Zelos doesn’t seem to be the brand it was. I agree with you Jody that they used to sell out almost immediately but that’s no longer the case. There are still several watches available from their last three releases available on the website. I think this may be primarily down to price. They’re getting awfy expensive and maybe a bit too convoluted in their design?

[@HVG67]

Two reasons why they don't sell out completely right away: they produced double the amount of watches in the last drops: like 600 instead of 300 of particular models. Because people were always bitching about them selling out. Two: price. They are now producing more over the $500 and $1000 range watches. Lots of people that don't want to spend that on a Zelos

[@fergulator7297]

Bigger batches being produced is why some models haven't sold out

[@davidrosenblum2178]

Those scalloped sides put me in mind of the war machines...they weren't "tripods"... from the original movie "War of the Worlds." Same lenticular profile. Otherwise, an amazing dial, but I'm in agreement with you about the price/ value proposition. Like you say, though, they'll probably sell out. Cheers!

[@bt3750]

The funny thing is that I have a Hamtun. It's a really nice watch (except for the clasp).

[@jamesblonde2271]

Not a Zelos guy but congrats on the anniversary.

[@birdshenanigans8506]

If Cuttlefish designed watches...😮 ❤

[@Android_MT1983]

Never found a Zelos I liked, and this is no exception 🤷‍♂️

[@Mystery_Man84]

What don’t u like about them?

[@thomasmoll8822]

Same here. Nothing about their esthetics speaks to me. You could offer me one - I’d sell it off right away…

[@WaterJake]

I don't like them, really dislike the cases, but I respect that they are doing something completely different for a different audience. I'm glad they are around.

[@randomhandle]

I haven't been drawn to too many, but I wish I'd gotten one of their Blacktip divers. They're now pretty much all gone except for the orange fume.

[@Android_MT1983]

@@Mystery_Man84 mainly is just the esthetics, I’m sure they are well built but their designs are too much for me.

[@edwardsjohnpaul]

Nice shots of some interesting watches from Zelos. (By the way, are you pronouncing it "Tamascus"? That's what my ear is hearing.) I can see why the Hammerhead was popular, that's a beefy cool watch. Good take on the brand and what this watch offers, it's not for me but it sounds like it will sell. Makes me think of a G-SHOCK color variation.

[@bani_niba]

I believe he is pronouncing "Ti-mascus", for titanium-based damascus

[@ramblin1209]

I've always liked the design of zelos watches. I'm also aware of the psychological effect of their business model. Sign up to not miss the next drop! It's enticing and exhilarating and fun but it can also lead to quick buying. That aside, I really like the styling and I almost bought one years ago. I'm not angry at the company for doing this but it's definitely something to think about.

[@Mike-DuBose]

Happy Birthday Zelos!

[@neilbotha3527]

Great review and happy birthday to Zelos. Beautifully made but far too ott for me

[@Great-Scott]

I'll probably try to snag one but if I don't get it I'd be OK with that. I have a ton of Zelos. For me, the date complication almost ruins the watch and the scalloped case sides seems like trying too hard after they threw everything else on this watch.

[@leonm2407]

Thanks for the heads up Jody

[@willstaier3385]

Because it’s a Damascus dial, does that mean each dial may be a little different?

[@philspencelayh5464]

The latest one is the only Zelos I've seen that would get any wrist time. A vast improvement on the original.

[@carllange3950]

It took about 2 minutes to sell out. I skipped this release. I would buy a Helmsman with a different dial. I currently have six Zelos watches, but definitely do not buy every model.

[@Taylod1]

Hey Jody, would you consider using the original introduction music for milestone video's :) I've owned a couple of Zelos and just could never love them, honestly looking forward to my GADA helix Ascent

[@FluffyWaffle]

Welp I sat with credit card in hand, but after the page crashed on me during checkout twice it sold out within the first minute. Guess I've saved myself 650 dollars today lol

[@winfieldnewport8055]

Nice. Happy birthday. Still love my swordfish

[@turradi1126]

Another cute watch. Thank you for the review.

[@waffle911]

San Martin Link in the description is broken

[@billcore6295]

wise uses damascus ss on some of their watches… really nice

[@tilio9380]

It's rare to see Zelos making a watch with a continuous, flowing side profile for once! And to think that this was based off of their first model, one can't help but wonder why so many subsequent models has their typical cylinder+lugs degsign.

[@DrTerryBooth]

Hooray for smaller watches, hooray for inventiveness and choice. Can't get away from that side indent reminding me of Invicta though.

[@tdugong]

Happy birthday Zelos. 🎉🎊🥳 Also, holy guacamole, that is one beautiful dial.

[@blacktoothstavros2606]

Happy anniversary Zelos. I've never been in a position to buy a Zelos, but some of the dial and case options are both attractive and quite innovative. I like them.

[@andrewhannam.]

The Hammerhead and Mako are the models that come to mind when someone says Zelos... The swordfish is gaining ground however.

[@birdytiger]

The newbie is pretty. Unfortunately tyres will be taking up the money stash this round. I did like the dual time more, but that was real money.

[@garychowhm]

Sold out within 1 min..... almost

[@michaelk7007]

Dial looks like a random pog from the 90s.

