Just put yourself on their lists then forget about it. You can decide when you are contacted Nothing to stress about and for now at least they can be flipped for a decent profit. in my view the Titanium models are best since the watches are chunky.
I have a Miyako, and the one recommendation I will make is to ignore the dimensions as the watch wears smaller and slimmer on the wrist than the dimensions would have you believe. I love the watch, and it's one of the few watches in my collection that people ask about when I have it on, and that's not something you hear from non watch people. I have the blue dial, and it's one of those colours that changes in different light it can go from black to a rich blue and everything in between. I have to say that it is worth the wait.
Nice watch! The wait is real… About a year ago, I was number 5426 for the Vanuatu Titanium. I just checked it and I’m now 4006. I know you can skip the line and buy them now from people who already got them to flip them; but, who wants to pay about double the price? Looks like I’ve got a little more than 3 years to go to get mine at retail. Anyway, thanks for showing another Helm watch. They are pretty impressive for the price.
This is the one that I am on the list for. I get that it's cool to like the tool divers, but I am much more drawn to the more dressy divers, and this combination of a Fifty Fathoms and JLC Polaris hits just the right notes for me. While I understand that a wait list isnt ideal, I dont really get the hate. There is no deposit, no commitment. I put my name down, and when I get to the top of the list I can decide if I want it..... spoiler alert, I probably will. These watches are not limited in number, well spec'd and a great price.
Mmmmmmm…….. Four years - four years!!! …… Naaaaaa! - Life’s too short for that s**t - I could be dead! I’ll just look elsewhere for a ‘not so original’ diver.
If they have a waiting list that long they are doing something very wrong. They are not well known or ‘different’ enough to warrant an exclusivity badge. They just need to get a rocket under their manufacturer.
My thoughts exactly! I decided on the Forteller Cambrian as my daily beater dive watch.....for a sub £250 watch I found it difficult to find anything that could compete on quality, aesthetics and value for money! They'd sold out after I bought ours before Xmas but they've released a small handful due to warranty issues being virtually non-existent! Grab one whilst you can, you really won't regret it!
Not trying to be contrarian or stir things up but would the answer be different for anyone were it for a Zelos, the MoonSwatch design of your choice? a Rolex? Just curious.
@@karlsenula9495 Nope, I for one certainly wouldn't wait for a Zelos, Moonswatch nor even a Rolex.....I'm impatient and the idea of delaying gratification for 4+years doesn't compute when it comes to a daily beater watch! Ok maybe for a Daytona.......but even then if a version of the Zenith El Primero was easily available that I really liked I'd go for that all day long!
Had all of Helms offerings & the Ti Vanuatu is my pick. All great value watches if not a little oversized. The Miyako was my last purchase but I flipped that as the lume was in the hands was a different shade to the markers & that bugged me.
You've had them all ? My van ti is in the mail finally after years I feel like wait.. I just applied for this watch I'm 3889 on the list .... excited for the ti to come In.... your comment makes me feel good about my first pick
Looks like a homage to the watch I happen to be wearing - "Corgeut 45mm Sport Design Clock Luxury Top Brand Mechanical Luminous Hands Automatic Reloj Hombre Self-Wind Vintage Mens Watch" with Seagull 1612. ;)
Nice watch and great review, but for me, there are plenty of watches on my wanted list in this price bracket, or for not much more, that I won't have to wait for.
Cheers Gary - have one of these inbound - didn't realise waits were an issue on these. Like your commentary - informative and relaxed. Now a subscriber.
I just got my gray Miyako last week, after 11 months on the wait list. My Dad waited almost two years for his Vanuatu, and he got it last month. We’re both super impressed with our Helm’s and I’m looking forward to wearing mine swimming this summer. I don’t mind the wait at all, it’s kind of fun and it’s not like I don’t have other watches to enjoy in the mean time.
@@Hakuna_My_Tatas I wouldn’t say it is perfectly aligned. But it wasn’t until I saw people talking about bezel alignment issues that I looked more closely and it is maybe a hair off, but not noticeable at all to the casual observer.
