Austin K’s Custom Gold Vintage Dive Watch
Austin K. leads a life of music, adventure, and dedication to his coastal community. That’s why, when he approached Helianthus to build a custom watch, I knew his timepiece would need to do more than tell the time—it would have to reflect his personal story and his connection to the people around him. The resulting 40mm automatic gold dive watch we created together blends striking vintage appeal with the true versatility that defines the diver genre, all rooted in personal narrative.
When Austin first reached out, he was electric with excitement and possibilities. He had recently fallen in love with wristwatches and their ability to elevate style with a sense of sophistication. He shared photos of two beautiful pilot-style watches from Shinola of Chicago that had been his daily drivers for months. Naturally, I asked what he thought of dive watches—an intuitive question, fueled by my own obsession with divers at the time. Austin explained that he had owned a small dive watch in the past, but it never truly spoke to him and ended up living in a dresser drawer. Still, I sensed he was eager to give the style another chance. And so began our collaboration.
Once Austin completed the custom watch form—outlining his hopes and dreams for his new timepiece—I could already envision several compositions before even putting pen to paper. He wanted a watch that could accompany him through all aspects of his life, from everyday wear to “hunting for buried treasure.” This told me versatility was key. He expressed interest in diver and chronograph styles, but also in the pilot designs he had grown accustomed to. His vision for colorways, handsets, and strap options was well-defined, making the design process a smooth and exciting experience. One non-negotiable was the use of PVD gold, a choice driven by the desire to match his gold wedding band—a detail I could relate to, though mine is platinum.
From Austin’s ideas, I developed three mockups:
A 40mm vintage gold diver (spoiler: this became the winner)
A 40mm mechaquartz Daytona-style gold chronograph
An Italian military-inspired manual diver/field watch
Each had multiple dials, handsets, straps, and bezels to consider—a veritable treasure trove of options. In the end, Austin chose the vintage gold diver case with an exhibition case back, a gold PT5000 automatic movement, a navy sunray dial, gold baton hands, a black ceramic bezel with yellow inscriptions, and a black and grey NATO strap. The final mockup looked sharp, but seeing the completed watch in person was something else entirely—the components came together with a synergy all their own.
Austin’s first custom Helianthus feels like it was made for him. It sits proudly on his wrist whether he’s playing guitar, exploring the Oregon Coast, volunteering alongside his wife, or making complex financial decisions at work. His stylish dive watch pays tribute to the ocean coast he calls home, while its NATO strap and textured dial strike a perfect balance between rugged utility and refined sophistication. Like the man who wears it, this watch is built for a life well-lived—grounded in purpose, enriched by adventure, and connected to people.