[@elarson312]

Ah you showed those Hamtun thieves!!! That guy ran off with the money from the Phantom Calueche kickstarter campaign. Anyway that new Helmsman has a lot going on. I would have rather seen a more conventional dial and a lower price. The dial is definitely unique and not sure I could get used to it.

[@salam-s9y]

I really love watching Zelos reviews, but they are an example of a design I personally don't like. Love Elshans innovations

[@DC-uf6ve]

Quite like this but... what is it with people using flat boxed sapphire? Why not a nice little dome to make it look less cheap? Also, date at 3 o'clock, why? What year do you think it is?! Aargh.

[@mikep5478]

I think comparing the cost of this one with something priced at bare bones crowdsourcing margins isn't a very good comparison. Usually the price is set below the average bar to capture the attention of a new brand just launching. Are there options for much less out there using the same movement and on a bracelet today? Sure, but you would be hard pressed to find apples to apples with the construction materials, original design, etc. Chances are a polarizing design such as this will never capture a wide market, but that's always part of the story in this hobby, especially for Zelos. Kudos to Elshan for never taking the safe route. IMHO that's the vehicle that has carried the brand along the way of this well-deserved success story on their ten-year journey.

[@RageAgainstTime]

My problem with Zelos is that they are cool watches that look nice once you first get them but get "old" and forgotten very quickly when you have more traditional looking watches in your collection. Something about their designs doesn't make them look good long term or don't age well... Had 3 of them and downsized to 1 and still thinking if I should keep my last one (the meteorite dial made me keep it for now).

[@nikkolomakaveli8295]

Zelos, Wise, and Vario are replacing what Seiko used to be affordable quality. Zelos makes amazing timepieces great specs and so much dial variety. One of my favorite microbrands forsure. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

[@RocktCityTim]

I'd buy that strap for one of my Tags.

[@ryanthomas9306]

I want a zelos so badly, but they always sell out so fast before I can pull the trigger

[@scottsj4625]

Not for me but thanks for the review.

[@saairgunner5925]

Morni g Jody, I was waiting with great anticipation for the launch of the new Erebus. What happened?

[@HVG67]

What happened is, you cocked up in following the news.

[@sinjinadams2862]

I have very mixed feelings about Zelos. I bought my very first watch from them last year after swearing to myself I would never buy one. I love their watches but I hate their business model of making a very limited number of watches and the extreme difficulty of getting one that causes. It's been a very successful business model for them though I have to admit.

[@anthonyonline4740]

I love that subtle dig at Hamtun. Where TF is Ross Davis? Any investigators in the UK? I'm guessing he has changed his name. I would if I was scamming coward like him. This video is about Zelos. Well done Elshan, great watch. Jody, great video. But the Hamtun mention. What a great shot.

[@bani_niba]

I like the slimmer/smaller case of this anniversary model. Those older models look so clunky and dated even though they are only 10 years old.

[@shanerobinson2153]

Happy happy Zelos!

[@felixangellopezalonso3993]

Uy! Tiene este modelo nombre de marca de mahonesa

[@WatchAddictionReviews]

Looks cool!!!!

[@tinyman392]

I’m a simple man. I see timascus dial and I watch video.

[@mckrissla]

They are killing the game right now.

[@SSS-mp8th]

I have a couple of Zelos models, but many have gotten out of my price range and this one is a bit busy for me. Haven’t bought a watch in a while but will probably go with A Seiko king turtle or samurai for $400.

[@Motovationnation]

You can't even buy directly from their website, most watches aren't even available because sold out. And then people sell them on eBay for double the price.

[@ForbinColossus]

I bought a Zelos Hammerhead. Date is not centered in its window. Annoying

[@pauldelarzac615]

Happy birthday Zelos! Unfortunately, this “peacock” is not for me!

[@drzaius844]

My wife’s favorite of my watches is a Swordfish teal dial. Zelos are fun watches for sure, very unique, strong design language. I like them. Edit: regarding the warranty, Elshan is active in the FB group and makes things right when folks complain, very quickly. Never seems to ask about the date of purchase.

[@Android_MT1983]

Never found a zelos i liked, and this is no exception 🤷‍♂️

[@kobusvanrensburg4092]

Just about every Zelos is a bit "over styled". This one is a bit more in my boathouse.

[@chuckweaver357]

They should put it on a bracelet

[@rmoffettutube]

Don't underestimate the loud straps average people are buying for their Apple watches now. This isn't that shocking now.

[@morethanawatch-piucheunoro3364]

I was waiting with great trepidation for your review of the anniversary model, expectations were not disappointed, on the contrary, you confirm yourself as one of the best reviewers in the world, thank you for showing us this watch so closely Jody. The blue internal side of the strap is gorgeous and now we can understand why he made that blue keepers. Good luck you all, we will need it.🍀

[@69dirtydirty]

Mr Aventurine!!! Are you considering picking one of these beauties up? I'm second guessing getting one since I already own and love the timascus Mako

[@andrewd7586]

I like the Zelos Swordfish I’ve got Jody, but this one? Yeah, nah.

[@aubsta1]

LOve it!

[@TheTrueHasenfeffer]

I have a Hammerhead. Love it. But I'll pass on this one.

[@ironichumorist]

lovely, but not paying that much for a zelos. i have one but only paid 1/3 of that which is appropriate for a miyota movement watch. ill leave the sales of this one to the fan boys.