Ladie's Helicon Diver

Posts
22
Likes
5
Greetings,

I am new to this. I've been trolling around this forum for some time now, and thinking of buying the wife a watch for her birthday. I am looking at this watch, but just don't know enough about the brand to pull the trigger.

Was this really offered in 1980? I cannot easily find other watches like it. The lume looking old is a major reason I think it is attractive, but I did want to make sure it is what the seller claims.

https://www.chrono24.com/all/helicon-helicon-diver-watch--id27594754.htm

Thank you.
 
Posts
15,974
Likes
44,078
That’s a cheap chrome plated POS-
You don’t want it, not worth even servicing and if you are going to buy your wife a watch, make sure it’s 100% reliable (serviced) or she may get turned off by the hobby. You should also verify if she likes the esthetic of aged lume. It’s very much about personal taste

In that size range (31-35mm) which is fabulous for a woman’s sized wrist, there are tons of vintage options from excellent brands that would shock you for their value compared to their larger brethren. Just made sure they are all stainless, in excellent condition and the bracelets are large enough for your wife’s wrist.
These are usually called “midsized” or “boys” sized, but they just as good as their larger models.
 
Posts
571
Likes
2,138
I hope you know what your wife likes. I thought I did, but I was way off, so I’m not even trying anymore. I even restored a vintage Omega for my wife but she has not worn it once. I ended up getting her a very overpriced gold watch with a quartz movement inside.
 
Posts
22
Likes
5
Thanks guys. I didn't even know it was just chrome plated.

The others I was looking at were old Zenith and Omega watches. Some nice ones out there.
 
Posts
15,974
Likes
44,078
Thanks guys. I didn't even know it was just chrome plated.

The others I was looking at were old Zenith and Omega watches. Some nice ones out there.
Share those!!
 
Posts
15,974
Likes
44,078
There have been a few threads on gifting vintage watches to partners- both male and female. There is some investigation you need to do upfront to not gift a stinker. It starts by leaving a few of your pieces out to see if they show any interest, share some of your enthusiasm “geek out” and see if they get into it or just say “I’m so glad you like this stuff” and walk away.
Then sending web pics to them via text asking if they like this or that- you say it’s for you but you get a sense of what they really like. You’ll get a sense of case shape, metal, bracelet or strap, time period of style, black do silver dialed or polychrome. All of these nuggets of info will help steer the choice.
With my white if started with vintage cocktail watches, she appreciated then a jewelry- but they aren’t very practical. We bought her a modern seiko and a Marsthon for work- noth beaters that could fake abuse (sinks and life in a bakery at the time). She graduated into Lady Seqmaster sport models from the late 60’s with integrated bracelets which are lovely- she still loves those. Then 80’s lady sport watches.

Finally I hit a point when a new watch would come in I would see it migrate from my dresser to hers, then into he watch box. It was all very subtle )so she thought) but I know what it meant- I had buy-in.
The final blow is when she asked how easily the bracelet on my Airking could be resized for her. I should have said it was impossible…but I geeked out on showing her how easy it was to remove the screws etc…it is now her Airking.
 
Posts
6,002
Likes
25,440
It would be good to find out if she wants a petite watch or is quite alright with something you both can share. For example, I’m 6’3 with 7” wrists and my wife is 5’2 with petite wrists I can easily wrap my thumb and pinky around. She hates the typical women’s watch size. She enjoyed wearing my Rolex Sub and to this day she loves wearing my Speedy TinTin. There are a number of female members on this forum that wear what is generally deemed a men’s watch and they pull them off incredibly well.

Here is a member that comes to mind, in which I share this wrist shot (from this linked listing of hers). This is basically what my Speedy looks like on my wife’s wrist 👍

IMG_2045.jpeg
 
Posts
22
Likes
5
Her only watch is probably 19mm or something. I was definitely thinking bigger would be a bit more functional. But yes, I really don't know much about what she likes, despite asking "what do you think about this" a few times. I do know she seems to really like vintage watches. We both liked honeycomb dials.

Honestly the diver just seemed big and bold and I was really going to get a good reaction, good or bad.

Here are others I was looking at.

https://www.chrono24.com/zenith/zenith-automatique-vintage--id29870425.htm

https://www.chrono24.com/omega/smal...a-sector-dial-vintage-vintage--id22512653.htm

And there are a number of Tudor Princess Oysterdates under $700. That is stretching it, but of course that is a nice look. Here is 1.

https://www.chrono24.com/tudor/princess-oysterdate--id35930369.htm
 
Posts
53
Likes
188
My wife wears a Seamaster 30. It's not too busy looking and the size is quite nice for smaller wrists.

20240802_191911.jpg