HALIOS WATCHES

Puck availability update

2012-01-24T09:35:00.000-08:00

The first batch of the Puck shipping this week is now sold out. The second run will be available in mid-February. Ordering has been activated, so you can either pre-order now (select your shipping destination and click BUY) or wait until the watches are ready.

Thanks for your patience and support!

Fashionably late

2011-12-12T11:02:00.000-08:00

Puck release is delayed until after Christmas. End of 2011 is possible, but a January delivery is more likely. I thank you all again for your support and patience. I suppose the day that we release a watch on time will be the day that, well, we release a watch on time. I think the tweaks and improvements that are the reason for the delay will be well worth it though.

Watchuseek member oRAirwolf posted this in a "where the heck is the Puck" thread:

As the kids say, I LMAOed. I know Fry's got it right, but hang in there!

Laguna Availability Update

2011-11-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

UPDATED JAN 12TH, 2012

Black bezel - CURRENTLY AVAILABLE for immediate shipping

Grey bezel - CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. Discontinued after 2011 - final 5 units available March 2012.

Orange/Black bezel - CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. Discontinued - final 5 units available March 2012.

Hodinkee previews the Puck, condones bar room aggression

2011-09-30T15:26:00.001-07:00

Do not take the title of this post seriously, but do check out the finely written article on Hodinkee here.

Yup, Zulus fit

2011-09-05T12:42:00.001-07:00

HALIOS 1000M preview

2011-08-18T10:57:00.001-07:00

The reasoning behind the wildly unimaginative official name of our next model can be explained as follows: it's shaped like a puck, it pretty much wears like a puck, and it's probably going to be referred to as "the puck". The HALIOS Puck, however, doesn't sound very Official, so cue the generic placeholder model name, i.e. the 1000M.

For the past two months, the prototype has been subjected to a series of dives and real world testing. Although we're still a few months away from release, I've received a number of emails requesting pictures of the puck, so here they are!

Do not get too attached to the following: 1) bezel insert (to be changed to a dark grey with brushed texture); 2) hour and minute hands (the final version will be brushed metal instead of the white); and 3) seconds hand (will be completely white with no black portion).

The bezel is fastened with 5 screws for easy maintenance. The teeth allow you to get a good grip with both wet and dry hands, but they're also designed to minimize accidental movement of the bezel:

And yes, your thick 24mm straps will fit the hooded lugs. Seen here on a 5mm Greg Stevens Crazy Horse:

Double-domed sapphire for distortion-free viewing at sharp angles:

The puck is the spiritual successor to the Holotype. No shiny bits, purpose-built, heavy industrial aesthetic with some ugly thrown in. It's 47mm in diameter and 15mm thick and feels quite balanced on the wrist.

November release y'all!

Stolen Laguna - serial #L2065

2011-07-26T10:11:00.002-07:00

If you're buying pre-owned, make sure you're checking the serial number. This particular grey bezel Laguna was stolen while making its way through the Fedex system in NJ.

More Laguna

2011-06-20T09:56:00.001-07:00

Grey bezel version on an aftermarket Maddog ammo strap. They can be contacted at www.maddog-straps.com.

Not black is the new black:

Laguna Grey and Black/Orange

2011-06-18T23:28:00.000-07:00

Grey bezel ring:

Black/orange bezel ring:

Laguna release delayed

2011-04-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

We are looking at a revised release date of late May now. Apologies to all who are still patiently waiting, and thank you for your continued support.

The Laguna "kit" is looking pretty sweet - we're working with a local wood shop on a solid hinged box, made from British Columbia alder. I had mentioned oak before, but alder looks great, weathers nicely, is available locally and is sustainable.

You'll also get the Isofrane rubber strap, a 1.6mm screwdriver and a mini springbar tool. I think you'll all be very pleased with the package when it arrives.

You guys can hold out for a little bit longer...right? :-o :-D

The lume shot

2011-03-18T17:28:00.001-07:00

One of the requests I get most often from prospective buyers is a "lume shot". Because it's tricky to capture the luminosity of a watch dial accurately in a picture, I figure it's best to benchmark against another known quantity - in this case, I am using a Seiko SBBN015 (the "Tuna") from my personal collection. Why the Tuna? Seiko lume is the gold standard - it glows bright and it glows long. The shot below is unretouched in Photoshop with the exception of a resize.

Exif data: f/6.3, 1/2 sec exposure, ISO 400, 60mm focal length.

The shot is a good representation of what the lume looks like at "full burn", i.e., the second after the watches were exposed to a UV light source. This level of brightness lasted about 5 seconds on both the Tuna and the Laguna, then both degraded to about 70% of the initial brightness.

