The Best Dive Watch Under $400? Zelos Swordfish Titanium 

Speaking on the warranty, Elshan's customer service is so good that he still takes care of you past a year. I have an Abyss II that was past its warranty and the crown tube had stripped. He paid for 2 day air to Singapore, had it fixed in a week and paid for 2 day air back to me AND shipped it back in a new watch roll. Zelos is incredible

Thanks for the shout out Jody! This was my first Zelos to check out, and I was really impressed. I can see why there seems to be so many people that collect them.

Bonus word score for working "ameliorate" into the review!

I love this channel so much. Found you a couple months ago and have been watching nothing else. Makes me forget about my stressful life and just think about watches!!! Thanks so much for your great content.

Months ago I watched your review of the Helm Vanuatu, fell in love with it, couldn't find one to buy. Then I saw your review of the stainless steel Swordfish. Fell in love with it but Zelos had sold out and I couldn't bring myself to pay over the odds from a private seller. Then.....I saw your Mortal Combat video and pulled the trigger on a Glycine Combat Sub at USD319. I bloody love it! And as the owner of various Seiko divers I'm now relieved I didn't fall for yet another chunky watch wth an NH movement.

The price is going up a hundred dollars when they get their next shipment in Sept.. In that range we start to expect something better than a NH35 movement.

got my Black Sand ti today, first impressions - date window just about functional , red script 300m unreadable without loupe, clasp ends really are sharp and needed a slight chamfering, inner bracelet was scratched on receipt from factory. yes, slight play on bezel but very minor, screw pin heads are soft if you get a tricky thread, and finally the bezel is not that grippy with the indentations too shallow. Having said all that, the watch really out performs the price tag, the fitting is sooo good with the extension, the black/gold combo works well, looks + feels natural on the wrist, and throw in all those extra's and it is really a steal. just get in the queue for the next iterations.

That teal dial is beautiful!.... Zelos have been on my radar for a while now and may have to look at pulling the trigger..... when I can decide which one I like/want haha

I'd want this titanium in 40mm. I was strongly considering this watch. I even had a countdown timer on my phone when it gets released for sale but decided against the 42 mm.

Looks amazing, I'm a big fan of the Samurai so I think this would be right down my street. A samurai feel but with upgraded specs in many ways, how could you not like this!

Beautiful watch however the dial doesn’t look Teal to me. Looks more like a deep blue. I prefer the weight of a stainless steel as I like some wrist presence. Great review as always Jodi!

Superb stuff as always Jody! I'll hopefully have the forged carbon version video review up soon 👍🏻

Wonderful vid. You hit and address every one of our questions and concerns nicely! Curious about the dial color as you call it "teal," yet it seems here to be quite wonderfully a very beautiful bright blue. Thanks so much, again.

Having subscribed to Zelos emails received notice of the sale time and have taken the plunge with a blue dial version (had considered the teal dial but it didn't look as good on the website as it did in this video review). Put my order in prior to seeing the video and very glad I did. Not told the good lady yet but that's for another day!!

Zelos really do make great watches at a pretty reasonable price. That teal blue looks beautiful.

I've just bought one. It's your fault Jody, I'd best do some overtime to pay off the credit card charge. I've watched your videos for ages and this is the first watch I've pulled the trigger on. That dial looks amazing.

Just bought one of the last teal dials. Thank you for the review. I've never had a Zelos before but with all the hype, I figure why not! :)

A good looking watch that appears to be well made, but for me personally, it’s not scratching my itch.....Nice review as always.

I have a 40mm SS in teal, and let me tell you looks fantastic on a Horween . Great review of this titanium. Enjoy all your video reviews.

I had a movement failure in my Mako V1 a year out of warranty. Elshan shipped it to and from Singapore and installed a fresh Sellita SW-200 at no cost to me. This is excellent customer service. I rewarded Zelos by spending the repair budget on a meteorite Swordfish 40mm.

Great vid as always Jody 👍 Am I correct in thinking that Zelos and Ventus have the same ownership? Have you reviewed a Ventus? The Northstar is on my grail watch list (ah, just spotted your Northstar vid!)

