Helberg Homage to Deep Sea Special - What says TRF?

[TonyD]

Here's an interesting one. Normally the word "homage" causes me to wince in pain. The derivation comes from the idea of respect, paying homage to something great. I don't feel that making anything that looks like someone else's design or product and sticking your own name on it is respectful.

This is a new watch from Helberg, which has a German parent/sister company H2O that has been making dive watches for some time now. The design is insane looking, and for an engineer like myself quite intriguing. The company makes no effort to hide the fact that this is heavily inspired by the Rolex Deep Sea Challenge watch. Take a look [Image from Helberg website, rendering] :



I find myself drawn to this one and plan to place an order soon. Somehow this one feels like it actually DOES honor the source material in a meaningful way. Maybe its because they don't hide like a lot of companies that make homage type watches. Maybe its because the Rolex version was never really available for purchase and never existed beyond a few prototypes.

I have been looking to add a bronze small batch watch to my collection for a while and stumbled upon this one. 6000 meters (20,000 feet) is pretty close to the world record for depth I believe.

Besides weird looking with a huge goofy crystal, what do you guys think?

Link to website: http://www.helberg.com/
Link to Rolex info: http://oceanictime.blogspot.de/2013/...ngineered.html

Specs from Helberg website:


MATERIALS

- Stainless Steel Version: Case, bezel, crown and case back are made from brushed surgical stainless steel 316L
- Bronze Version: Case & bezel are made from brushed German bronze CuSn8,
crown stainless steel 316L, case back stainless steel 316L
- Sapphire front glass
- Gaskets made of Viton and Teflon
- Hands, dial, bezel with SuperLuminova BG W9
- Chromed or golden polished handset
- Dial with chromed or golden marker

FEATURES

- Original SWISS ETA 2824 movement
- Two bezel styles available / minimalistic bezel with highly polished top or
dive style bezel with brushed top and sides
- Water resistant 300 atmos. / 3000 meters / 9842 ft. with double domed sapphire glass and display case back
- Water resistant 600 atmos. / 6000 meters / 19685 ft. with optional spherical sapphire glass and closed case back
- Antimagnetic: 70.000A/m. with closed case back
- Inside AR coated / anti scratch sapphire crystal
- 120 positions bezel
- Stainless steel bracelet with micro adjustment optional

DIMENSIONS

- Bezel diameter: 41mm
- Case diameter: 42mm
- Thickness with display case back and without crystal: 16.80mm
- Thickness with closed case back and without crystal: 18.80mm
- Thickness with double domed crystal and display case back: 19.20mm
- Thickness with spherical crystal and display case back: 25.20mm
- Thickness with double domed crystal and closed case back: 21.20mm
- Thickness with spherical crystal and closed case back: 27.20mm
- Length: 57mm
- Thickness of the opt. spherical crystal: 15mm
- Thickness of the double domed crystal: 7mm
- Sapphire crystal diameter: 31mm
- Dial diameter: 30mm
- Space between lugs: 22mm
- Crown diameter: 9mm

PACKAGING

- HELBERG CH1 watch
- Leather strap with HELBERG CNC buckle
- Screw driver
- Peli-style watch box
- Warranty card

[Presa canary]

I wouldn't be caught wearing it... The case isn't half bad. I don't care for the dome. The strap is fine, same as the movt. I'd comment on the dial, but I can't see it. I'm interested in some wrist shots though!

[MP5]

its 27mm thick man. Its a cool piece but like the PAM Egiziano totally impractical unless you want to be like those PAM guys and wear a compass to a get together

[kilyung]

I get retro design but not everything from days gone by is good. Who wants horse and buggy over car?

[samsmart]

That thing looks crazy big. Would like to see a wrist shot, and price. Did I miss that in the op?

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[TonyD]

Originally Posted by samsmart

That thing looks crazy big. Would like to see a wrist shot, and price. Did I miss that in the op?

I chopped off the price info, didn't want to promote it. Its on the website near the bottom. There are wrist shots and images of the actual watch on other forums. I didn't want to link to them. Should be easy to find them.

[samsmart]

Originally Posted by TonyD

I chopped off the price info, didn't want to promote it. Its on the website near the bottom. There are wrist shots and images of the actual watch on other forums. I didn't want to link to them. Should be easy to find them.

Got it

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[SearChart]

I think it's a cool watch and if my wrists would allow it I'd definitely get one for that price, but unfortunately I can't wear big watches on my thin wrists.

[Demosthene]

I'm super tempted to get one for that price!
I'm alternative enough to at least think I can pull it off ;P

[birk1]

I ordered mine a few months back - looking at an early october delivery

I have begun to purchase more boutique micro-brands. The quality is great (in circumstances - much better than rolex or pam) and they are unique. anyone can have a rolex etc…the micros are unique. for example - I have a Nord Variocurve on as type this before we head out to church.

to each their own…

Ryan

[TimeToGo]

In the pre-order stage with an interesting pricing twist, nearly 40% more after it becomes available - that is quite a hike.. From $900/990 to $1290/1390.

[kilyung]

I could see wanting one if you have a SD collection.

[Charles Ford]

If the bezel is 41mm, the case 42MM, just how long is the case??? Looks like it would completely cover the top of your wrist.

[Survivor]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I get retro design but not everything from days gone by is good. Who wants horse and buggy over car?

The Amish.........