However, coupled with the busy chapter ring, there seems to be one element too many. Certainly not a deal breaker, but a slightly smaller and simpler chapter ring would have allowed the meteorite dial to stretch out slightly more and have that much more presence. Again, this is nit-picking and really the whole package works together very nicely. At 6 o’clock there is a trapezoidal date window with a black date wheel with white lettering. Finally, there’s a stylized Z for Zelos logo at 12 o’clock and the word automatic in white below the depth rating at 6, highlighted with a vibrant red, which is complemented by a red tip at the end of the seconds hands.
The handset itself is quite handsome. The form is slightly difficult to describe – the hour and minutes hands are lume-filled pencil/sword hands that taper at the base, while the second hand has a lume-filled pill shape towards the outside, with a bright red tip. Proportions are excellent and line up perfectly with the edges of the markers and chapter rings. It’s the little touches that make the difference.
Taken as a whole, the dial is on the slightly busy side, but there is ample visual interest and it is by no means overwhelming (Citizen Nighthawk this is not). And again, that meteorite is simply mesmerizing.
Bezel
I am quite particular when it comes to bezels and Zelos certainly doesn’t disappoint. My trifecta of bezel perfection is action, durability, and legibility. Action on the Zelos Mako is sharp and crisp across its 120-click unidirectional bezel, with an easy to grip edge with ample beveling and absolutely zero play. So far so good. Durability is achieved by the use of a ceramic bezel insert with lumed markings. Very nice and the full lume is an excellent touch. Finally, legibility. I want emphasize just how much I appreciate the design aesthetics of the bezel insert. It is clean, well proportioned, symmetrical, and feels perfectly balanced. So, three checks, I’m happy.
Straps and Accessories
Zelos goes out of their way to create a special experience for the customer. Inside a rustic wooden box (great for storing odds and ends) nests a leather watch roll, replete with a metal (bronze?) warranty card, the watch itself, which comes mounted on a pliable tropic rubber strap, an extra honey brown leather strap, and a strap changing tool. Personally, I love it. Everything that comes with the watch is practical and usable, unlike the ubiquitous display box that shortly finds its way into the back of the closet. Now, the flip side to all the extras included with the watch is the inevitable cost trade-off. But really, at the pre-order price, this is an incredible bargain when you include all the accessories and the quality of the watch itself. When you look at the full cost price of $949, this is where I could certainly see the argument for fewer extras and a slightly lower price.
I was trying to think of who this whole accessory package would appeal to most. I think it’s perfect for someone who is just looking to get their first nice watch and enter the watch world, or for someone with a relatively small collection. That being said, it’s also an excellent addition for someone with a small collection that could use a watch roll for travel. Then again, even for a serious collector, it’s always nice to have more straps and an extra tool and travel roll…crap. I guess what it comes down to is that I think a lot of people are going to be very pleased to get a few of these well-curated extras.
Onto the straps themselves. The tropic rubber strap fits the slightly vintage aesthetic of the case. Combined with a meteorite dial that evokes thoughts of space and exploring the cosmos (at least in my mind), you end up with a fun retro-futuristic watch. Now, if only that bronze version hadn’t disappeared in transit – Jules Verne would have loved it! As for the other included strap, it’s a genuine leather strap with minimal stitching which appears to work nicely with the watch. However, given the scorching temperatures in Interior British Columbia (yes, even Canada gets hot), I avoided the leather. One thing to note is that the watch only comes with a single buckle, so you need to switch buckles if switching from the rubber to leather. Given that the buckle is a piece of machined art (with nice polished beveling even), I don’t mind at all. I also tried the Zelos on an Erika’s Originals Marine Nationale strap, which suited it quite well. The Mako would also look splendid on a NATO; however, with the already not insubstantial height of the watch, this may or may not work for you.
When I originally wrote this review, I was lamenting the fact that there was no bracelet option and I thought a simple Oyster-style bracelet would be perfect. Lo and behold, just as I was finishing the review Zelos released a bracelet for the next batch of Makos and it can also be purchased separately for $89. Again, an excellent value. And speaking of the next batch of Makos, there’s an anthracite dial that looks amazing, especially at the $399 pre-order price.
Comfort and Wearability
I decided that the best way to test this watch would be to wear it non-stop for several weeks and subject it to everything I do in my normal(ish) life. So, over the past few weeks, I’ve worn the watch doing laps at the pool, trail running, mountain biking, hiking, working (office environment), presenting a lecture at an international conference, and evenings on the town in bustling Vancouver, BC. And I subjected the watch to the harshest of all environments – two young children. Suffice to say that the watch passed with flying colours. For my lifestyle, it’s a versatile and practical watch and I could easily see it being a great “one watch” for someone that isn’t bound by formality. This is especially true now that there is a bracelet option. The size is excellent, and I quickly forgot the height of the watch once it was on my wrist. I’m someone that enjoys swapping straps, but the comfortable tropic strap that is included works so well with the aesthetics of the watch that I’m having trouble parting with it.
Closing Thoughts
Who is this watch for? Certainly me! I participate in the aBlogtoWatch. giveaways each month and if I’m being perfectly honest I’ve wondered some months what I would do if I actually won the watch, as some are quite far from my tastes. So, when I was notified that I won a watch from Zelos I was thrilled. I’ve followed Zelos’ evolution over the years and have been impressed by Elshan’s unique approach and his willingness to push design boundaries. As such, I was doubly-excited winning not only a watch, but a watch from a company I admire. It’s been a pleasure wearing this watch on a daily basis and I can imagine it will make many others happy as well.
If you’re the type that wishes others would share your interest in watches, but you’re sadly left with blank expressions when you bring up the pros and cons of single- versus double-sided AR coating (for instance), this is an excellent watch for infecting others with the watch bug. Most people couldn’t care less about power reserves, in-house movements, beat rates, etc. but few can resist saying “cool!” when you show them a slab of meteorite. Perhaps once you’ve drawn their eye to the captivating Widmanstätten patterning on the dial, you direct their attention to the smooth sweep of the second hand…five minutes later and bam! You’ve now infected another victim and the watch virus spreads. Or not, but they’ll still think that the meteorite is pretty neat.
All told, the Zelos Mako is a fun watch to wear on daily adventures, whatever those may be. If the aesthetics appeal to you, the quality, attention to detail, and well-thought-out accessories included with the watch will not disappoint. I keep finding myself looking down and staring transfixed at the meteorite dial, my mind wandering off to distant galaxies. Yes, my 6-year old self would certainly approve.
