Whereas Zelos might be finest identified for its value-packed divers and sports activities fashions, the Nova is the model’s devoted lineup of gown watches that pair slender instances with elegant dials and manual-wind actions. Identical to the remainder of its fashions, the Nova will get refined and improved with every iteration, and for its newest launch of 2024, Zelos has launched a brand new technology of its signature gown watch. That includes up to date proportions and a redesigned dial, the brand new Zelos Nova 37mm makes its debut in 5 completely different configurations, together with a 50-piece restricted version with a case crafted from tantalum.
On the time of launch, the brand new Zelos Nova 37mm collection consists of 4 standard-catalog watches which have chrome steel instances, together with a limited-edition model that swaps out metal for tantalum. Among the many 4 chrome steel variants, Zelos affords two completely different guilloché sample dials in both salmon or teal colorways, a blue aventurine dial, and a two-tone mosaic mother-of-pearl dial, which is the model featured right here. In the meantime, the limited-edition tantalum mannequin is fitted with a bi-material dial that makes use of blue aventurine for its heart with meteorite for the encompassing outer part. Whereas the general design of the dials is constant throughout the 5 Zelos Nova 37mm watches, the completely different colours, patterns, and supplies which might be showcased all through them give every mannequin its personal distinct look.
Providing barely up to date proportions in comparison with the earlier technology, the case of the brand new Zelos Nova measures 37mm in diameter by 7mm thick, with a lug width of 20mm and an total lug-to-lug profile of 43.5mm. When you issue within the box-shaped sapphire crystal (with anti-reflective remedy) that sits above the dial, the overall top of the Zelos Nova is available in at 9.2mm, and fitted to the reverse aspect of the watch is a screw-down caseback with a flat sapphire show window that gives a view of its inner motion. A signed push/pull-style crown sits on the 3 o’clock location, water resistance is available in at 50 meters to guard in opposition to each day contact, and on the quartet of standard-production chrome steel fashions, the whole thing of their case parts are given a high-polished mirror end.
The bezel and lugs on the Zelos Nova 37mm each characteristic a stepped design, and together with making a extra dynamic look, the stepped construction additionally minimizes the visible profile of the watch. Moreover, whereas the caseback is totally flat, the lugs characteristic a pronounced downward curvature, and this geometry works along with the stepped edges on the case to create a compact total package deal that sits extremely flat and flush in opposition to the wrist. By way of weight, the chrome steel Zelos Nova 37mm fashions are available in at roughly 41.5 grams (or 58.5 grams for those who issue within the included leather-based strap), and whereas I’m not in a position to touch upon the precise weight of the limited-edition tantalum model, I might think about that it’s virtually actually a bit heavier, merely because of the higher density of its case materials.
The dials fitted to the brand new Zelos Nova 37mm watches symbolize a reasonably important aesthetic departure in comparison with what will be discovered among the many earlier technology, and so they characteristic what might finest be described as a sector dial format, with a time-only show and a small seconds hand on the 6 o’clock location. Utilized to the floor of the dial are polished Arabic numeral hour markers, together with a cultured body that segments its sector-style format, and as a substitute of getting the Zelos brand seem beneath the 12 o’clock marker like on the earlier technology, the brand new Nova 37mm has the model’s “Z’ emblem subtly occupying the place of the 6 o’clock index, straight beneath the operating seconds register on the very backside of the dial.
Much like the dial, the Zelos Nova 37mm’s handset has additionally obtained a reasonably important aesthetic replace, and displaying the time are three alpha-style fingers with a cultured end to match the hour markers and framework on the dial. To additional lean into its gown watch idea, the Nova’s fingers and hour markers are actually fully devoid of luminous materials, and on the mosaic mother-of-pearl dial featured right here, two completely different colours of mother-of-pearl are used, with traditional white-colored items fitted to the middle sections, whereas the items used for the outer portion seem in a pale blue coloration. Personally, I not often gravitate in direction of mother-of-pearl dials, though a mosaic mother-of-pearl dial is a completely extra particular creation, and the dial fitted to the brand new Zelos Nova 37mm affords a really hanging and visually fascinating look.
Internally, little or no has modified with this newest technology of the Nova, and powering the brand new Zelos Nova 37mm is the Swiss ETA/Peseux Caliber 7001 manual-wind motion. Operating at a frequency of 21,600vph (3 Hz), the 17-jewel ETA 7001 could be very a lot a confirmed design, and it’s based mostly upon an structure that has been round because the early Seventies. Whereas ETA acquired Peseux within the mid-Eighties, the Cal. 7001 remained in manufacturing, and it nonetheless serves as one of many trade’s go-to choices for manually-wound mechanical actions. Providing an influence reserve of roughly 42 hours (you’ll typically see as much as 46 hours listed), the ETA/Peseux 7001 will be discovered inside numerous watches from quite a lot of completely different manufacturers, and the model fitted to the Nova 37mm is embellished with blued screws, Geneva stripes, and a gold-finished engraving of the Zelos “Z” brand.
Fitted to the lugs of the Zelos Nova 37mm is a black two-piece Horween leather-based strap that tapers from 20mm on the case right down to 18mm the place it connects to a chunky tang-style buckle. That includes built-in quick-release springbars and small vintage-style distinction stitches close to the ends, the premium Horween leather-based used for the strap makes it extremely smooth and cozy proper out of the field, and it instantly conforms to the form of the wrist with zero break-in interval required. My solely minor quibble with that strap is that its buckle feels a bit too massive and beefy relative to the pretty compact and refined profile of the case; nevertheless, it is a actually minor nitpick, and I might finally a lot reasonably have a buckle that feels excessively substantial, versus have one which dangers being skinny, flimsy, or simply plain generic.
Zelos persistently excels at offering premium options at an accessible worth, and its newest technology of gown watches serves as an ideal instance of how the model stays dedicated to delivering robust worth for an affordable amount of cash. Costs for the brand new Zelos Nova 37mm collection begin out at $750 USD for the standard-production fashions with chrome steel instances, and the gathering tops out at $1,999 USD for the 50-piece tantalum restricted version with its aventurine and meteorite dial. In right now’s world the place entry-level Prospex divers are quickly approaching a four-figure worth level and million-dollar watches have develop into commonplace throughout the trade, the Zelos Nova 37mm delivers an extremely compelling total package deal that may nonetheless be bought for a matter of lots of (reasonably than 1000’s) of {dollars}. For extra info on the Zelos Nova assortment, please go to the model’s web site.