After about 30 minutes, the lume was still visible on both, but the Tuna hands and markers glowed more evenly. The Laguna markers were dimmer than the hands and internal bezel markings. I wasn't able to capture what my naked eye saw in a picture, which is why I've posted only the one picture. Laguna lume performance in the real world is favourable - with darkness adjusted eyes, the lume is still visible 6-7 hours after exposure to a light source.

Long-winded post to explain a lume shot, but dive watch fanatics take this kind of stuff seriously.

Isofrane was a good choice

2011-03-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

The Laguna will ship with the Isofrane® 1968 rubber strap that all the cool kids have been going nutty over. The buckle, however, will be non-Isofrane.

I personally have never seen a rubber strap as well made as this one (with the possible exception of the Sinn deployant rubber) - it's thick but pliable at the same time and very comfortable on the wrist.

The Laguna arrives at the end of next month. Almost there!

Laguna on zulu strap

2011-02-07T15:32:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of wet shots of the Laguna on a zulu strap. Note that the HALIOS text will be executed in white instead of metallic applique on the production model.

More Laguna pics

2011-01-26T16:16:00.000-08:00

Six test dives and a few scratches later, the Laguna prototype is still trucking along.

On a Maddog ammo strap:

On Asian "shark mesh" bracelet:

A few wristshots on the mesh:

A bit of colour:

The sample bezel rings are in as well:

The grey is quite subtle:

The half-black/half-orange, not so much:

And of course, Andreas Johansson's winning caseback design:

On to more test dives.

Laguna prototype pics

2011-01-12T13:33:00.000-08:00

The prototype is a pretty accurate representation of what the production model will look like, with the exception of the "HALIOS" text on the dial. It will be white paint instead of the chrome applique seen in these pics.

43mm width (excluding crowns), 49mm lug-to-lug:

Flat sapphire crystal with AR coated underside:

Side profile

The Laguna caseback

2010-10-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

I once told myself I'd never, ever put a shark on the back of a Halios watch. Too cliche and too obvious, I thought to myself as I dug deep and squeezed out one last heavy rep on the Dynaband.

Then Andreas Johansson proved me wrong and showed me a shark that I couldn't take my eyes off.

As most of you know, we ran a caseback design contest during the month of September. I received 40 submissions in all, each and every last one of them an amazing piece of art. The submissions ran the gamut from breezy palm trees on a beach to a sonar screen, and it took me close to three whole weeks to finally narrow it down to three finalists. In the end, I picked the one that I felt captured the vibe of the Laguna the best.

I loved that the shark in the winning design wasn't depicted as an aggressive mass of teeth, sinew and bloodlust. I was able to appreciate the fluid form of the shark without choking on a can of kick-ass. Incidentally, it's a reef shark, which is reportedly quite a docile species. It's also extremely interesting from a visual standpoint.

I think the design and layout are satisfyingly old-school. The shark itself is executed with feathered strokes, which, when combined with the wave motif in the background, kind of reminds me of the casebacks on the dive watch classics of the 60s and 70s. The best part? It's still clean and simple.

It was a ton of fun for me, and I hope that it was fun for the participants as well. Andreas - congratulations, and my thanks!

Specs for the Laguna finalized

2010-10-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

We've nailed down the specs for the Laguna, which is our upcoming internal bezel dive watch.

Tale of the tape:
- Width (3-9): 43mm
- Lug-to-lug (12-6): 49mm
- Thickness: 15mm
- Lug width: 22mm

Other good stuff:
- ETA 2824-2 movement with Incabloc shock protection
- Flat sapphire crystal, underside anti-reflective coating
- The ubiquitous but requisite 316L stainless steel
- 500M water resistance
- Soft iron inner case for additional antimagnetic resistance
- Non-screwdown crown at 2 allows for underwater adjustment of the inner elapsed time bezel

The watch will ship with a bracelet and most likely an additional strap (nylon NATO or rubber). Packaging hasn't been decided on yet. As with all our watches, all parts are custom designed and fabricated with the exception of the movement, clasp, extra strap and packaging. And maybe the crown. And the rubber gaskets.

We are now in the early phases of prototype production, so expect to see something in the metal in 2 or 3 months. I think this one will be very comfortable on the wrist, particularly because of the relatively short lug-to-lug measurement (49mm). Many dive watch fanatics will thumb their noses at the internal (i.e. under the glass) timing bezel, but the ability to operate it at depth drastically ups the practicality factor.

Oh, and of course we'll have the awesome, yet-to-be-revealed winning design from the caseback design contest adorning the back.

