The watch hobby comes in different phases and those phases come with a few decision points. In my case it almost always starts with design. I was on the hunt for my first non-black-dial piece. Long before the days of the now notorious Tiffany blue Patek 5711, #teampastel was running strong on instagram and the forums… and Halios, was an early adopter of the phenomena.

I first saw the Halios Seaforth in the metal in early 2017 and the moment I tried it on, I knew I had to have one. Then Mr Stacey’s Hodinkee write up dropped. “The Value Proposition The Halios Seaforth”. Oof, Series II hype was in full swing and… again, despite my best efforts I didn’t get one.

Then, hope. The Halios Seaforth Series III was announced and it came with a few twists. First, “The Stacey” spec would return. Specifically the no-date option. Second, the Halios Seaforth would graduate to a Swiss made ETA-2824. Additionally, for the first time ever Halios would be modifying a movement to forgo several date components and most importantly, the ghost date position on the crown. All things considered, I entered full “shut up and take my money” mode for the Series III. And … drumroll … I got it!

The Halios Seaforth landed at my doorstep about 7 months after placing the initial order. It arrived neatly packed in a watch pouch similar in style to a Rolex Service Center pouch. Included was the watch on a supple rubber strap, along with a bonus royal blue canvas strap.

Once unwrapped, the Seaforth’s pastel doesn’t scream the way the Tiffany blue dials tend to. The Halios Seaforth blue is more subdued and I love it. The finishing on the case is the highlight of Seaforth. The mixed finishes work really well to complement the case shape and proportions. The chamfer atop the lugs being the hero detail. Tucked neatly behind the domed sapphire crystal is that blue dial. The dial has a lovely satin finish and hosts a crisp printing, including the Halios mark. The indices are finished in gloss black and filled with bluish BGW9 Super Luminova. With time the lume has started to become more tropical. I am looking forward to seeing how it evolves with more sun and surf.

The Halios’ bezel has a satisfying click, feel & sound. The 12 hour GMT-esque functionality is also really useful for desk-diver applications. Managing a second time zone is as simple as offsetting the bezel +/- to the desired secondary time. Similar to the bezel in its finishing, the crown is grippy and gets the job done well with no frills.

Beating inside the case of the Halios Seaforth Series III lives aforementioned modified ETA 2824. As promised, the crown glides past the date position with only a small indication it was once there. Winding the crown returns the familiar ETA gritty feel. The time-keeping and power reserve are as-expected for an ETA movement. The Seaforth / as a timekeeping device, is polished and reliable.

On the wrist, the Halios Seaforth is amongst my favourite pieces to wear. The weight and shape deliver a satisfying and comfortable feel. The case design does remarkably well to hide its already modest 12mm thickness. The Seaforth in pastel blue also manages to be somewhat of a strap monster, despite the vibrant dial. It sings on a nato or leather, but is most at home on a rubber strap.

What Jason at Halios is able to accomplish at under a thousand dollars is very compelling. Its proportions may nod to the icons of yesteryear, but its modern case and general Halios-ness make the Seaforth truly it’s own thing and a worthy addition for most collections. With another round of Pastel Blue and Bahama Yellow Seaforths on the way, I am looking forward to seeing what details and twists arrive with the Series IV. If history serves, I would imagine that the arrival of the Halios Seaforth Series IV will be a “shut up and take my money” moment for many.