Helson Sharkmaster 300 aka Omega sm300 homage

[hoppyjr]

The real McCoy is all ways better than these want to be remakes.

This is true. It’s also predictable.

[Ryeguy]

Yes, the real McCoy is better, but I'm pretty certain I'd not be taking a real McCoy out surfing, or deep sea fishing, or on a white water rafting trip. There is a reason homages exist. 90% of the vintage style with 0% of the concern.

[Ryeguy]

I had my Estoril on earlier before lunch break.

Huge price difference. The DW group LE was $430. They sold quickly though. Even after those 10pct off sales they do, that Helson will be a lot of money.






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The Helson watches I’ve owned were very good quality or at least felt like it. This one runs an ETA 2824 also.

If you’re willing to pay $250 more than a Borealis, I don’t blame you. Spending more money sometimes makes us appreciate a watch more so I can understand that. Human nature, like Fiji water.

I’ve owned a bunch of Helsons and definitely wouldn’t consider the finish or quality superior than most Borealis in any way. Resale value of most Helsons is a big loss while I haven’t lost a penny selling a Borealis yet.




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It would be interesting to see someone do a comparison between the Helson and the Borealis versions of the same homage design.

I myself prefer the ETA 2824-2 movement over the Miyota simply due to the 9105's rotor noise and single direction winding. It is a little thing, I know, but still a preference. Is the ETA alone worth $200 extra? I don't know.

The Helson also includes that slide extension clasp where I assume the Borealis uses a standard flip lock. There is probably a bit of extra cost justification in that as well.

I might give the Helson a shot as I kind of want to try one of these homages and I already missed out on both the Precista and the Estoril.

[River Rat]

Yes, the real McCoy is better, but I'm pretty certain I'd not be taking a real McCoy out surfing, or deep sea fishing, or on a white water rafting trip. There is a reason homages exist. 90% of the vintage style with 0% of the concern.

Well do you remember that old thread from some years ago on leakage on Helson remakes you also take your chances on those remakes leaking like a sib you pay for what you get cheap..

[CGSshorty]

Yes, the real McCoy is better, but I'm pretty certain I'd not be taking a real McCoy out surfing, or deep sea fishing, or on a white water rafting trip. There is a reason homages exist. 90% of the vintage style with 0% of the concern.

Well do you remember that old thread from some years ago on leakage on Helson remakes you also take your chances on those remakes leaking like a sib you pay for what you get cheap..

Rolex and Omega have never sold a watch that leaked?

[JP Chestnut]

Yes, the real McCoy is better, but I'm pretty certain I'd not be taking a real McCoy out surfing, or deep sea fishing, or on a white water rafting trip. There is a reason homages exist. 90% of the vintage style with 0% of the concern.

Well do you remember that old thread from some years ago on leakage on Helson remakes you also take your chances on those remakes leaking like a sib you pay for what you get cheap..

Rolex and Omega have never sold a watch that leaked?

I'm sure Omega has.

[toxicavenger]

Yes, the real McCoy is better, but I'm pretty certain I'd not be taking a real McCoy out surfing, or deep sea fishing, or on a white water rafting trip. There is a reason homages exist. 90% of the vintage style with 0% of the concern.

Well do you remember that old thread from some years ago on leakage on Helson remakes you also take your chances on those remakes leaking like a sib you pay for what you get cheap..

Rolex and Omega have never sold a watch that leaked?

and if I remember correctly the owner of that helson was full of shit.

[Ryeguy]

Why beat the shit out of a cool old watch? While I'm certain a 60 year old watch could handle anything I could throw at it, but the watch itself is irreplaceable.

I've never owned a Helson, so I can't defend their quality from first hand experience. That said, there have been many possitive reviews and that French diver guy is the only negative I can remember. IIRC, he purposely joined a bunch of forums just to blast Helson when his watch fogged after a dive. I think Terrry is correct in that it was later found out he was being unreasonable in his customer support expectations from Helson and did the forum blasting in response.

I'll agree that a homage will never replace the real thing, but I can see a place for them in someone's collection.