I know, I know - start yapping only when I have an actual watch to show. Can't help it...I'm jazzed about the Laguna.

Caseback design contest is now closed

2010-09-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

40 entries received in total at the buzzer. Thanks to all who participated - I hope you guys had fun with it. I'm looking forward to going through the 40 very creative, very original and very passionate submissions.

Look for a post in a couple of weeks!

One week to go - HALIOS Laguna caseback design contest

2010-09-23T23:05:00.000-07:00

Heading into the final week! We're up to 29 great submissions so far and looking for more.

Holotype Frozen

2010-09-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

Here's a video I shot last year of the Holotype, frozen in a block of ice. Why? Because it looked cool.

Laguna caseback design contest is a go

2010-08-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Alright folks, let's make it official. I'd like to invite you to participate in the caseback design contest for the upcoming HALIOS Laguna. Your design must include the following text (upper or lower case is up to you):

- HALIOS LAGUNA
- WR 300M
- STAINLESS STEEL
- AUTOMATIC
- SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL
- "XXX-1234" (i.e. a placeholder for the serial number scheme when it is finalized)

Although I don't want to exclude anyone from the contest, my strong preference is for the artwork to be submitted in a usable digital format. Hand-drawn entries will be considered, though I'd prefer not to have to put in a significant amount of work to re-draw or re-interpret it. Text entries ("Dear Jason, you should do a really cool fish with a big sword on either side...") probably won't make the cut either. However, don't fret if you have no artistic ability: your submission will count if you come up with a concept that totally blows me away.

By submitting your entry, you agree to give us the complete rights to the artwork. We reserve the right to alter, manipulate, butcher and/or re-use the concept for this and other models. Who knows if this would stand up in court - just don't sue us for anything. You can send in as many entries as you like. I was planning on picking the winner, but I might put it up for vote if there are a few equally outstanding entries.

Here is a sneak preview of the Laguna (ignore my shoddy Photoshop skills). The throwback 70s-style poster kind of evokes the vibe of the watch and its name:

You can use the template of the caseback below or create your own, as long as the shape is the same:

Contest closes sometime after lunch-ish on Thursday, September 30th 2010, give or take a few daylight savings hours. You can send in your entries to: jason (at) halioswatches.com. Good luck and have fun, dive watch fans!

Oh P/S: winner gets a HALIOS Laguna watch when it's released.

Caseback design contest?

2010-08-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

It's an unfortunate thing, but I have zero interest in designing fancy graphics for the caseback of our watches. I personally like them plain and purposeful. However, a few HALIOS fans have written expressing their desire for something a bit more interesting.

My response? Heck, you guys design it then. The model in question would be the Laguna, our 300M internal bezel diver to be released in 2011. I'd pick the best entry, and the winner would receive a nice prize.

Thoughts?

4th of July action for the BlueRing

2010-07-03T16:24:00.001-07:00

Low and slow down in Texas...great shot TR!

Temporary website is up

2010-06-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

You can now order securely with a credit card through the main website (www.halioswatches.com) if you're not hip to the Paypal thing. The rest of the site is still under construction as we're undergoing a major redesign, so please excuse the retina-searing hideosity (is that a real word?) of how things are looking at the moment.

And, I promise to complete the About Us section this time around.

Blue, black and silver

2010-05-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

A watch enthusiast in Malaysia recently posted a very nice pictorial of his HALIOS watches. He ordered a blue for himself and a silver and black for his colleagues, all with the beadblasted case finish. I think his pictures are particulary useful if you're considering a BlueRing purchase because: a) there are a lot of them, showing the watches from different angles; b) they are in focus and taken in great lighting; and c) they are "real world", i.e. not airbrushed, photoshopped shots that tend to maximize a watch's beauty slightly artificially.

Take a look at his post entitled "My Purchase for May 2010" here. Thank you for the pictures B!

Under construction...

2010-05-21T12:50:00.001-07:00

You've probably noticed that the website has been down for a number of days. The plan is to either undergo a major re-design or migrate most of the original site to a more flexible and secure platform. I am currently conferring with my website programmer extraordinaire to decide on the best course of action. If any of you have pictures of your HALIOS watches you'd like to contribute to the new site, please send me an email.

I've also been conspicuously absent from this blog and the Facebook fan page (please don't un-fan us). I'm currently working on fulfilling BlueRing orders (all versions still available except for the brushed/black dial) and finalizing the designs for the upcoming models. What's next you ask? Here is a tentative roster:

End of 2010 - HALIOS Quadra (tentative name): Case will be entirely fabricated right here in BC, Canada. Assembly and testing will also take place here.

