42mm bronze Helson Shark Diver

BacoNoir · Post by **BacoNoir** » Fri May 27, 2016 5:07 pm

I've been wanting a bronze watch for several years, but never quite found the one to pull the trigger on. This year, the Black Bay Bronze and Oris LE Carl Brashear Diver were released around Basel and piqued my interest further. The Oris is gorgeous with the blue dial but uses as SW200 movement and they want $2k for it. The Tudor has the new in-house movement but I'm not a huge fan of the dial/bezel color contrast (or lack there of) with the bronze case.

I owned a 45mm Ti Helson Shark Diver before and it's one of the few watches I flipped that I regretted selling. They are well built, have a unique look and the lume is amazing. I kept seeing a black dial 42mm bronze FS on another forum and found myself going back to look at it almost daily. I showed it to my wife last week and expected the "you don't need another watch" comment, but instead got the "Wow, that's nice and different than your other watches. I like the bronze. You should buy it."

A few PMs back and forth with the seller and we struck a deal. Today, the tracking number pinged my phone with a text message and I went to the office mailbox to collect it.

R@cerx · Post by **R@cerx** » Fri May 27, 2016 5:12 pm

Congrats Roger, much nicer than the Oris and the Tudor IMO.

bmcgraw · Post by **bmcgraw** » Fri May 27, 2016 5:46 pm

That is a super cool watch. Very nice!

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mattcantwin · Post by **mattcantwin** » Fri May 27, 2016 6:24 pm

Very nice!

BacoNoir · Post by **BacoNoir** » Fri May 27, 2016 6:49 pm

Thanks guys.

R@cerx wrote:Congrats Roger, much nicer than the Oris and the Tudor IMO.

And a LOT cheaper too!

mikeylacroix · Post by **mikeylacroix** » Fri May 27, 2016 7:26 pm

Nicely done.

Post by **CGSshorty** » Fri May 27, 2016 8:00 pm

42 is the best size for this watch. The 45 is enormous.

Panerai7 · Post by **Panerai7** » Fri May 27, 2016 8:12 pm

Had mine was a 42 I'd have kept it.

dmckean44 · Post by **dmckean44** » Fri May 27, 2016 8:39 pm

Even the 42 in version was too big for me and I had to sell it.

BacoNoir · Post by **BacoNoir** » Fri May 27, 2016 9:35 pm

I had the 45 in Ti and loved it. I think I could do 45 in bronze too but the extra weight would be the concern, not the size.

Panerai7 · Post by **Panerai7** » Fri May 27, 2016 9:37 pm

Yep lugs are straight out. Something like 55mm L2L. But the weight was brutal as well.

Still miss it though

BacoNoir · Post by **BacoNoir** » Fri May 27, 2016 9:57 pm

Panerai7 wrote:Yep lugs are straight out. Something like 55mm L2L. But the weight was brutal as well.

Still miss it though

Beautiful patina. Just put the calipers on mine and it's just under 52mm L2L.

watchdawg · Post by **watchdawg** » Sat May 28, 2016 6:22 am

Very Nice

Joe C · Post by **Joe C** » Sat May 28, 2016 6:35 am

Looks very cool. Enjoy that baby!

Steve O. · Post by **Steve O.** » Sat May 28, 2016 7:57 am

When the wife says "you should buy it", you're golden. Nice watch - congrats.

polaco23 · Post by **polaco23** » Sat May 28, 2016 8:57 am

Love it! These micro bronze and brass watches are so fun and affordable. I was looking at that exact one when I was shopping. Ended up with the Maranez instead.

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dmgreen11 · Post by **dmgreen11** » Mon May 30, 2016 8:54 pm

Really like these.

One of my favorite bronze.

Darren

BacoNoir · Post by **BacoNoir** » Tue May 31, 2016 7:21 am

Thanks guys - can't seem to take it off. This had the old school feel of a tool watch. Loving it.

ZASKAR36 · Post by **ZASKAR36** » Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:58 pm

Beautiful. There is something oh so right about the Helson SD in Bronze.

Congrats

cdnwatchguy · Post by **cdnwatchguy** » Tue Jun 07, 2016 9:02 pm

Looks great and 42mm is wearable.

BacoNoir · Post by **BacoNoir** » Wed Jun 08, 2016 6:18 am

Thanks again guys. It's building a patina slowly, but I'm heading on a 2.5 week business trip where I'll be working in the field daily and taking this with me so I'm thinking with constant wear and sweat, it should darken up considerably.

jswing · Post by **jswing** » Wed Jun 08, 2016 7:28 am

BacoNoir wrote:
Panerai7 wrote:Yep lugs are straight out. Something like 55mm L2L. But the weight was brutal as well.

Still miss it though

Beautiful patina. Just put the calipers on mine and it's just under 52mm L2L.

Helsons seem to patina nicer than any other bronzes, but that LTL is a deal breaker for me.

justsellbrgs · Post by **justsellbrgs** » Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:18 am

Nice grab Roger.... I'm patiently waiting for the Olivier

GregBe · Post by **GregBe** » Wed Jun 08, 2016 1:28 pm

justsellbrgs wrote:Nice grab Roger.... I'm patiently waiting for the Olivier

Post by **1watchaholic** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 11:56 am

Sweet! Congrats!!

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