Rare Halios Tropik B Bronze 41mm Automatic Movement 300m Diver Black Dial

Case

Coming in at 41mm wide and 14mm thick, the cushion-shaped case is a reasonable size by modern standards. It isn’t a wrist clock by any means, but the thickness ensures a formidable presence when worn. The case design also makes it an ideal fit for those of us with smaller wrists, as the lugs curve down and are quite short with a lug-to-lug distance of 48mm. Basic dimensions aside, the case is truly a work of art and posses a congruity of design and proportion that rivals more expensive brands. When looking at the profile, you can see that all parts of the case work together with no single component overpowering the rest. For example, the height of the bezel is tempered by its shape and gentle slope, the latter of which helps integrate the bezel with the beautifully sloped sapphire crystal. Likewise, the slope of the bezel and crystal flow harmoniously with the curvature of the lugs. One of my favorite details is the contrast between the finely brushed case and the striking polished edge of the bezel, calling attention to a level of detail and care rarely seen in watches at this price.

Made from aluminum bronze, the case boasts an attractive yellow tone that under certain light conditions looks less like bronze and more like stainless steel. Aluminum bronze has some unique benefits that make it an attractive alloy, including higher strength and corrosion resistance (especially in sea water) and lower oxidation rates. Fear not you patina nuts; the Tropik B will still develop a beautiful patina over time. As you can tell from the photos, the slowly developing patina is dark grey and offers a beautiful contrast to the golden tones of the case.

The only parts of the case that aren’t bronze are the case back and the crown. The case back, however, is beautiful on its own, detailing the watch specs (water resistance of 300 meters) and featuring an etched Capricorn. The crown is signed with the Halios logo (3 crescent moons in a tri formation facing outwards) against black paint. The crown action is a bit gritty, but otherwise feels secure and reliable.

Dial and Hands

The dial on the Tropik B is a wonderful example of the less-is-more philosophy. By abandoning the frill that is increasingly common in modern dive watches, Halios achieved in creating a dial where a few distinct details go a long way in making the Tropik B an attractive piece. Other than the brand name (“Halios”) and the model name (“Tropik”), the dial is free of extraneous text. Instead, the watch wows with golden applied indices and hands that light up when the dial catches the light. Halios also opted to go with BGW9 (blue) Superluminova-coated hands and dial markers, contributing further to the already clean look of the dial. For the lume-lovers out there, I can guarantee that the lume glows into the wee hours of the morning.

One of the nicest details on the dial, and it’s something that a number of watch manufactures get wrong regardless of their price range, is the matching color (grey in my case) of the date wheel. This attention to detail goes a long way in maintaining the symmetry of the dial without losing the utility of a date window. Though I opted for the granite grey dial, Halios also offers tobacco brown and green (I’m sad to say that both the grey and the green are now sold out). The grey dial, depending on the light, can look either grey or brown and works well with the warm tones of the case.

Movement

The Tropik B is powered by the Miyota 9015. Due to the ETA squeeze, Halios has made the switch to using reliable Japanese engines, with the 9015 being the most promising alternative to the ETA 2892. As most of you already know, the 9015 hacks, has a beat rate of 28,800 bph, and can be hand wound. Though fairly new, the 9015 has proven itself as a robust option capable of excellent timekeeping. My Tropik B runs well within COSC specifications, and according to the Halios thread on watchuseek, it looks like my watch isn’t unique in that regard.

Conclusion

The Halios Tropik B is the way to go for anyone looking for a reasonably sized bronze diver that is unique, well made, and inexpensive. It’s a chameleon of a piece that I’ve been able to dress up and down, and have even worn with a suit to a wedding. If bronze is not your thing, fret not. Halios is set to release the Tropik SS, which utilizes the same case but with a more classic dive watch aesthetic.