Zelos Helica Moonphase

If you've caught my latest video, you know I'm pretty fired up about the Zelos Helica Moonphase. Zelos has been on a tear lately, dropping limited runs every few months that just keep getting better—unique materials, solid builds, and prices that make you question why other brands charge what they do. This Helica is prime example: a hand winding Swiss-made moonphase in a 38.5mm case that's dressy enough for the office but tough enough for daily wear, all for under a grand. Let's break it down.

The Helica Moonphase isn't trying to be flashy—it's understated elegance with some clever twists. The case is stainless steel, measuring 38.5mm across, 45mm lug-to-lug, and about 11.7mm thick on the wrist (feels slimmer thanks to the domed sapphire crystal up front). You've got 100m water resistance via a screw-down crown and caseback, which is impressive for something that wears like a dress watch. The finishing mixes brushed tops and sides with polished accents, including a thick polished line running along the top of the case—gives it that premium pop without overdoing it.

This Affordable Moonphase Combines Dress Watch Looks with Everyday ...

But the real magic is on the dial. Zelos went with an aventurine base for that starry, speckled night-sky vibe, and it's layered beautifully. At 12 o'clock, there's an oversized moonphase window with a smoked overlay—under it, you've got two luminous moons on an aventurine disc. In daylight, you see one moon clearly, but flip to low light and the second one glows through the smoke for a cool reveal. The indices are globalite for killer lume, the hands are Zelos' signature style—polished, partially skeletonized, and lume-filled—there's a silver minute track along with a concentric seconds track located in the center of the aventurine portion of the dial. It's all cohesive, not cluttered, and the lume performance is next-level: hands, indices, and that moonphase pops bright in the dark.

Powering it is a Swiss Sellita SW288 hand-wound movement—basically a moonphase-equipped take on the SW200, visible through the sapphire caseback. It's reliable, with that panoramic moonphase setup, and Zelos has tuned it for everyday use. No automatic here, but winding it manually feels right for a piece like this.

On the wrist it sits perfectly. Not too big, not too small; the proportions are spot-on for versatility. And the bracelet? Easily one of the best at this price: multi-link with tapering, screwed links, quick-release spring bars, solid end links, and a clasp that's a game-changer. There's an external button for micro-adjustments in both directions—super smooth, and you can do it without taking the watch off.

Priced at $949 for the aventurine and mosaic mother-of-pearl versions (meteorite dial bumps it to $999), this is a launch special until February 15—after that, it jumps to $1,099. With only around 300 pieces per drop, these move fast. Zelos is doing what bigger brands can't or won't: high-quality, innovative watches with unique features like that lume moonphase and killer bracelet, all without the markup. It's a "go anywhere, do anything" watch that dresses up or down effortlessly.

If you're in the market for an affordable moonphase that doesn't skimp on details, snag one while you can. Check out the full lineup on Zelos' site: https://zeloswatches.com/collections/helica

And if you want the full hands-on, here's the video: https://youtu.be/-dsYGDgD1YE

What do you think—does the Helica tempt you into the moonphase game? Hit me with your thoughts below, and as always, thanks for reading!