End of 2010/early 2011 - HALIOS Laguna: 300M diver with internal bezel

Don't hold me to this...I might wake up tomorrow and decide that digital altimeters are the way to go :-)

Main website is under construction

2010-05-14T22:20:00.001-07:00

All ordering through the site is temporarily unavailable as well. Should be up and running fairly shortly, but if you would like to order a BlueRing in the meantime, send me an email at info (at) halioswatches.com.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be -
I had a mother who read to me.

- The Reading Mother, Strickland Gillilan

Hope you have a great day with the cherished women in your lives - happy Mother's Day all!

One of the best things about today in four simple words:

Mother's day brunch buffet (especially if they have a waffle station).

Silver dial BlueRing on vintage ammo strap

2010-05-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

For your enjoyment: the silver dial version on a leather strap from our group buy.

Have a great weekend all.

Silver and blue dial pics

2010-04-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots of the blue and silver-faced Bluerings. Wonky lighting and packing frenzy = no Ansel Adams, but I know you guys will make do.

Blue dial, beadblasted finish:

Silver dial, brushed finish:

Silver dial, beadblasted finish:

Blue and silver begin shipping on April 28th

2010-04-26T18:20:00.001-07:00

Almost...there...

ETA versions (blue and silver dials) delayed!

2010-04-14T19:50:00.001-07:00

I had expected to ship by the end of this week, but it now looks like we'll be receiving them at the end of next week. So, please allow at least a couple more weeks until they hit your wrists.

Very sorry folks!

Blue coming soon...

2010-04-12T23:55:00.000-07:00

This is the brushed case finish...

2010-04-08T00:13:00.001-07:00

Happy April Fool's and an update

2010-04-02T00:30:00.001-07:00

The "merger" bit successfully elicited no less than 8 emails - sentiments ranged from congratulations to "you're a sellout". Thanks to everyone for being such good sports!

UPDATE ON THE BLUERING: The black dial BlueRings should be in my hands by Friday, April 2. I am hoping to get the first batch out by this weekend, but bear with me in case there are customs delays on the shipment. It shouldn't be too much longer!

The blue and silver dials are scheduled to arrive in a week and a half, but again, we all know how reliable estimated delivery times can be.

**IMPORTANT** Please note that payment via Paypal is not available for now - we can thank their charming policy of freezing accounts after a high volume of transactions. The credit card payment page is being worked on as we speak, and should be up and running within a few days.

Happy Easter everyone!

A new chapter for Halios Watches

2010-04-01T00:27:00.000-07:00

I got back into Vancouver yesterday after having spent the last six days in Tokyo, Japan. To make a long story short, Halios has successfully negotiated a merger (or more accurately, a buy-out) with one of the world's leading watch companies, based in Japan. I am not at liberty to reveal anything further until the deal is finalized, but this is a very exciting time for Halios!

I am pictured here in the middle (wearing the short sleeved shirt) with the company's master watchmakers to my left and management to my right:

I wanted to make the news public first and foremost because the legal stipulations may potentially jeopardize the release of the BlueRing. I will post details as soon as I can. Apologies for the dearth of information on such a momentous event, but I am constrained by both the company's legal team and a bad case of jetlag.

BlueRing haiku

2010-03-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

Deep sea blue dial
Brush stainless sapphire movement
Blue Ring promise fills
- Rhino-Ranch, Watchuseek dive watch forum

sent payment quickly
i wait for my spring watch too
need nice camera
- forestfortrees, Watchuseek dive watch forum

Don't ask.

First picture of the silver dial BlueRing...

2010-03-21T23:57:00.000-07:00

...and it's a grainy low-res one. Nevertheless, here is the first look at the silver dial version. Note that the white material you see on the markers is a white base coat, not lume. Enjoy!

Baselworld action

2010-03-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Baselworld is upon us. It is the annual watch and jewellery trade show that has established itself as one of the premier industry events. Watch geeks stay glued to their favourite watch blog/forum to catch a glimpse of the new models unveiled by the world's leading watch companies.

A few choice creations:

Amazing beefed-up version of the Rolex Submariner. All-steel with ceramic bezel:

White-dialed iteration of a diver icon, the Omega Ploprof:

New addition to the Breitling Superocean family - clean design with a nice bold look:

A triumph of watch design and a testament to the genius of its creator. So unbelievably rare, beautiful and sought-after that Baselworld does not even know of or care about its existence:

Kidding about the last one of course.

Enjoy the rest of Roger Ruegger's Baselworld dive watch coverage here. And you might as well start working on how you're going to explain your new watches to your significant other - "Oh, this old white-faced Omega Ploprof? Department store was clearing them out at $75. Got lucky.".