[gwells]

I’ve been mostly happy w my helson. The only real negative I would throw out there is that the case finishing on my Blackbeard could be a little better. There are some sharper edges that could have been smoother. But the rest has been great. The over the top lume has been perfect.

[caesarmascetti]

My Sharkmaster 300 will be arriving tomorrow, really looking forward to getting it in

[caesarmascetti]

look what just delivered really nice watch for what it is:

[Ryeguy]

That looks really nice. I bought the no date big triangle version. The dome looks really cool.

What are your thoughts on the overall fit and finish? How about the bezel action - any backlash?

[caesarmascetti]

bezel action is nice and crisp positive engagement very nice action, the crystal is very clear (inner AR) finish is very nice, endlinks fit well no issues at all being hollow, overall well worth the $$ in my opinion, it also cam with a real rubber tropic strap

[5661nicholas]

To my eye, out of the recent homages , this one looks the best. Seems like the finishing in general, bezel, crystal, and case are a a step above the Borealis for example. Looks great, looking forward to seeing more pics.

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[caesarmascetti]

[Chronos]

That really looks great. I'd love to wear one this summer on a Toxic NATO

[caesarmascetti]

yup it's going to be my summer watch, the rubber tropic strap that came with the watch is really nice quality,, it's real rubber not silicone

[Blackdog]

Hi guys, is there an active discount code for Helson that you know of ?
I kinda like this watch, but I could use an extra incentive to pull the trigger.
Thanks.

[tattoo chef]

Hi guys, is there an active discount code for Helson that you know of ?
I kinda like this watch, but I could use an extra incentive to pull the trigger.
Thanks.

They only offer discounts at Christmas time normally.


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[watches503]

Hi guys, is there an active discount code for Helson that you know of ?
I kinda like this watch, but I could use an extra incentive to pull the trigger.
Thanks.

If you write to them nicely, asking if they could please honor previous sales, they always do. However you wanna word it but I know a handful of times that they’ve done. I think they send you a one time use code.


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[Blackdog]

If you write to them nicely, asking if they could please honor previous sales, they always do. However you wanna word it but I know a handful of times that they’ve done. I think they send you a one time use code.

Thanks for the tip, I'm giving it a try.... I asked as nicely as I could, let's see what they say.

[jeckyll]

Weren't the original Helson's the ones that steamed up if you wore them in the shower?

I like the overall look and since Omegas isn't making the watch anymore, am fine with the homages

[Ryeguy]

Weren't the original Helson's the ones that steamed up if you wore them in the shower?

I like the overall look and since Omegas isn't making the watch anymore, am fine with the homages

I can find nothing easily from a quick google search on Helsons leaking or fogging.

There is a WUS thread from 2011 in response to that French guy who claimed his Skindiver leaked with a bunch of owners stating their watches were fine. One of the respondents back then was Carl, and I'd trust his opinion as a diver.

I don't believe Helson (Fullswing) does 100% pressure testing on these as would be done with a Seiko or Rolex dive watch, but I think they are assembled well enough to pass any recreational level diving. If I really wanted to dive with it, I'd probably have it independently tested to 10ATM.

Then again, Helson seems to have decent enough customer service, so (knowing me), I'd just dive with it and if it leaked, I'd send it back.

[Blackdog]

That old thread still pops up if you google for Helson wannabe diver.
I believe it is not considered serious by now, but I admit that it stopped me from buying a Helson some years ago...

I don' t believe that they pressure test 100% of the watches either, but I can test to 7bar myself, so I can be on the safe side.

I don't believe that their 500, 1000 or 2000m WR watches are any more capable than the basic 300m ones. The fact that they put a He release valve on them doesn't give me any more confidence either (one more hole on the case with a valve they probably didn't test either).
But that's a moot point any way. If it is well built and passes a 7 bar test it's likely good for 20bar too, and certainly good enough for any real life recreational diving.

[gwells]

i dove with my blackbeard a couple of years ago when we last went diving (the blackbeard and my tropik). didn't take it particularly deep, probably not more than 45-50 feet. both watches were fine.

if there's one guy out there who had an issue once, even if it's legit, it's *one* guy. not a rash of problems.