@@ILikeWatches2 just can't decide on the colour choice. Got my Khuraburi 4 months ago, I wish I had known that you could get two as I would have definitely done that 🤦
Good review, Gary! However, waiting years for a misaligned bezel - hard no from me. That watch should never have left the factory. Is it me, or was there a stray dot of something marking the dial, just at the transition edge at 37 mins on the dial? Macro is unforgiving!
I must admit that once I saw the description, I was looking forward to the review, but sadly, I am not excited by the dial design. Other models I have seen I have loved, just not this one.
I've had my Miyako about a year (about two years and change on the list). It does seem to be a polarizing watch and I have somewhat mixed feelings about it myself. I was initially interested in it since it does riff off of the 50 Fathoms, a watch design I really like. However, I'd have been better off just getting a Helson Skindiver if that was the only motivation to buy. The Miyako can stand on its own, but with caveats. It's strengths are in the details, of which there are many little interesting bits. That's also the main problem. Those bits don't really gel together as a cohesive whole all that well. Overall, I do like the watch, which is why I still have it. Helm watches are undervalued, hence the waiting list. I don't mind this, but you have to really want one because you're going to pay for it in time or third party markup.
I have the Vanuatu and the Khuraburi but not a big fan of this one. The 12-3-6-9 markers make me think of the JLC Navy Seals and the bezel looks similar to many 50 Fathoms homages...
I would love one of those watches. But to wait years for it just doesnt seem fair. Maybe one day I can get my hands on one of those ... love your channel. Keep rocking..👍👍
Thanks for that video!! There is a god, and he knows my name . This watch comes very near to my grailwatch (we all know which it is). The logo always reminds me on a skandinavien producer of moto-x bikes...and mowing machine 🤔. Go on, looking forward to your next great video 👍👍👍
Great review as usual Gary. Thumbs up as per usual. It's a thumbs down for the watch though unfortunately. Helm - Emperor's new clothes. Massive wait lists for what is essentially a homage with lots of quality shortcomings. Just my opinion.
After 4 years I can only imagine how disappointed the suckers on the wait list would feel. Just order a San Martin on Monday and you'll have it by the end of the week, or early the next. These Helm watches do absolutely nothing for me.
The newer ones have the changes. That was the biggest issue with the watch when first released, so they changed it up because of customer and reviewer demand so I have heard.
Buses in Germany are the same and I wager anywhere else for that matter! 🙄 A few months ago I purchased a Helm Komodo after waiting nearly two years. But in the meantime I sort of moved on. I decided to buy it anyway to see if it wins me over when I have my hands on it. It was a nice but it didn't happen so I flipped it.
It looks like the indices are fauxtina'd lume and the hands are probably regular C3. I get that they probably wanted stronger lume on the hands since it's more important, but I dislike the mismatched colour. I don't love the fauxtina colouring so I'd prefer just regular C3 on both the indices and hands.
Good grief, Gary: here's an instance where your review would be better informed had you bothered to look at the paperwork that Matt included with your watch. Just a hint: go back and look at those. Miyako is an outlier at Helm: thinner, smaller, and much more styled than the rightfully popular tool watches that make up the rest of the line. Fun review, but you missed some real information that would have been nice to pass along for those that didn't know it.
I must be missing some paperwork then because there is nothing with these watches that offers anything new…I’m not one for reading the manufacturer’s promotional material and repeating it like some reviewers do…I like to speak naturally after spending time with the watch. I feel this approach makes for more natural and honest reviews…
@@ILikeWatches2 Something's not quite right then: every Helm comes with two cards inside that envelope (and a third outside that would be a short note from Matt) -- the warranty, and the * record of testing*. Matt, the owner personally pressure tests each individual watch before boxing it. He pressure tests the Miyako to 275 m for 2 hours, then 3 m for an hour, and dates the certification. I took a picture of one, so you can see it, and I'll try to find your email real quick.
i may be on my own with this, but i don't see any point testing a 200m rated watch to 6 bar. if you are not testing anything to it's rating what's the point?
Maybe they didn’t do up the case back…and why should we trust any rating…we test crystals….we measure the watches what’s wrong with a simple WR test to make sure you can at least get it wet.