A few shots of the BlueRing bracelet

2010-03-06T16:03:00.001-08:00

The first four watches will ship by the end of next week. The rest of the black dials should follow in 3 to 4 weeks, and those who reserved should be receiving an email shortly - please make sure you add Halios Watches to your safe senders list.

If you're in for a blue or silver dial, I'll have to ask for even more of your patience. I'll update once I have a better idea of the ETA.

For now, here are some wristshots of the BlueRing on the bracelet:

A stroll through an Olympic city

2010-02-15T00:49:00.000-08:00

The XXI Olympic Winter Games officially kicked off a couple of days ago here in Vancouver, Canada. We happen to live right in the heart of downtown, where ALL the visitors to this fair city seem to have congregated. Traffic insanity, all-night parties and the end of free parking have really managed to put the bah in my humbug lately.

But, at the suggestion of my better half, we decided to take a stroll down Vancouver's busiest street and dive into the throng. We start at our modern day Colosseum, otherwise known as Library Square:

Portions of Robson Street shut down to accommodate the pedestrians:

A 170 metre zip line suspended six stories above. Looks like fun but the wait is about 4-5 hours (!!!).

The Vancouver Olympic clock, powered by Omega:

Have your picture taken in the Omega bobsled:

Royal Bank (an Olympic sponsor) building:

We managed to make it (kind of) far from the madding crowd:

A parting shot just to keep things on topic (we pretend to be a watch blog after all):

As I type I hear the partygoers, the sirens, the parking officer's cackle as he writes parking ticket after parking ticket, but the humbug seems to have vanished along with the bah. These games have no shortage of detractors and critics, but I'm reminded of what it's all about: to honour and celebrate the men and women who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of excellence. It is a supremely inspiring paradigm, even when extended beyond athletics.

Welcome to Vancouver, world!

Vintage strap group buy - your action is required

2010-02-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

If you contacted me about participating in the first round of the group buy, you will have received an email yesterday with details. If you're still interested, please submit your specs and payment per the guidelines in my email ASAP so the strapmaker can get started!

Michael Tsang from Sydney...

2010-02-12T17:27:00.001-08:00

can you send me another email? Your email is bouncing.

More BlueRing pictures: splish splash

2010-02-04T17:00:00.001-08:00

Some shots of the BlueRing getting wet. Sorry folks, still don't have silver dial or bracelet pics.

Vintage ammo strap group buy?

2010-02-03T13:08:00.000-08:00

*UPDATE FEB 16, 2010: one more slot opened up...we want to get going on this so please get in touch if you'd like to fill it.*
*UPDATE FEB 6, 2010: first round of the group buy is now closed.*

I've received a number of inquiries on the strap pictured below. The strapmaker has agreed to offer a very attractive price concession if we submit a bulk order. He uses genuine vintage Swiss army leather for his straps, and I am a huge fan of the end results. Details are still up in the air (i.e. how much customization is possible, delivery times etc.) but I wanted to see how much interest there is before committing to an order. Send me an email with your feedback or questions.

Some other examples of his work:

Reservations now open for the BlueRing

2010-02-01T22:57:00.000-08:00

We're getting closer! The email below was just sent out to the mailing list:

HALIOS BLUERING UPDATE

The BlueRing is entering into final production and is scheduled for release in 5 to 7 weeks. However, the manufacturing process of a new model from the ground up is typically rife with delays, so this may well change and is meant as an approximation only. The black dial (6R15 movement) version will be released first, with the ETA versions to follow about a month or so after.

The BlueRing will be offered in three dial colours: black with black bezel (Seiko 6R15 movement), blue with blue bezel (ETA 2824-2 movement) and silver with black bezel (ETA 2824-2 movement). Each dial colour will also be offered in either a brushed or beadblasted case finish with a beadblasted bezel on both. You can view the latest pictures on the Halios blog at halioswatches.blogspot.com.

The BlueRing is priced at USD$499 plus shipping. Shipping is free within Canada, USD$20 to USA and USD$50 worldwide via Canada Post / USPS / EMS. The BlueRing will ship in a Pelican 1120 case with bracelet, "porthole" isofrane-inspired Italian rubber strap and warranty card.

At this time I would like to invite you to reserve your BlueRing - simply reply to this email with the dial colour and case finish of your choice. You will receive an email a week or so before delivery requesting full payment.

Email us if you'd like to reserve one!

Emails sent to returning customers

2010-01-26T00:38:00.000-08:00

If you previously purchased a watch direct from us, you should have an email from us in your inbox. Please let me know if you didn't receive one!