I live the look of this watch! Great review as always Jody!!!

I have a Zelos helmsman 2 I got from Rich on Whatsonthewrist a couple years ago. It's still in the regular rotation! That Horween leather strap is one of the most comfortable I own and the bronze is coming along nicely! Solid brand.

Thanks Jody great review as always, you've opened me up to many micro brands that I haven't herd about until tuning in to your.videos, I just purchased the SF40 a few.weeks.ago and a.couple.of other watches that.you recommended so.ill.have.to pass this time maybe next time I'll pick another up.

I just ordered a TI 42, Tidamascus meteorite and I cannot wait to receive it ! First Zelos 😊. Curious to see if the bezel will have some kickback like yours. Thanks again for this review, I was confident in purchasing one because of your good advice

I have the previous non-titanium 40mm model and I really like it. One element I'm not so sure of is where the crystal meets the bezel. There is this ring of angled steel, which is fine enough and fairly unobtrusive, but there are small gaps between this and the insert. It is a bit hard to describe, but that part of the watch looks a little fussy and a little bit out of place IMHO. A plain circular ring would have been better I think - less is sometimes more. I also find the bezel does not have a lot of grip, but my bezel does not have any wobble like yours at least. Despite these niggles, it is still a really nice watch with a lot to enjoy. Overall I would recommend, but you need to be quick when they are released as they will all go fast.

Just placed my order for the Frost! So glad I saw your video, Jody. You're the man! Also, do all the watches come with this color watch roll? Thanks as always!

Bought the Black Sand colour way - can't wait to get it !

I've always been a fan of the blue meteorite dial.

Thanks Jody! Your review along with Dave's at Just the Watch sealed the deal - with only three hours before launch! I went for the show-stopper, full-lume dial version and why not? The angular case is already showy but (as you mentioned) the titanium case will keep the heft down. FWIW your head to head video on the Swordfish vs. Samurai was timely. I'd been looking at those sharp angles and the "look at me" orange dial. That comparison really made the argument for the Swordfish an easily one. Side note for those saying this watch may be too big: I compared the numbers against my Seiko SNZH57 "55 Fathoms" and did you know, that watch comes in with equal specs ? 42mm diameter, 48mm LtL, and 14.2mm height. Also 22mm lug width. Don't think this is going to be any trouble on wrist.

I was lucky enough to pick up the frost dial version of this titanium Swordfish before they sold out. Gotta say, I am loving it! As you noted, Jody, mine also has a bit of play in the bezel - something I have not noted with ANY other Zelos (and this is my 8th Zelos watch). Still, the look, the feel, the lume, the fit and finish and the clasp (especially) is outstanding for a watch of this price. I agree - no finer full titanium watch at this price! Mine is even running at -1 second per day. Hard to beat that!

Love how white hands are so legible on blue background

I just received my Zelos Swordfish 40mm stainless steel, black sand this week! Love it!👍🏼😎

This exact watch is number one on my most wanted list. I just wish I could find one anywhere.

I do like that the date wheel is at the 6oclock position. Always been a fan of that

Went ahead and bought based on this. Came with a ballpoint mark(!) but that quickly rubbed off. This is gorgeous value for the money.

I bought one. Thanks for making me go broke (just Kidding) buying watches but this video actually saved me $3200 since I was at the Breitling dealer looking at my last watch of the year, A Breitling Avenger. I wanted a Titanium watch and this clicked all the boxes. I also looked at Dave's video Just the watch channel and I ended up buying the exact color black sand dial he had . I seen this review when it first came out and had to watch it again. I also am a affordable watch guy and buying a Breitling would take that away, so my bank account thanks you also. I Breitling would be 5 times as costly as all the watches I bought this year through your channel. Its the perfect name, because it's just one more watch when I think to myself when I am putting in my credit card number in the Cart purchases lol.Great review as always

Not gonna lie that is a stunner. Great review as always 😉

This is the wxact watch I was looking at after yesterday's video, lol. Damn it Jodi is the universe pushing me here 🙂

Not a fan of the Swordfish design, but it's nice to see them using titanium again. What I would like to see, is something similar to a Skyraider dial in a Mako case, with a countdown bezel. Maybe make the crown slightly more domed for even better comfort.