A four year wait list? Is someone taking business advice from Rolex?? Sorry but if it's taking that long to pump these out then there is no excuse for alignment issues (if I want a misaligned segment, I'll buy a Seiko!)
If I had waited four years to receive this particular watch I would be very disappointed. Not that I would ever sign up to a waiting list for a watch. Just my opinion.
I have this watch. Big disappoint. The clasp micro-adjustments could be better. The dial design looks like a cheap plastic toy trinket. I have other HELM models that are much better.
Is it really that hard to match the lume on the hands and on the dial? It looks cheap when they don't match! Makes it look like a Aliexpress parts watch. And they want people to wait 4 years...
Helm do produce nice watches, i have always liked them, but it ends there.... I would not wait 4 years for any watch. A month or 6 weeks, sure ok, but 4 years,?, that is just not happening.
I can't stand half year, let alone barely 3 months for preorders. I swore my friend didn't wait nearly as long for one. I guess there's enough of a fan base to keep these guys in business with such a small amd dragged out production.
People are funny! There is absolutely nothing about this watch that would make me wait four years for it! There are way too many other great watches available now to be had to waste my time on this!
No position of date window is any harder than another the date moves the same amount… it’s just lazy manufacturers using date wheels designed to be shown in another place.
It is because you have to re print the date wheel in order to get the date positioned perfectly between the 4 and 5. James and I discovered all this when designing the exciton. It’s because 31 doesn’t divide into 12.
@@Fahrenheit1407movements with date wheels are sold with the date window position specified, the companies who have the window slightly nearer 5 are using a 3 o’clock date wheel and not getting it re printed
@@R023N Matt Cross, founder and owner of The Helm Group Limited is from North Carolina, but he moved to China in 2013, where the watches are made and shipped from. (Not dissing Helm, I own 3, great QC and a good price point).
Just put yourself on their lists then forget about it. You can decide when you are contacted Nothing to stress about and for now at least they can be flipped for a decent profit. in my view the Titanium models are best since the watches are chunky.
I have a Miyako, and the one recommendation I will make is to ignore the dimensions as the watch wears smaller and slimmer on the wrist than the dimensions would have you believe. I love the watch, and it's one of the few watches in my collection that people ask about when I have it on, and that's not something you hear from non watch people. I have the blue dial, and it's one of those colours that changes in different light it can go from black to a rich blue and everything in between. I have to say that it is worth the wait.
Nice watch! The wait is real… About a year ago, I was number 5426 for the Vanuatu Titanium. I just checked it and I’m now 4006. I know you can skip the line and buy them now from people who already got them to flip them; but, who wants to pay about double the price? Looks like I’ve got a little more than 3 years to go to get mine at retail. Anyway, thanks for showing another Helm watch. They are pretty impressive for the price.
I've got 3 helm watches with a 4th coming soon and for the money they are fantastic. Great channel as always 👍
This is the one that I am on the list for. I get that it's cool to like the tool divers, but I am much more drawn to the more dressy divers, and this combination of a Fifty Fathoms and JLC Polaris hits just the right notes for me. While I understand that a wait list isnt ideal, I dont really get the hate. There is no deposit, no commitment. I put my name down, and when I get to the top of the list I can decide if I want it..... spoiler alert, I probably will. These watches are not limited in number, well spec'd and a great price.
Mmmmmmm…….. Four years - four years!!! …… Naaaaaa! - Life’s too short for that s**t - I could be dead! I’ll just look elsewhere for a ‘not so original’ diver.
If they have a waiting list that long they are doing something very wrong. They are not well known or ‘different’ enough to warrant an exclusivity badge. They just need to get a rocket under their manufacturer.
Agree.
My thoughts exactly! I decided on the Forteller Cambrian as my daily beater dive watch.....for a sub £250 watch I found it difficult to find anything that could compete on quality, aesthetics and value for money! They'd sold out after I bought ours before Xmas but they've released a small handful due to warranty issues being virtually non-existent! Grab one whilst you can, you really won't regret it!
Not trying to be contrarian or stir things up but would the answer be different for anyone were it for a Zelos, the MoonSwatch design of your choice? a Rolex? Just curious.
