Helson Shark Diver - Mini Review

[Stipey]

Just got my Helson Shark Diver a couple of weeks ago. And my impression so far is beyond my expectations

After e-mailing with owner Peter Helson, I finally pulled the trigger on a friday afternoon. Exactly one week later a package came with the fed-ex guy to my door in norway. That's one week from clicking the "buy" button to delivery. Very fast indeed.

Along with the watch came a nice leather/PVC case and an extra rubber/silicone strap.
The case can hold up to 5-6 straps and 4-5 watches and is great as a travel case.

I was not a big fan of the bracelet that come along with the Shark Diver. The mesh/oyster combo doesn't do it for me, BUT I will say that I am impressed by the solid quality on the bracelet though.... The rubber strap is of ok quality and is comfortable to wear.

Now the watch..... This is a huuuuuge watch!!! It is made out of one solid piece of steel. The built quality is actually very good consider what you pay for it. The 120-click undirectional bezel clicks good and feels thight.

I ordered my Sharkie with an ETA 2824-2 movement, and as I expected there is nothing negative to say about it, when winding and setting the time and date it is tight and you feel the movement quality.

The lume on this watch overseeds everything Iv'e seen so far. It seems like Helson wathces have ordered too much superluminova when they started up their business and just keeps on adding layer after layer with lume . Even the bezel insert has superluminova on all the markers and numbers!!!!!

I ordered this watch solely to dive with, and it has already been several times in the water. On 30 meters it starts to get a little dark down there and the lume is so strong that I can almost use it as a back-up torch

Conclusion:

For its purpose (diving) this is the best watch IMHO on the marked in it's price range. This one has what you need. Super lume, solid built, water resistance 2000 meters, and the build quality is good.

There are lots of other "better" divers out there, but then you have to put more money into it.

There is one thing I'm missing though.... diver extention on the bracelet. For diving in warm waters with a wet suit or less, your perfectly OK, but in cold water with drysuit and gloves, you have to use a nato-strap and they're barely long enough.....

Specs:

- Water resistance to 2000 m (6,600 ft)
- Unidirectional bezel - 120 clicks
- Luminova lume on hands, indices, and bezel
- 316L stainless steel case
- Unusually magnetism-resistant at 70,000 A/m
- Thick 4mm sapphire crystal, with inner antireflective coating
- Dimensions: 45 mm width (w/o crown), 54 mm lug to lug, 18 mm height, 24 mm lug size, 33 mm dial diameter
- Helium escape valve
- Weight: approx 290 grams
- Retail: $699,-



Enough said, I'm happy and that's what counts for me.... over to some pics....

[newmedia]

I had one, its a huge watch.
thing I did not cared for was lumed bezel.

[leeye]

very nice watch indeed!

[TSW]

Damn that looks great!!

[falko]

absolutely horrible .. looks like it fell out of the engine of an old Mazda ... but best wishes anyway

[Stipey]

Originally Posted by falko

absolutely horrible .. looks like it fell out of the engine of an old Mazda ... but best wishes anyway

Glad we all don't share the same taste in watches....

[dysondiver]

wow , thats a big watch , look sharp , do the hands get confusing in the dark
health to enjoy

[Maxseven]

Great watch! I was, just today, trying to decide between the Shark Diver and the Buccaneer GMT. In the end, I opted for the Buccaneer (I love GMT's). So probably in about a week, I'll be getting mine. Maybe I'll order the Shark as well.

Nice photos.

[Fang]

Originally Posted by Maxseven

Great watch! I was, just today, trying to decide between the Shark Diver and the Buccaneer GMT. In the end, I opted for the Buccaneer (I love GMT's). So probably in about a week, I'll be getting mine. Maybe I'll order the Shark as well.

Nice photos.

I have got both and I am enjoying them - great watches.
Buccaneer is for my daily use and the Shark Diver on the weekends.
My Omega and Rolexes are in the safe.

[rgreen2]

awesome mini review from a divers perspective! take pics next time you go down with it!

[detyler]

Got mine today. Swapped the bracelet for a 24 mm ammo band. LOVE IT!!!

This is pretty cool too. My serial number is 311. Feels very personal, even if it really isn't. I'm 6'4" so i can take the large size ok. Personally, i find most rolexes too small.

[nowzen]

Beautiful watch.
Thanx for the mini-review...
wish they did a mini-version.

[Jonathan007]

Nice Helson watch!

[detyler]

Put it on a Micah Band.

[leeye]

here are pics of my Helson Sharkdiver bronze watch.

[Frogman4me]

Very nice watch, if it was not so big I would consider one. My limit is 42mm