I have been considereding a titanium Spinnaker Tesei, any thoughts on that watch? Great video, looking forward to the next one

I've noticed that the teal is very hard to capture it's true color on camera. It's a must see in real life! I love the teal and stainless bezel combo. This will be my first titanium! Great review!

I am addicted to this channel buddy. Great work. I found another watch I need. Damn you! Great face color.

Zelos and Phoibos are among my favorite micro brands. Unique enough style and great materials for the price. Their watches are not made in huge batches either, so the chance of you running into someone random with a Zelos or Phoibos is also pretty rare.

Fantastic titanium dive watch, possibly the best on the market. Most of my watches run NH35A's as well. Recently I acquired one that is less than 3 seconds a day fast! It's in a $300 bronze Aquatico diver I am reviewing. These movements can be outstanding!

Thanks for the timely video. I ordered a Teal. I thought about the Carbon version but that sold out fast.

Bagged myself a carbon version of this . I was put off a little my the heft of the steel version but love titanium and although relatively large in dimensions I feel the lightness mitigates the whole feeling of heft somewhat.Like yourself a big guy so don’t mind 42 . I do however tend to avoid anything over around 170 g as it’s prone to cause wrist fatigue ...

Zelos = "Sold out"😐

I'm sure they're great watches, but I just find it so hard to love Zelos. There's something about the design that's so offputting. It's probably exactly why some people love the brand, but it just doesn't work for me.

Zelos simply got the hang of it. Great looking watch with a great build quality. I was lucky to snag one of the 40 mm a couple of weeks ago. Just one thing: the quick release bracelet is hard to reengage without scratching the lugs,, it's a bit of a fingernail killer.

Nice affordable watch, but I’m slowly tiring of dive-watches: most are too heavy with thick cases for my taste. I did look at the Zelos Nova 38mm models (less than 9mm thick with crystal) but I’m not willing to spend nearly $800 on a micro-brand with a one year warranty. IMO, maybe drop the fancy packaging and up the warranty.

Hmmm one of the things I need, whether it is a micro or standard brand, is availability, and Zelos just doesn't cut it, 90% of the stock is sold out..... whilst great for the owner, not so good for customers, especially that all-important new customer, who COULD have been a repeat buyer but will probably never bother again....

wow thats the same adjustable clasp came with my newly arrived Christopher Ward C65 AM GT! (y) (y)

Example of other big Titanium watches ... RZE (all of them), Helson, and Helm (which you mentioned).

Ordered one and I think it will be a good company near my Vanuatu and Odyssea.

I love the look of this one. You are totally right a titanium Helm Vanuatu would be amazing!

Alrighty, scored a Frost version with fully lumed dial... Now the waiting game starts...

Another good video. I've mentioned you should look at the Bernhardt Watch co. Corsair model as a comparison to many of the affordable dive watches that you do review. It's cheaper than this Zelos as well as most of the others, and instead of the mediocre nh35 movement, it has the Miyota 9015, which outperforms the nh35. Please just check it out. I'm pretty sure many of your subscribers would appreciate it. Also, they provide a transferable 2 year warranty and has all the other good aspects you like in the watches you review.

Small detail that pops out for me is the blue matched date wheel. That's good attention from Zelos.

Looks great! Love the clasp. I honestly think there's no excuse these days for NOT having an on-the-fly adjustable clasp, it should just be industry standard-- the same as quick-release spring bars. It's not exactly rocket surgery! Take note other micro-brands! Let's hope this 'tech' makes its way into more mainstream brands also (Seiko, here's looking at you, kid!) Might be an early start for me here in northern NSW. 3am go-live, is it?? 🥱

I quite like it. I have one titanium watch, a Breitling Aerospace Avantage, and really like it. I haven't weighed it, but it's super light - all Ti construction, including the clasp and, of course, a quartz movement. This looks like a fun watch, nominally lighter than a SS counterpart. I'm not too hard on my watches, so the softer titanium doesn't really bother me, but Ti watches are definitely prone to scuffs and scratches.

