Exclusive Interview: SēL Instruments, American Watchmaker of the new Hyperlite GP
I recently connected with SēL Instruments to learn more about their journey as an American watch manufacturer, their uncompromising approach to engineering, and their latest release, the Hyperlite GP Field Watch. In this interview, the team shares insights into their design philosophy, innovations in durability and performance, and what sets SēL apart in the world of tool watches.
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Q. What inspired the founding of SēL Instrument, and how has your mission evolved since the company started in Tucson?
I always loved watches, dive watches in particular, but my career aspirations never included starting a watch manufacture until I experienced some pretty mediocre engineering from a number of "professional" and "military" watches during my last career. The movements themselves were always pretty serviceable but all of the engineering related to environmental protection, strength, user interface (crowns, bezels, etc), adjustability, comfort, etc was pretty mediocre. I lost bezels, shattered crystals, broke crowns, broke spring bars (who hasn't), found tritium tubes floating around on the dial, cringed at soft feeling and imprecise bezel indexing, etc.
As a thought exercise initially, I started thinking through different engineering solutions that might improve on each of those areas and how I might integrate all of it into a single watch that I would consider the “ultimate dive watch” and ultimately that became the OmniDiver MK1 and WavLock Bracelet.
Our evolution presently is focused on increasing scale and efficiency of our in-house manufacturing for our standard offerings and also on broadening our focus to include new areas of focus like movement parts and whole calibers and a new somewhat secret special projects division called Tempus Ghōst where we offer more bespoke versions of our existing models with more variation in materials like gold, and platinum and much more artistic design.
As a thought exercise initially, I started thinking through different engineering solutions that might improve on each of those areas and how I might integrate all of it into a single watch that I would consider the “ultimate dive watch” and ultimately that became the OmniDiver MK1 and WavLock Bracelet.
Our evolution presently is focused on increasing scale and efficiency of our in-house manufacturing for our standard offerings and also on broadening our focus to include new areas of focus like movement parts and whole calibers and a new somewhat secret special projects division called Tempus Ghōst where we offer more bespoke versions of our existing models with more variation in materials like gold, and platinum and much more artistic design.
Q. How does SēL balance high-performance engineering with making watches affordable for enthusiasts and professionals alike?
For us each new model starts with our function first approach where we identify what our performance goals are for the product based on who the untended end-user is. So engineering is always our first phase, then design, and finally aesthetics. The world is full of pretty watches, and we certainly appreciate that but a SēL is a performance tool first and foremost so everything including our dial and display elements are still function first.
Initially we were less concerned with cost because our goal for the first OmniDiver was to take every single performance metric to the absolute max until we pushed beyond some practical limit. For example we knew we wanted a deep diving watch but also had set a possible conflicting goal of the watch being a daily wearable size. Ultimately we were able to achieve 6,000m with a gas fill and 11,000 with fluid fill in a 46mm case (52.5mm lug to lug) that was only 176g total weight including the all grade 5 titanium bracelet. The more fair-wristed might argue that this isn’t a daily wearable size but for many of us, it totally is.
For a more cost conscious model like our new Hyperlite, we still started with the same function first approach identifying a set of essential performance characteristics - accuracy, shock protection, strength, light weight, low wrist profile, etc - then designed the watch to meet those requirements but without anything else that might unnecessarily drive cost or complexity which is why you see no screws, no cross bars, a case with an integrated case tube (not a separate part), and also on the inside far fewer components as well for example our silicon core concept integrates the dial and movement housing into a single component instead of two separate components like most of our other watches. We also incorporate feedback from existing customers.
Initially we were less concerned with cost because our goal for the first OmniDiver was to take every single performance metric to the absolute max until we pushed beyond some practical limit. For example we knew we wanted a deep diving watch but also had set a possible conflicting goal of the watch being a daily wearable size. Ultimately we were able to achieve 6,000m with a gas fill and 11,000 with fluid fill in a 46mm case (52.5mm lug to lug) that was only 176g total weight including the all grade 5 titanium bracelet. The more fair-wristed might argue that this isn’t a daily wearable size but for many of us, it totally is.
For a more cost conscious model like our new Hyperlite, we still started with the same function first approach identifying a set of essential performance characteristics - accuracy, shock protection, strength, light weight, low wrist profile, etc - then designed the watch to meet those requirements but without anything else that might unnecessarily drive cost or complexity which is why you see no screws, no cross bars, a case with an integrated case tube (not a separate part), and also on the inside far fewer components as well for example our silicon core concept integrates the dial and movement housing into a single component instead of two separate components like most of our other watches. We also incorporate feedback from existing customers.
