Zelos
- Founded
- 2014
- Based in
- Singapore
- In our catalog
- 3 watches from $399 to $529
Zelos is what happens when someone who loves materials gets to run a watch brand. Its dive watches come in bronze that darkens over time, titanium, carbon, Damascus steel with swirling patterns, and dials cut from meteorite. Materials like these usually turn up on watches costing thousands. At Zelos they show up on watches under $1,000, which is why the brand has a devoted following.
History
Elshan Tang started Zelos in Singapore in 2014 and launched it on Kickstarter, which has remained the brand's main way of releasing new watches. Each campaign funds a production run, and once a batch is gone it's usually gone. Over the years the line has grown from one diver to a family of them, from compact everyday models to deep-rated tool watches.
Signature models
- Swordfish 40mm: The compact diver in the range, a sensible size for most wrists and a good introduction to the brand.
- Helmsman: A sporty everyday watch with a cleaner, more versatile look than the pure divers.
- Hammerhead V3 Titanium: The heavy-duty option, a titanium diver rated to 1,000 m with a chunky, purposeful case.
What it's known for
Zelos was one of the first microbrands to make bronze divers popular, and its meteorite and Damascus versions are some of the cheapest ways to own either material. Movements are reliable Japanese and Swiss automatics, and the cases are built to the depth ratings on the dial.
Because of the batch model, specific colors and materials can be hard to find later, so if you see one you like, it's worth not waiting too long.
Price and positioning
Most Zelos watches cost $400 to $800, with special materials pushing some higher. In that price range it sits alongside Halios, Lorier and Spinnaker, and it's the most adventurous of them when it comes to what the case is made of.
Zelos watches in our library
- Zelos Swordfish 40mm ($399)
- Zelos Helmsman ($529)
- Zelos Hammerhead V3 Titanium ($529)