BlueRing on a few aftermarket straps

2010-01-22T12:34:00.000-08:00

On 4-ring NATO with low-light rings - Alex at Chronoworld carries them and is a great guy to deal with.

On distressed leather from a strapmaker named Maddog:

Omega-branded mesh:

BlueRing final prototype on the wrist

2010-01-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

Here are a few wristshots of the blue and black dial prototypes. Excuse the dust particles - as one horlographer put it, they give the pictures more of a "real world" quality. (too bad he's one of a few who could actually use that excuse and have it hold water)

Orders still haven't been opened up yet, so please sit tight. Returning customers: you'll be receiving an email shortly - I thank you for your patience as well. We are working towards a staggered release of the black dial 6R15 version by mid-February, with the rest of the versions to follow about a month after that. Both brushed and beadblasted case finishes will be offered across all three dial variations.

More pictures to come.

An A to Z collection

2010-01-17T20:59:00.000-08:00

In a recent Seiko watch forum post, a collector shared pictures of his vintage collection. The remarkable thing is that he owns brands beginning with each letter of the alphabet. He's also got some very mean photography skills.

My favourite:

Check out the rest of his cool collection here.

The mother of all GTGs

2010-01-16T17:55:00.000-08:00

Watch enthusiasts periodically organize local get-togethers (or GTGs) to meet other like-minded watch nuts and compare collections. A group of vintage Rolex collectors held a GTG in Denmark late last year, and the outcome was staggering. I am no authority on vintage Rolexes, but I do know that the number of truly rare (and not to mention pricey) pieces that turned up at this event was unprecedented.

I recall reading somewhere that only 60 or so of these were ever released back in 1978. Two made it to the GTG:

So-called double-red Sea Dwellers:

One thing's for sure - this level of "passion" does not come cheap...

All pictures are the property of Bernhard, aka bullibeer. See the rest of the amazing pictures and watches here.

New year's resolution

2010-01-09T00:43:00.000-08:00

I vow to post at least once a week on this blog. After all, what's the point of a blog that is updated once every two months? Prepare yourselves for the torrent of exciting and mind-blowing content that is to come (tongue lodged in cheek).

A final working prototype of the BlueRing will be arriving very shortly, so look out for pics soon.

We're also finalizing the designs on a couple of projects that will get off the ground in the next couple of months. One is a sport watch without a rotating bezel - typically a dealbreaker for dive watch fans but we're hoping the concept and design are compelling enough that it'll become a mainstay in the collection.

Season's Greetings

2009-12-24T22:06:00.000-08:00

Best wishes for the season to you and yours from HALIOS Watches! Here's to a watch-laden, adventure-filled, exciting, auspicious 2010.

We'll be focusing on the following for the upcoming year:

1) Availability of watches. As a fellow watch enthusiast reminded me of recently, no one likes to visit a site that showcases only sold-out watches, and not many have the patience to wait months for the release of a product. The plan is to establish a regular cadence for new releases and smooth out production of best-sellers - at any point in time, anyone wanting to buy one of our watches should have at least a handful of choices available.

2) "Brand DNA". My vision is driven by three elements: passion, design and quality. The new models to be released in 2010 and 2011 will attempt to further reinforce the "brand DNA" of HALIOS through distinctive designs and aesthetics. It may be a long time until a watch collector can spot a HALIOS timepiece from afar, but each model we release is a step towards that goal. Maybe we fail and never manage to find that voice, but I'll be damned if we don't make a few cool watches along the way.

3) Stronger service network. With the bulk of the customer base in the US, the plan is to establish service location options that are more geographically proximate.

4) A premium line of watches. This one is still unconfirmed, so stay tuned for more news.

That's the plan and I'm sticking to it. Happy holidays everyone!

HALIOS BlueRing pricing finalized

2009-12-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

Both the 6R15 (black dial) and ETA 2824-2 (blue and silver dial) versions of the BlueRing will be offered at USD$499 plus shipping. Shipping will be USD$20 within North America and USD$50 worldwide via Canada Post.

If you previously purchased a Holotype directly from us, you'll be receiving an email with an exclusive discounted price and first dibs on placing your order. You guys were the ones who put down your hard-earned cash for the Holotype pre-order, sat patiently through the numerous delays and supported HALIOS from day one. Although I think that the pricing for the BlueRing is already very competitive, and I have nothing but love for our new fans who've only recently discovered the brand, I wanted to give you guys something back as a small token of my sincere thanks. If you've since flipped the Holotype, your BlueRing will cost double the regular price. (kidding...)