Product & Design
Q. Can you walk us through the design and engineering process behind your new GP Field Watch? What were the biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge by far was cost. Hyperlite will be entirely machined in our workshop in Tucson, Arizona like all of our watches and cost for on-shore manufacturing can be a challenge compared to off-shore options like China. The big question was how to we design/engineer this to meet the performance goals, still made from grade 5 titanium, still made in our workshop, and keep the cost compatible with a market price of under $1,500. We had three concepts that were started in 2023 for a “low cost military watch” but it wasn’t until we acquired our new high speed machines that we were able make it a possibility. Ultimately we combined two of those concepts together taking the case from one that we then redesigned with some inspiration from Lex at Oceanic Time to go in the direction of fixed lugs, and the silicone core from another of those concepts, that resulted in the Hyperlite GP (general purpose) you see today.
Q. Why did you choose Grade 5 titanium as the core material, and how does it enhance the watch’s performance?
Grade 5 titanium and 950 platinum (our other favorite alloy) are the ultimate tool watch materials. When we first released OmniDiver MK1 in 2017 as the first American made grade 5 titanium case to exceed 6,000m we were one of only a very few manufacturers using grade 5 titanium. Grade 2 which is commercially pure titanium, is relatively soft and weak like the companies that use it, whereas grade 5 is substantially harder, stronger than grade 2 and of course significantly lighter than stainless steel and also even more resistant to corrosion as well. It’s also extremely challenging to machine and there are other challenges too that required significant R&D because of its unique metallurgy.
Q. The triple-sealed crown and shock-resistant silicone core are unique features, what real-world scenarios were you designing for?
Every watch movement is susceptible to shock and over time, impulse (resulting from impacts to the watch case) can have a very detrimental affect over time to movements. Mechanical-Quartz movements are less susceptible to this compared to traditional mechanical movements but not immune. For OmniDiver Xos which we offer as either an automatic mechanical or temperature compensated mecca-quartz, we developed a whole-movement shock isolation system called Labyrinth Flux as a primary mitigant for shock making the balance shock protection of the movement itself a secondary system. This creates a highly enhanced level of protection with the movement literally floating in 3-dimensional space within the casework, but is very expensive to manufacture. Hyperlite is only available with a temperature compensated quartz and is therefore less susceptible so we are using a less sophisticated approach to wrap the dialed movement in a silicone surround which will have good properties to enhance shock resistance but still at a lower cost that is better suited for Hyperlite.
The crown sealing conversation is always a fun one. Our perspective is that a properly designed screw down crown should not rely on axial compression from the threads for the primary seal meaning that our in-house screw down crowns are water resistant even when unscrewed. So, this also means that we can manufacture a dynamic (i.e. push-pull) crown with the same water resistance as our screw down crown. So why then do we use a screw down crown at all? Because we knew the market wasn’t ready to abandon the tradition of screw down crowns on divers and we do quite like the traditional archetype of the dive watch so we still use those on all of our dive watches. But for Hyperlite GP which is a field watch, we opted for our dynamic crown (first used on our first field watch the FTX S1). As far as being triple sealed, its all about redundancy, as the saying goes, one is none and two is one (meaning redundancy requires 3).
The crown sealing conversation is always a fun one. Our perspective is that a properly designed screw down crown should not rely on axial compression from the threads for the primary seal meaning that our in-house screw down crowns are water resistant even when unscrewed. So, this also means that we can manufacture a dynamic (i.e. push-pull) crown with the same water resistance as our screw down crown. So why then do we use a screw down crown at all? Because we knew the market wasn’t ready to abandon the tradition of screw down crowns on divers and we do quite like the traditional archetype of the dive watch so we still use those on all of our dive watches. But for Hyperlite GP which is a field watch, we opted for our dynamic crown (first used on our first field watch the FTX S1). As far as being triple sealed, its all about redundancy, as the saying goes, one is none and two is one (meaning redundancy requires 3).
Q. How do you test water resistance, shock protection, and overall durability to ensure the watch meets military and professional standards?
OK, this might be a bit of a hot take but let me stat with this. Military standards, I.e “MIL-SPEC” or “MIL STD” are really pretty low standards and as most people know, military contacts go to the lowest bider who can meet those basic requirements. They’re effective at standardizing military issued gear particularly when multiple manufacturers are suppling the same standardized product (such as a rifle or ballistic helmet) but they are not really a great indicator of actual quality or performance. Ask anyone who has served and they will be intimately familiar with the up side and down side of MIL-SPEC gear. So, for us MIL-SPEC is an absolute bare minimum and the best manufactures are significantly exceeding these standards where they can.
We use a combination of simulation and real-world testing depending on what development phase were in. Engineering is conceptualized and then run through simulations to work through many of the initial problems and get a general sense of capability. Then we prototype these embodiments and use real world testing to validate the engineering. Sometimes its sophisticated like impact testing where we’re standardizing a force impact and measuring physical movement of an internal component by analyzing ultra high speed video for quantitative analysis and sometimes its pretty rudimentary like hitting an assembled watch with a sledgehammer (see our YouTube) where we’re just looking for a binary result of did it break or not.