For me, it’s the glycine combat sub. You can find them from $290-400 US all day long. Things I like about mine are how it wears. It’s super thin at 10.5 mm. It’s a 42 by 50 lug 2 lug and it wears fantastic on my 7 inch wrist due to that thinness. Another thing is the movement. Swiss eta movement at $3-400 US. Enough said about that topic. It has a good bracelet. Good quality. Solid links, end links. Female end links so it wraps around wrist nicely. Mostly milled clasp. Good bezel action. Tons of different variations to sum it up. That’s my opinion after buying the combat sub a month or 2 ago off ashford for $302 US. Fantastic value imo. I do like zelos too tho.

Got one! Well, got two cos I couldn't decide which colour. So there'll be a Black Sand going on eBay very soon at cost if anyone in the UK fancies it. They really do need to make more given the fanbase. I hope these watches actually get worn regularly rather than consigned to a box. :)

Sweet, I was able to buy a blue and teal one, could not get in quick enough to get the carbon fiber one that is already sold out. Seems like it was less than 5 minutes for the carbon fiber to be sold out.

Horween isn't necessarily horsehide - they make steerhide as well and these straps look like cow to me. Thanks for another great video and timely! Did you set the date for the 27th as an Easter Egg to the release date??? Genius!

I am definitely going to (or at least try) buy the teal version. They are always the first to sell out. I had my eye on the 40mm teal on the last sale but it sold out. I bought the frost version instead.

Looks great. Looking to get a Zelos of some kind, this may be it. Great vid Jodie, can you give me the info of the Eddie Irvine book on your shelf? I'd love to get a copy and read it.

I know everyone raves about Zelos but I had some issues with my Mako last year. First off the frost dial wasn't what it was advertised as, the website described the latest model as having a whirlpool guilloche dial but it arrived as a plain matt dial with no texture. Secondly, the screw pins kept coming loose and I had to retighten them constantly. One day the watch just popped off my wrist and end up in a urinal while I was taking a pee...I'm not kidding! I ended up having to secure the screw pins with low strength loc-tite not to mention disinfecting the watch. Thirdly, it is +15-20 secs every day, which is pretty poor. Would I buy another Zelos...not too sure to be honest

Thanks Jody, I just ordered it!

9:08 what a beautiful look at that dial!

Hi Jody I would love it if you could review the (Xeric Vendetta) It has a very intriguing design, with a Wandering hour complication, the only concern I have is that rotating internal bezel, I was told it has no locking crown and I would be afraid it might move as I wear it. I Took your recommendation on their Nasa watch that I did finally receive after a year, I do love it and everything did turn out fine at the end.

Thanks for this. As a result I’ve gone for the new Swordfish 40 with blue meteorite dial.

Went live 1 hour early. Didn't say so, but allowed me to order.

Wow, I should have started a watch collecting and review channel. Yes , I'm jealous of your freebees sir !

This, or the Glycine Combat Sub? Both have sapphire and stainless, Glycine has a swiss movt and thinner case, surely the Zelos has better lume... The Glycine is slightly cheaper though.

Just received my AVI-8 Flyboy Engineer -Edgar last week, a truly bang on Flieger for those of us bored with the sterile look of a traditional Flieger. I already own the Swordfish V2 in Midnight Blue and a Bronze Mako 2. Thinking I might want to lower my profile for a while for peace on the Domestic front. How will I ever explain the sudden presence of an anticipated BB58?

great looking watch really tempted by the look and finish of this one, however unfortunately for the time being a bit outside of my budget for a single watch! Keep the good reviews coming mate all the best!