Here is what the BlueRing will ship with:

- Pelican 1120 case
- Italian rubber isofrane-style strap
- warranty card

February looks like a realistic release date, but check back here for the latest updates.

Pricing for the BlueRing will be announced next week

2009-12-13T12:24:00.000-08:00

Check back here on Wednesday!

No BlueRing under your tree for Christmas

2009-12-12T22:59:00.001-08:00

It's looking like a Jan/Feb 2010 release for the BlueRing. A quality product is a priority, but meeting a deadline is not (although a Christmas delivery would probably have done magical things for sales...dang it). I am working to ensure that the finished product meets and exceeds your expectations - sometimes this requires re-fabricating a component, re-engineering the design, etc. It's certainly not just a cliche when I say "we are taking the time to do things right".

Thanks again to all of you for your patience and continued support!

BlueRing bracelet and clasp

2009-11-08T21:12:00.001-08:00

22mm at the lugs and clasp, 4mm thick:

The endlink:

Flip-lock clasp embossed with the Halios logo:

A few BlueRing dial shots

2009-10-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of updates of late. Here are a few pictures of the second version of black and blue dials with larger markers to allow for more luminous material.

A pretty accurate representation of what the blue dial looks like in brighter light. It appears darker in flat light.

Applied markers give the dials some texture:

Still working towards a late 2009 release!

Pelican cases are cool.

2009-09-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

Pelican corporate lore has it that Dave Parker started the company back in 1976 by selling dive floats built in his garage. Today, according to a recent press release, Pelican Products is the largest manufacturer of injection molded and roto-molded protective cases in the world. Wikipedia writes that most of the cases meet water-resistance, stackability and crush-resistance standards set by NATO, the US military, the ATA (Air Transport Association) and the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). They're used in the military, to protect photographic and electronic equipment, for portage of scuba gear, even as cigar humidors (pic below from The Box Store).

To the uninitiated (read: my wife), there is nothing exciting in the least about a very tough plastic box that will keep stuff dry and protected. Consider, however, the fact that this "box" features a rubberized o-ring gasket and an automatic pressure relief valve with a Gore-tex membrane that helps prevent barotrauma...now, it becomes clear that the Pelican officially qualifies as GEAR. High RPM automobiles, charred meat, gear = cool (not being facetious...these are actually things that warm my heart).

A number of watch companies have shipped their more rugged models in Pelican cases, eschewing the typical glossy wooden boxes in favour of something their customers can actually make use of. The case also undoubtedly serves to reinforce and augment the "tool" appeal of the watch itself. It would be interesting to find out which company started this mini-trend, though anecdotal evidence points to Bell&Ross.

The BlueRing will ship in a Pelican 1120. We're no trailblazers in this respect, but this is one bandwagon that's worth jumping on.

Look! Something shiny...

2009-09-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

The bracelet sample should be ready soon, but we'll have to wait longer for a completed working prototype of the BlueRing. How about a wallpaper as a distraction?

BlueRing variations

2009-08-31T17:41:00.000-07:00

The BlueRing will be released in three dial colours. The black dial will be powered by the Seiko 6R15 movement and the silver and blue dials will be offered with the ETA 2824-2.

Black dial with 6R15 movement - 100 units

Silver dial with ETA 2824-2 movement - 100 units

Blue dial with ETA 2824-2 movement - 100 units

In Sweden, they'd call you a klockfreak...

2009-08-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

This blog aspires to not only bring you the very latest happenings at HALIOS, but also to offer a glimpse into the world of the WIS. For the uninitiated, WIS is an acronym for Watch Idiot Savant, defined quite succintly below by watch enthusiast Sam (aka hewybaby):

"A horological enthusiast who displays extraordinarily detailed knowledge and expertise of one or several aspects of his particular timepiece passion, while otherwise being somewhat socially limited."

Since you're reading a watch blog right now, chances are good that you're a WIS. Ever check out a man's watch before checking out the hot Romanian supermodel by his side? Ever engage in an online debate over whether Hardlex really is as good as sapphire? Ever wear your 1000m water-resistant dive watch in the shower just because you can? And be honest now - isn't the warm glow of a charged-up luminous dial all you really need on a lonely winter night? 'Fess up and embrace the watchnerd within.

Here are a few choice observations culled from the watch forums:

If you've just looked at your watch, then suddenly realize you have no idea what time it is, you just might be a WIS - T Bone, Watchuseek

I would rather go out without underwear than without a watch! - Militarywatchdude, Watchuseek

...ten minutes after meeting someone for the first time, can tell you what kind of watch the person was wearing, but can't remember their name - Kent, Timezone

Has a watch collection that equals the cost of a new 911 but drives a GEO Metro - Mike Breinin, Timezone

If you know your wrist size (C'mon, we're men! Who in the heck knows their wrist size? Ask around...), you just might be a WIS - T Bone, Watchuseek

Roger Ruegger breaks down the severity of the affliction into three stages (In German, but translation is here). A funny read, but somewhat terrifying in its insightfulness.

