Zelos Watches: Everything You Need to Know About the Singapore Microbrand

Zelos is hard to ignore in the world of Microbrand watches. Bronze cases that patinate. Titanium- and Forged carbon cases light as a feather. Meteorite dials that carry billion of years of space in it. Even a titanium Damascus alloy called Timascus, which Zelos says is a first in watchmaking.

You'd normally find that kind of material on watches costing three, four, five times as much, and Zelos puts it on watches most of us can actually afford. Below you'll find where the brand comes from, why the good ones vanish so fast, and how to get one in Europe without a customs headache.

What Makes Zelos Different

Elshan Tang started Zelos in Singapore in 2014, the same year when Watchbandit was founded, and the Helmsman put it on the map. Today it's one of the most desired microbrands out there, mostly because of the unique materials. Bronze that develops a beautiful patina. Wonderfully sparkling Aventurine and Meteorite dials where every single one has its own Widmanstätten pattern, so no two look alike. Titanium, forged carbon, Timascus, you name it.

The look is bold, a little aggressive, and very much tool watch, but sometimes also very elegant. Divers lead the way, named after sea predators: Swordfish, Hammerhead, Mako, Spearfish. But the catalogue goes well beyond divers. There's the Helmsman, the Nova dress watches, the Thresher world timers, the Horizon GMTs, and pilot and field pieces like the Eagle and the Aurora. Inside, you'll find anything from a Seiko NH35 or Miyota 9015 to an ETA 2892, and in the higher lines a Sellita or La Joux-Perret.

Exotic materials, strong design, small runs. That mix built the following.

Why Zelos Watches Sell Out So Fast

Most Zelos releases come in limited numbers, and collectors know it, so they're waiting. A meteorite dial, a Damascus case, a new colorway: gone in minutes, sometimes. Miss it by a day and that's that.

Zelos sells direct, and the first wave goes to its own customers. Plenty of people only hear about a model after it has already disappeared from the official store. So once it's sold out, at Zelos or us, it won't be released again in the same way, while collections stay of course.

Zelos Watches in Europe: Buy the Newest Releases Without Import Hassle

Watchbandit is a specialist shop for microbrand watches, and Zelos is one of the brands we're happiest to carry.

Zelos allocations for Europe

We’ve been a Zelos dealer for years, that’s the reason Zelos keeps a few pieces of every new collection reserved for us and we’re very proud of that. Once Zelos starts shipping the already sold-out watches, we put ours online. And we keep a limited quantity of the newest models, even ones that have already sold out at Zelos itself. The best way not to miss your chance to get one of our few Zelos models is to subscribe to our Newsletter.

Limited is the key word. Zelos builds small runs, so our numbers are small too. First come, first served, while stock lasts. Still, if you missed the drop, look here before you go hunting on the secondary market. A new watch from us usually beats paying a reseller's markup on a used one.

Browse the current Zelos selection at Watchbandit →

No import hassle for European customers

Ordering from outside the EU looks cheap at checkout. Then the extras show up: import VAT, customs duties, carrier fees, paperwork. Usually after the watch has arrived, which is the worst possible timing.

Buy from us and none of that lands on you. We deal with import and customs ourselves, so you don't fill out forms, you don't wait at the post office, and you don't get a surprise invoice. The price in the shop is the price you pay, and the watch arrives as a normal parcel from within Europe.

Quick Answers

• Where can I buy Zelos watches in Europe?
  Watchbandit. We stock a selection of current Zelos models plus a limited quantity of the newest releases, and we ship across Europe.
  
  
• Do I have to pay customs or import duties on a Zelos from Watchbandit?
  No. We take care of import and customs, so you pay nothing extra when the watch arrives.
  
  
• Can I still get a Zelos that's sold out on the Zelos website?
  Often, yes. We keep a limited quantity of the newest models even after Zelos itself has sold out. If it's listed in our shop, it's available while stock lasts.
  
  
• Are Zelos watches good value?
  For what you get, yes. Exotic materials, solid finishing, and bold design at accessible prices. Don't buy one as an investment. Buy it to wear.
  
  
• Which Zelos models do you carry?
  It changes with every release, so the Zelos collection in our shop is the best place to check. Expect divers, GMTs, and pilot and dress models.

Don't Miss the Next Drop

Want to know when new Zelos models land in Europe? Follow us on Instagram and sign up for the newsletter. And if you can't decide which one suits your wrist, just write to us. We'll help you sort it out.