@@karlsenula9495 Nope, I for one certainly wouldn't wait for a Zelos, Moonswatch nor even a Rolex.....I'm impatient and the idea of delaying gratification for 4+years doesn't compute when it comes to a daily beater watch! Ok maybe for a Daytona.......but even then if a version of the Zenith El Primero was easily available that I really liked I'd go for that all day long!
A note to everyone, the bezel does loosen up over time and now is super satisfying
Really surprised that the alignment is off...I thought Helm were renowned for the accuracy of assembly
Had all of Helms offerings & the Ti Vanuatu is my pick. All great value watches if not a little oversized. The Miyako was my last purchase but I flipped that as the lume was in the hands was a different shade to the markers & that bugged me.
You've had them all ? My van ti is in the mail finally after years I feel like wait.. I just applied for this watch I'm 3889 on the list .... excited for the ti to come In.... your comment makes me feel good about my first pick
Looks like a homage to the watch I happen to be wearing - "Corgeut 45mm Sport Design Clock Luxury Top Brand Mechanical Luminous Hands Automatic Reloj Hombre Self-Wind Vintage Mens Watch" with Seagull 1612. ;)
Love the grey dial, the date window and the 50 fathoms( ish ) bezel. Hate the wait. But I can't afford the Blancpain. So wait it is. Great video. 👍
Nice watch and great review, but for me, there are plenty of watches on my wanted list in this price bracket, or for not much more, that I won't have to wait for.
Cheers Gary - have one of these inbound - didn't realise waits were an issue on these. Like your commentary - informative and relaxed. Now a subscriber.
Their white dial Komodo with blue lume does it for me
I just got my gray Miyako last week, after 11 months on the wait list. My Dad waited almost two years for his Vanuatu, and he got it last month. We’re both super impressed with our Helm’s and I’m looking forward to wearing mine swimming this summer. I don’t mind the wait at all, it’s kind of fun and it’s not like I don’t have other watches to enjoy in the mean time.
Does yours also have the same bezel alignment issue as in the video or is yours perfectly aligned?
@@Hakuna_My_Tatas I wouldn’t say it is perfectly aligned. But it wasn’t until I saw people talking about bezel alignment issues that I looked more closely and it is maybe a hair off, but not noticeable at all to the casual observer.
I have the blue, loving it but the bracelet is too chunky.
Very nice watches, really like that Blancpain tire style bezel. But at my age I may not remember what I ordered 4 years from now. 🤣🤣
I have two Helms and am No 236 on the Miyako list :-)
Not long now then!
@@ILikeWatches2 just can't decide on the colour choice. Got my Khuraburi 4 months ago, I wish I had known that you could get two as I would have definitely done that 🤦
Great watches, love the blue one most. But a 4 year waiting list, no, that's not worth it.
I waited about 9 months, just for reference.
Good review, Gary! However, waiting years for a misaligned bezel - hard no from me. That watch should never have left the factory. Is it me, or was there a stray dot of something marking the dial, just at the transition edge at 37 mins on the dial? Macro is unforgiving!
I must admit that once I saw the description, I was looking forward to the review, but sadly, I am not excited by the dial design. Other models I have seen I have loved, just not this one.
I've had my Miyako about a year (about two years and change on the list). It does seem to be a polarizing watch and I have somewhat mixed feelings about it myself. I was initially interested in it since it does riff off of the 50 Fathoms, a watch design I really like. However, I'd have been better off just getting a Helson Skindiver if that was the only motivation to buy. The Miyako can stand on its own, but with caveats. It's strengths are in the details, of which there are many little interesting bits. That's also the main problem. Those bits don't really gel together as a cohesive whole all that well. Overall, I do like the watch, which is why I still have it. Helm watches are undervalued, hence the waiting list. I don't mind this, but you have to really want one because you're going to pay for it in time or third party markup.
The wait list has not moved in six months. I've been hoping they make a GMT now that the movement is available.
Are you sure? Maybe check your cookies? It usually gets updated about every 2 months...
It just moved for a bunch of people. Make sure you aren't dumping the emails in spam.
I have the Vanuatu and the Khuraburi but not a big fan of this one. The 12-3-6-9 markers make me think of the JLC Navy Seals and the bezel looks similar to many 50 Fathoms homages...