Alright then - next topic: Incabloc, Kif or Diashock - what is your favourite shock protection system?

Holotype review IV - underwater!

2009-08-24T22:17:00.001-07:00

Nicolas (tartine.74) recently posted the first ever underwater review of the Holotype on MDP, a French dive watch forum. You can find it here.

Fantastic pictures - merci Nicolas!

Water is the essence of moisture...

BlueRing prototype v1 pictures

2009-08-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

A few pictures of the BlueRing prototype dial and case. Enjoy...

On the best mesh bracelet in the business (Omega) - no, the BlueRing will not ship with one.

BlueRing design feedback please

2009-08-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

Your feedback is requested on the burning question of the day - how do you feel about a 60-click bezel? Please visit our Facebook discussion page here and let us know. If you don't use Facebook, you can just send me an email through the main site.

Thanks in advance!

An amazing watch collection

2009-08-07T20:15:00.001-07:00

Mr. Kohei Saito, moderator of the Seiko forum on Timezone, commemorated his 10,000th post with a pictorial of his collection.

If you're a watch enthusiast, words will fail you. Then you will feel a crushing sense of inadequacy.

Once you get over the shock of trying to fathom that all these watches are part of one man's personal collection, you'll scroll down and start to realize the true significance of it all - King Seikos...Minerva Avus IIs...vintage GPs...vintage Blancpains...respek, man.

Check out the thread in its entirety here.

Kohei-san, it's me, your long-lost son.

Holotype review III

2009-07-30T08:31:00.001-07:00

The third Holotype review comes from Paul Hubbard's cool and quirky personal blog. He's a computer engineer by day and Watchreport contributor by night, and describes the subject matter of his blog as "the usual set of nerdly pointless obsessions and pseudo-research interests", which of course includes watches.

Who you calling a nerd Paul?!

Holotype review II

2009-07-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

TLex's Oceanictime blog is a must-visit if you're a dive watch fanatic. He was kind enough to feature a review of the black dial PVD Holotype, which can be found here.

In the review, he touches on one of the most important features of the Holotype's proprietary pheromone capsule technology:

"...you might just attract the attentions of good looking lady or two when donning one."

Holotype Review I

2009-07-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

James Stacey (a fellow Canadian!) from the venerable Watchreport recently reviewed the PVD Holotype - you can find his article here.

The accompanying HD video review:

Thanks to James and Watchreport for taking the time to do a review!

Holotype sold out! IPO here we come.

2009-07-28T01:19:00.000-07:00

The HALIOS Holotype (oft referred to as the HH, the Halotype or el Holotipo) is now officially sold out. Thank you again for making our first offering a success!

So what's next? The BlueRing is coming at the end of this year. This blog will serve as the main portal for news, developments and updates. You'll also see a drive to add more content to our Facebook fan page - the vision is to use that as the repository for pictures and videos, as well as a site for discussions.

In short, our goal is to conquer social media and become the archetype of how a small company can leverage technology as part of their go-to-market strategy.

Or, I hope I don't lose the piece of paper I wrote my passwords on. Remember, we are purveyors of mechanical watches, which by most accounts are obsolete, archaic instruments by which to tell time.

Let's start out slowly...BlueRing early design drawings

2009-07-22T22:46:00.000-07:00

Holotypes are STILL "almost sold out" due to a number of folks who reserved but never paid for their watches. Nevertheless, it's an opportune time to start talking about the BlueRing. A few elements have been changed since these drawings were done, such as the addition of a blue seconds hand and white hour and minute hands, but they're a good representation of what the final product will look like.

Typical HALIOS caseback blandness as sea creatures are just not our thing:

The BlueRing will be released late 2009 / early 2010.

We have the element of surprise.

2009-07-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

I just received this email:

just been informed you no longer manufacture the p v d yellow dial watch, dont you understand anything,some men do not like, a stenless steel watches,shining in the sun ,saying here i come, p/s, most men are for the most part ,are seceretive, im out here.

This has to be my all-time favourite customer inquiry.

Going, going...

2009-07-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

The Holotype is almost history, thanks to your support. Only the yellow dial, brushed finish on rubber strap is available.

HALIOS blog coming soon...

2009-07-09T02:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome! Stay tuned.