For hydrostatic testing of water resistance, we built our own 20,000psi rated test rig. It has a safety factor of 10,000psi so it can actually go to 30,000psi. For reference to dive to the bottom of challenger deep in the Mariana Trench we only need about 16,000psi. We use this chamber to test both our sealing and also structural strength. OmniDiver MK1 withstood over 10,000psi in testing and still retained smooth action of the bezel, crown, etc. We do also conduct destructive testing to understand limits as well so we have intentionally imploded many assembled watches in the chamber and have those here on display for anyone who takes a tour of our facility. Even through the 2” thick walls of the pressure vessel the implosion sounds like a gunshot.
We use a combination of simulation and real-world testing depending on what development phase were in. Engineering is conceptualized and then run through simulations to work through many of the initial problems and get a general sense of capability. Then we prototype these embodiments and use real world testing to validate the engineering. Sometimes its sophisticated like impact testing where we’re standardizing a force impact and measuring physical movement of an internal component by analyzing ultra high speed video for quantitative analysis and sometimes its pretty rudimentary like hitting an assembled watch with a sledgehammer (see our YouTube) where we’re just looking for a binary result of did it break or not.
For hydrostatic testing of water resistance, we built our own 20,000psi rated test rig. It has a safety factor of 10,000psi so it can actually go to 30,000psi. For reference to dive to the bottom of challenger deep in the Mariana Trench we only need about 16,000psi. We use this chamber to test both our sealing and also structural strength. OmniDiver MK1 withstood over 10,000psi in testing and still retained smooth action of the bezel, crown, etc. We do also conduct destructive testing to understand limits as well so we have intentionally imploded many assembled watches in the chamber and have those here on display for anyone who takes a tour of our facility. Even through the 2” thick walls of the pressure vessel the implosion sounds like a gunshot.
Q. You offer multiple finishes and seconds hand colors. How much of this customization is driven by user feedback versus design experimentation?
The options we offer are almost entirely driven by our clients’ requests. This culminated with OmniDiver MK2 which had something like 10,000 possible combinations with all of the available options and that proved to be extraordinarily difficult for us as a small, 4 person company to manage. We do still offer standard options which are what we found to be the most popular options from past offerings and for those over-the-top bespoke requests we do have Tempus Ghōst which offers everything we’re capable of doing.
Technology & Innovation
Q. Your watches use Swiss Chronometer Grade Thermo-Compensated Quartz movements, what makes this movement choice ideal for a field watch?
OmniDiver MK1 which we released in 2017 was initially only available as a TCXO because when we made a list of how to achieve the absolute maximum performance in every technical category, a chip-scale cesium clock was the obvious choice but that was pretty impractical so we went with the next best thing for stand-alone (I.e. no need to synchronize with an external clock like GPS or radio) which was a TCXO. It’s realistically around 10 seconds per year and very shock resistant with proper hand design. Automatic mechanical movements are incredible and beautiful and we love all of the history and tradition embodied in them and do truly love working with them (and now making parts for them) but in terms of technical performance for a true tool, nothing beats a temperature compensated quartz.
Q. Are there any new technologies or materials you’re exploring for future SēL watches?
Our largest development effort currently is on producing two in-house calibers. One is an automatic mechanical movement with enhanced anti-magnetic and shock resistance and a very large power reserve and advanced power management. The other is something completely different. We don’t intend to replace our Swiss made movements but rather offer it as an option for the enthusiast who wants a completely “Made in the USA” watch. We’ve also started working a lot with 950 platinum which we think is the grade 5 titanium of the precious metals. We do have another material we’re experimenting with currently but that will remain classified until release because as of now, we’ll be the first in the world to use it. We have several other watches in development too including a 1,000m rated chronograph. Development is hard for us because most of our time is focused on manufacturing and assembling watches for our queue so it’s hard to find time for new ideas sometimes.
Community & Culture
Q. Have you received any memorable stories from military personnel, first responders, or enthusiasts about how your watches have performed in the field?
So many stories just a few that instantly come to mind are a picture we got of a cinder block wall with a small chunk missing from an edge. Our military client said he rounded the corner to enter the room for a CQB room clearing exercise, caught his wrist on the corner, and broke the wall but not his watch. One of our clients won the Baja 1000 while wearing an OmniDiver MK1 (after crashing for several years in a row also wearing an the same OmniDiver MK1). Some of our favorites are wedding pictures and new born pictures where our clients chose a SēL over more expensive and more famous watches in their collection because they connect so much with the culture of SēL. On days that are the most important days of our clients’ lives it’s humbling to be selected as their wrist companion. We’ve been there for some really bad days too. We used to make rescue tools for medics and flight crews and hearing about how they were used successfully in an emergency medicine role is awesome. The real heroes of course are our clients some of whom are doing the most dangerous jobs in the world; we’re honored to have a small role in supporting them. Like we always say we don’t do easy, what we do is ultra-performance.