Good review 👍. That is first Helm, I could imagine wearing every day, but I don't like it enough to wait 3 years!
Similar to Rolex Sub 1953 . Nice retro look. I like it.
They have enough time to fix the bezel, 3 years. I dont think anyone would wait that long.. Too bad, overall i really liked it..
I would love one of those watches. But to wait years for it just doesnt seem fair. Maybe one day I can get my hands on one of those ... love your channel. Keep rocking..👍👍
Thanks for that video!! There is a god, and he knows my name . This watch comes very near to my grailwatch (we all know which it is). The logo always reminds me on a skandinavien producer of moto-x bikes...and mowing machine 🤔. Go on, looking forward to your next great video 👍👍👍
I own 1 helm watch. But I'm not going thru the absurd ordering process again, life is too short !
Great review as usual Gary. Thumbs up as per usual. It's a thumbs down for the watch though unfortunately. Helm - Emperor's new clothes. Massive wait lists for what is essentially a homage with lots of quality shortcomings. Just my opinion.
It looks pretty good. Great review.
After 4 years I can only imagine how disappointed the suckers on the wait list would feel. Just order a San Martin on Monday and you'll have it by the end of the week, or early the next. These Helm watches do absolutely nothing for me.
Lol….
I have a NATO and 2 rubber straps for my Kamodo and can’t figure why their signature on the buckle is on the underside. 😮
at 7:50 is it just me or does the grey dal look a lot bigger than the blue one, both nice by the way.
Waitlists..hmm t I don’t see why people would be queueing for this Helm
Simple, NO watch is it worth to wait for it four years! Not even a car!
Hmm interesting my version Miyako’s Helm logo isn’t lumed. And came with the 2 micro adjust holes on the clasp.
The newer ones have the changes. That was the biggest issue with the watch when first released, so they changed it up because of customer and reviewer demand so I have heard.
Buses in Germany are the same and I wager anywhere else for that matter! 🙄 A few months ago I purchased a Helm Komodo after waiting nearly two years. But in the meantime I sort of moved on. I decided to buy it anyway to see if it wins me over when I have my hands on it. It was a nice but it didn't happen so I flipped it.
Should Helm watches be included in the “cheap watches you can sell for more than you pay for”category?
@@ILikeWatches2 Since the proceeds were nearly double the price I paid...yes! 😁
You got almost double? I sold the last one for the same as I paid…..🤦🏻♂️
@@ILikeWatches2 Just listed it on ebay for € 1, then waited and saw what happened....
It looks like the indices are fauxtina'd lume and the hands are probably regular C3. I get that they probably wanted stronger lume on the hands since it's more important, but I dislike the mismatched colour. I don't love the fauxtina colouring so I'd prefer just regular C3 on both the indices and hands.
I wouldn't wait several years for a Rolex. Of course I wouldn't wait several years for amicrobrand watch, that is in the end online a homage
Good grief, Gary: here's an instance where your review would be better informed had you bothered to look at the paperwork that Matt included with your watch. Just a hint: go back and look at those.
Miyako is an outlier at Helm: thinner, smaller, and much more styled than the rightfully popular tool watches that make up the rest of the line.
Fun review, but you missed some real information that would have been nice to pass along for those that didn't know it.
I must be missing some paperwork then because there is nothing with these watches that offers anything new…I’m not one for reading the manufacturer’s promotional material and repeating it like some reviewers do…I like to speak naturally after spending time with the watch. I feel this approach makes for more natural and honest reviews…
@@ILikeWatches2
Something's not quite right then: every Helm comes with two cards inside that envelope (and a third outside that would be a short note from Matt) -- the warranty, and the * record of testing*. Matt, the owner personally pressure tests each individual watch before boxing it. He pressure tests the Miyako to 275 m for 2 hours, then 3 m for an hour, and dates the certification. I took a picture of one, so you can see it, and I'll try to find your email real quick.
2:10 hallelujah that date window/wheel is perfect 👨🍳💋 3:44
I’ve owned five Helm watches, currently have three, the Miyako is my least favorite, willing to give it up, Conus only.
i may be on my own with this, but i don't see any point testing a 200m rated watch to 6 bar. if you are not testing anything to it's rating what's the point?