Got a Padi Samurai and a meteorite Swordfish. First thing I did was ditch the bracelets and I've worn them since on CrafterBlue, other rubber or Nato: way better. Size is OK for proper divers, but just too heavy on their stock bracelets. No kidding, I finally got my first titanium diver yesterday: a Hamtun Kraken H2. Sellita movt, ceramic bezel and... 41 mm. It's strange how 1 mm makes all the difference. For about the same price (been so long I don't remember it anymore ;-)

Nice. And at the current price, very good value for a titanium watch. I'm gonna wait for a 40mm titanium zelos diver though...

You teased us with that 40mm Swordfish shot, when is that review coming up?! Looking forward to it

Think you should have a look at the Amazfit Neo when it's out. Casio looks with slight smart fucntions for £30 on AliExpress when using vouchers.

Oh SOLD OUT! SOLD OUT! SOLD OUT! SOLD OUT! SOLD OUT! Getting fed up with hobbyist 'watch companies'. This really needs to be highlighted, are these companies serious?

What's the lug-to-lug including the endlink that juts out a bit? Looks really great overall, the clasp adjustment looks really solid.

If they ever make the 40mm version in titanium my wallet might be in trouble

Hello Jody, love your reviews. Can you check out and review the Audaz Octomarine dive watch. Bought the blue dial last year and specs are pretty amazing.

I love the Zelos range! This is another banger.

A few bucks more you can buy a Tissot Sea Star swiss made with 80 hours power reserve! Zelos and seiko killer :)

First, I love your channel and you are one of my go to watch channels for my watch information. Secondly, I have a few micro brand watches and to be honest with you I believe micro brands to be better than my Rolex or Omega. In my opinion nothing beats an established micro brand watch. I have a Dan Henery, TSAO and a Meccaniche Venezizne. All 3 a quality watches. Yes I know there are no in house movements BUT, the quality is still there (excellent), the limited amounts produced ensure that I am probably the only one in the room with that watch on my wrist and the personal service I receive from the watch makers are second to none. Say what you want about the big brand names there is something uniquely special about getting a hand written note of appreciation and the personal information to contact the owner of the company for any reason. Try and get that from Rolex or Omega. Sure I had champaign given to me at the Rolex shop when I went to pick up my Sea Dweller but you just knew sitting there that it was all about the money and you were forgotten as soon as you walked out the door. I am looking to add a Zelos Bronze case watch to my collection as soon as I can.

A damn tempting proposition, if I didn't already have a Swordfish in bronze with a meteorite dial that I wear more than any other watch in my collection. Still, I don't have a titanium watch.. I might just go have a look at the website again.

,Bonny watch but 42 is too big for me. Excellent review as always. Thanks.

Hope we get a 40mm Ti version

Lovely watch did anyone pick one up? Not to keen on the movt but I guess the nh35 a good movt when they're regulated

Goid use of ameliorate, dont think you'll hear that on the other watch you tubers! Nice watch, would be better 40mm on steel so can see why it sold out so quick. As always thanks for all the great content you deliver.

OK, I had to order one... it's my second Swordfish. I have to try one of the Frost dials - the lume looks amazing! My 8th Zelos watch... I must be crazy. My wallet is already yelling at me.

nice video but it doesn't tickle my fancy. i think i'd go for a phoibos eagle ray or a long island watch isl 24. but if it were gunmetal in color like the usual titanium, i think i'd reconsider.

Nice piece 👍 Nice review 👍👍 At least there's no ghost 👻 pull of the crown on this version. I'm still miffed about this on my V2. The overall balance of the watch is critical. Weight not overly important to me. I can tolerate up to 300g IF the bracelet balances everything out.

Is a review coming on the 40mm one shown in the vid btw? Would love your opinion on it. I have a 42mm V2 in black sand from your recommendation but was gutted to miss out on the 40mm. Teaches me to check my emails more frequently.

I just placed an order for the frost variant first Zelos hopefully I love it.

I see Mr Grimwood has quicker fingers than me. Went to buy a carbon model at the launch time and by the time i was returned to the Zelos site from Paypal, it was sold out. I should, however, be the proud owner of a black sand soon. It looks better anyway.

Is Zelos doing an advertisement push? Everyone is making videos about them recently.