Latest Review
It’s no big secret that the worn&wound crew are huge fans of Halios. For the past 5 years, the Vancouver-based brand has been responsible for creating some of the most unique boutique divers on the market, all of which are priced well under a grand. 2013 was an especially exciting year for Halios, with the announcement of not one, but three new attractive models: the Tropik B, the Tropik SS, and the Delfin. Both Tropik models were huge hits upon their release and are currently sold out (more on this later). The Delfin was initially expected to make a splash in late 2013, but a number of production delays pushed back that deadline to 2014. A few months ago, Halios founder Jason Lim revealed photos of the final Delfin prototype on Facebook, showing off a watch that promises to be the next Halios classic.
Halios is known primarily for making solid tool divers like the Puck and the Holotype, with the Tropik series–boasting a more refined aesthetic–representing a slight departure from the norm. The Delfin seems to fall smack-dab in the middle, sportier than the Tropik line but with a touch of finesse that builds on the elements that made the Tropik a big hit. At 44mm, it’s certainly a watch that commands attention, but it’s the little details that really make it stand out. The custom case design, ceramic bezel, applied markers, and matching date wheel speak to a level of finishing rarely seen at this price (the projected MSRP is $650), making the Delfin an incredible value. The only real noticeable (and regrettable) difference from the original specs is the lack of drilled lugs. Less a design choice and more a matter of expedience, Lim decided to forego this beloved detail after encountering a number of manufacturing issues, which would have undoubtedly led to more delays. The Delfin is expected to be ready in 4-5 weeks, but Lim warns that the timeline is not set in stone. For those who want to be notified upon its release, email [email protected].
The reveal of the Delfin is not the only news coming out of Halios HQ. In a recent post on Facebook, Lim enlightened Halios customers on a number of outstanding issues that have in recent months become extremely divisive.
For those of us with Tropik Bs, the promised bronze buckle has become something of a fabled unicorn. After a lengthy holdup resulting from issues with flighty suppliers, I’m happy to say that the buckles are now on their way to their owners.
Likewise, Tropik SS owners are likely to see an end to their wait for a bracelet. Lim recently approved the latest endlink prototypes, and they are now in production. With the rest of the bracelet ready to go, the full package should be available for order quite soon.
And finally, for anyone who regrets not getting on the Tropik SS bandwagon back when they were first released, Lim announced that a second batch of white and black dialed Tropiks are 7-8 weeks out. (He also announced a handful of remaining Tropik Bs, which were happily scooped up within hours.)
