At Helicon Watches, we believe in making timepieces that are built for real-world adventure. As a small, independent British brand, we don’t just design watches to look the part—we craft them to perform. That’s why we test them in the toughest environments, with people who truly depend on them.
One of those people is Ami—a marine biologist, master diver, and our official test diver. Over the past year, Ami has been training 5 days a week in the Seychelles. Ami's field of interest is Whale Sharks research, tracking and studying the world’s largest fish in their natural habitat.
Her Helicon Master has been with her every step of the way, exposed to hundreds of hours underwater, intense tropical sun, strong currents, and saltwater. Unlike most brands, we’re not afraid to show you what a watch really looks like after a year of daily use—no cosmetic refresh, just pure, unfiltered transparency.
A Dive Watch That Faces Real-World Challenges
Ami’s work and training regime takes her deep into the ocean, regularly diving up to 30 meters to monitor and track whale sharks. In these environments, timekeeping is critical—not just for research, but for dive safety.
That’s where the Helicon Master proves itself. Designed as a true mechanical dive instrument, it has endured a year of professional use without missing a beat. Let’s take a closer look at how it has held up.
The Case: Built for the Ocean
The Helicon Master’s 316L stainless steel case is engineered for maximum corrosion resistance—something absolutely essential when a watch spends more time in seawater than on land.
Ami’s watch shows some wear—as you’d expect after a year of continuous diving—but there’s no water ingress, no mechanical failure, and no loss of function. It’s still as solid as the day she strapped it on.
The Bezel: Precision Timing, Even After a Year
For a diver, a unidirectional bezel isn’t just for show—it’s an essential tool for tracking dive times and ensuring safe ascents. After a year of being turned, clicked, and knocked against dive gear, the bezel still rotates smoothly and precisely.
The Dial and Hands: Built for Visibility
Even in low-light and murky waters, Ami’s Helicon Master remains highly legible. The Ultramarine blue dial has maintained its vibrant colour despite continuous exposure to sun, salt, and sand.
And the Super-LumiNova coating on the hands and markers? It’s still glowing bright, ensuring clear readability even during deep dives and night time research missions.
The Movement: Reliable, Mechanical Precision
Inside the Helicon Master is a high-quality Japanese automatic movement—chosen for its rugged reliability and precision. Unlike a quartz watch that relies on batteries, this self-winding mechanical movement keeps ticking with no risk of electronic failure, making it an ideal companion for extreme environments.
Over the past year, Ami’s watch has maintained excellent accuracy, proving that a well-built mechanical dive watch is still one of the most dependable tools for a professional diver.
The Straps: Built for Comfort and Endurance
Ami primarily wears her Helicon Master on our high-performance FKM rubber dive strap, designed to be comfortable, secure, and quick-drying. But working in the water seven days a week, with constant exposure to salt water and intense tropical sun, she sometimes needs a change.
That’s why she also switches to our Skin Diver strap, which provides a different feel on the wrist when she’s not wearing a wetsuit. Despite being worn in some of the toughest conditions imaginable, just look at it—it’s like new! It’s a testament to the durability and quality of every component we design.
More Than Just a Watch—A True Adventure Companion
After a full year of real-world testing, Ami’s Helicon Master has proven itself as more than just a watch—it’s a true tool for professionals who rely on their equipment daily.
Unlike many brands that design watches purely for aesthetics, we take pride in creating timepieces that are actually used in the environments they were built for.
And the best part? Every purchase of a Helicon Master helps support Ami’s vital conservation work, ensuring that whale shark research and protection continues for years to come.
Follow Ami’s Journey
Ami will be continuing her essential work in 2025, managing and advising on marine conservation efforts. We’ll be sharing updates from her expeditions, so stay tuned! In the meantime, follow us on our YouTube channel for more.
In the meantime, if you want to own a dive watch that’s been tested and proven in the field, explore the Helicon Master today.