Maybe they didn’t do up the case back…and why should we trust any rating…we test crystals….we measure the watches what’s wrong with a simple WR test to make sure you can at least get it wet.
A four year wait list?
Is someone taking business advice from Rolex??
Sorry but if it's taking that long to pump these out then there is no excuse for alignment issues (if I want a misaligned segment, I'll buy a Seiko!)
Nice looking watch 👍. Four years 😮👎
This dial doesn’t do it for me. It’s a bit too busy in my opinion. Is there such a thing as a designer trying too hard to impress?
What makes it so desirable? Is it the price?
Even for a rolex I wouldn't wait 4 years
If I had waited four years to receive this particular watch I would be very disappointed. Not that I would ever sign up to a waiting list for a watch. Just my opinion.
they start a problem with HELM because alignment issues beat errors also so not worth any more like that
I'm number 3889 for this watch , my number just got called for the ti vanuatu it's in the mail .. I feel like I waited 3 or 4 years for the ti ....
No watch is worth joining a waiting list for unless it's bespoke or made to order. Look at the nonsense caused by Rolex otherwise.
I have this watch. Big disappoint. The clasp micro-adjustments could be better. The dial design looks like a cheap plastic toy trinket. I have other HELM models that are much better.
Is it really that hard to match the lume on the hands and on the dial? It looks cheap when they don't match! Makes it look like a Aliexpress parts watch.
And they want people to wait 4 years...
I doubt it ŵould be 4 yrs. lots of the waiting list are repeats and would be given up, thus reducing the wait.
Helm do produce nice watches, i have always liked them, but it ends there.... I would not wait 4 years for any watch. A month or 6 weeks, sure ok, but 4 years,?, that is just not happening.
I can't stand half year, let alone barely 3 months for preorders. I swore my friend didn't wait nearly as long for one. I guess there's enough of a fan base to keep these guys in business with such a small amd dragged out production.
Any watch I buy must be under 11mm thick.
NO chance waiting 4 years for a watch with a bezel that doesn’t even line up. Helm are having a laugh here. Madness.
Four years? I think not.
Not sure they worth a 4 year wait sorry 😬 I could make that or similar with Seiko mod pats in a few hours 😂
People are funny! There is absolutely nothing about this watch that would make me wait four years for it! There are way too many other great watches available now to be had to waste my time on this!
Helm doing a zelos watches that you can’t buy! Forget it I will spend my money elsewhere
No position of date window is any harder than another the date moves the same amount… it’s just lazy manufacturers using date wheels designed to be shown in another place.
It is because you have to re print the date wheel in order to get the date positioned perfectly between the 4 and 5. James and I discovered all this when designing the exciton. It’s because 31 doesn’t divide into 12.
So confidently wrong Richard
@@ILikeWatches2 as you said normally it’s nearer 5 because a 3 o’clock date wheel is being used.
@@Fahrenheit1407movements with date wheels are sold with the date window position specified, the companies who have the window slightly nearer 5 are using a 3 o’clock date wheel and not getting it re printed
@@ILikeWatches2 Well that settles it. From now on, all months will have a number of days divisible by 12.
Helm can't line up their bezel...thats a pisser...no go for me
Polaris (JLC) x Blancpain x Seiko = Rip Off /Replica - no intuitive
i tot this ILW2 guy was being sued for promoting replicas (underground world)
Just no to the microscopic 4:30 date. Dumb.
It looks horrendous.
Another far from perfect Chinese watch. Don’t like it anyway
Helm isn't a Chinese brand. 😂
And Swiss made watches often have parts made in China….as do Seiko, Citizen, Casio….the list goes on
@@R023N Matt Cross, founder and owner of The Helm Group Limited is from North Carolina, but he moved to China in 2013, where the watches are made and shipped from. (Not dissing Helm, I own 3, great QC and a good price point).
Wouldn't the Seiko movement make it kind of Japanesey?
Sorry an American company, might as well say China
I'm down to about 10 to 12 months on the Miyako! Agree that it's the one design in their catalog that caught my attention, so....I wait. ⏲