Zelos Watches: Singapore Microbrand With Unusual Materials

Zelos has built a following by doing something most affordable brands avoid: using unusual materials such as meteorite dials, bronze, carbon and a titanium Damascus alloy it calls Timascus, at prices that start around $400. The watches themselves are mostly divers and sports watches with Japanese movements and sapphire crystals. This article on Zelos watches looks at the brand, the range, the movements, prices and the policies you should know before buying.

Who Is Behind Zelos?

Zelos was founded in 2014 by Elshan Tang, who studied mechanical engineering at the National University of Singapore. According to the brand, he started collecting luxury watches as a teenager and was trading them by the early 2010s, before deciding he wanted to create his own designs. The name comes from the Greek word for zeal. The watches are designed in Singapore and sold worldwide, mainly direct from the brand's website.

What Zelos Makes

We went through the watches listed in Zelos's online store in September 2026. Of the 228 listings with full specifications, the cheapest was $399, the median about $559 and the most expensive $2,499, for limited editions in materials such as tantalum and Damascus steel. The biggest families were the Swordfish, Aurora Field, Mako, Blacktip, Helmsman, Helica and Hammerhead.

A few examples, all from Zelos's published specifications:

• Swordfish 40mm ($399 to $449). A 40mm steel diver, 46mm from lug to lug and 12mm thick, with a Seiko NH35 automatic, 200m of water resistance, a flat sapphire crystal and a quick-adjust clasp.
• Hammerhead 43 Field ($499). A 43mm field-style watch with 300m of water resistance, 48mm from lug to lug and 13mm thick, with a Seiko NH38 without a date and a domed sapphire crystal.
• Helica 39 ($599 to $629). A dressier 39mm watch, 45.5mm from lug to lug and 11.9mm thick with its box sapphire crystal, using a Miyota 9015 and water resistant to 100m.
• Great White 43mm Ti ($599 and up). A titanium diver surface-hardened to 1200Hv, 49.5mm from lug to lug and 14.8mm thick, with a Miyota 9015 and 300m of water resistance.
• Helica Moonphase ($1,049 to $1,099). A 39mm moonphase with a Swiss Sellita SW288 movement.

The lug-to-lug figures matter. The 43mm divers are big watches, while the 39mm to 40mm models wear more like mainstream sports watches. You can check any of them against your wrist with our watch size calculator.

About the Movements

Most Zelos watches use proven Japanese automatics. The Seiko NH35 and NH38 are sturdy, easy to service and hackable, with about 41 hours of power reserve. The Miyota 9015 is slimmer and runs at a higher beat, but has an audible rotor. The FAQ puts the power reserve of its automatics at about 40 hours. Some higher-priced models use Swiss movements, such as the Sellita SW288 moonphase. None of the movements is decorated or unusual; the money goes into the dials, materials and cases.

Warranty, Returns and Shipping

Zelos ships free worldwide by DHL Express, and says watches usually arrive three to four days after dispatch. Its FAQ says the warranty covers "movement issues arising from normal use, or any defects with manufacturing", and claims are handled by email. The FAQ does not state the length of the warranty, so check it on the warranty card or with the brand before you buy.

Returns are tight. You must tell Zelos within 7 days of receiving the watch, it must be unused and in its original packaging, and return shipping is paid by the customer unless the watch is faulty. That is shorter than most brands in this article series.

Strengths

• Distinctive materials and dials that you rarely see at this price.
• Solid specifications: sapphire crystals, 200m to 300m on the divers and quick-adjust clasps.
• Free, fast worldwide shipping.
• A wide range of sizes and styles, from 39mm dress-sports watches to 43mm divers.

Weaknesses

• Short return window of 7 days, with return shipping at your cost.
• Warranty length not stated in the FAQ.
• Large, thick cases on some divers, up to 14.8mm with the crystal.
• Limited runs, so a model you like may sell out.

The Bottom Line

Zelos offers something genuinely different: meteorite, bronze, carbon and exotic metals on well-specified watches from about $400. The movements are dependable rather than special, and the 7-day return policy means you need to be fairly sure before ordering. If you want an affordable diver with a dial nobody else has, Zelos is one of the most interesting places to look. For more mainstream alternatives, see our guide to the best dive watches under $500.

How we researched this: we did not handle a Zelos watch for this article. It is based on the product specifications, About page, FAQ and refund policy in Zelos's official store, checked on 24 September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Zelos watches good?

Zelos watches offer strong specifications for the price, including sapphire crystals and up to 300m of water resistance, with proven Seiko and Miyota movements. Their main appeal is unusual materials and dials.

Where is Zelos from?

Zelos is a Singapore brand founded in 2014 by Elshan Tang.

What movements does Zelos use?

Mostly Seiko NH35 and NH38 and Miyota 9000-series automatics, plus Swiss Sellita movements in some higher-priced models.

What is the Zelos return policy?

You have 7 days from receipt to request a return. The watch must be unused and in its original packaging, and you pay return shipping unless it is defective.