Hands-On With Two New Versions Of The Popular Tusenö Shellback V2 Dive Watch

Tusenö has been making a name for itself with the Shellback V2 dive watch. The Swedish brand has been around for a decade this year, but the Shellback has done the most to get the Tusenö name out there. With cleverly designed details and solid build quality, this dive watch has become a fan favorite in the microbrand world. I had a chance to go hands-on with two new additions to the Shellback V2 lineup. The first has a bright yellow dial, and the second has a black/gilt dial. It’s time to find out more!

These two new Shellback models are my physical introduction to the Tusenö diver. Vincent did a hands-on review of the white-dial version in early 2024, but I didn’t get to see that model in the metal. With these two new models, I could finally learn whether these dive watches are as good as many claim they are. Without revealing too much, I can say that the Shellback V2 certainly has lots going for it. But we’ll get to that in more detail in a bit.

The details of the new Tusenö Shellback V2 models

First, let’s go over some specs and design elements to learn more. Both these watches have a 40mm stainless steel case with a 13.1mm thickness, a 47mm lug-to-lug, and a 200m water resistance rating. The dimensions ensure the Shellback V2 fits various wrist sizes, making it a joy to wear.

The case has a modern, angular profile that the faceted bracelet complements quite well. In addition, both of these Shellback V2 versions feature a 120-click unidirectional bezel with a polished black ceramic insert. It features etched markings filled with Super-LumiNova so that they light up in the dark. Overall, these elements create a contemporary canvas for the dials to shine.

For the first model, Tusenö paired the nearly fully brushed case with a yellow enamel sandwich dial with a semi-metallic finish. The second model houses a black high-polished enamel sandwich dial with textured gold printing, giving it a look that’s very different from its yellow counterpart.

As Vincent explained, the dial features some nice details that show how thoroughly the guys at Tusenö considered the design. What stands out immediately is how well the date is integrated at 6 o’clock. The shape of the aperture is slightly different than the other indexes, but it fits the overall style nicely.

An impressive amount of the lume on the Shellback V2

Thanks to the sandwich construction, the oversized hour markers light up brightly in the dark. But that’s not where it ends. The white outer ring that holds the minute track on both dials is also treated with lume, and even the date has a luminous frame.

The three hands are also filled with lume. As a result, many elements blaze like torches in the night, ensuring you can read the time and the remaining dive time in low- or no-light conditions.

But that’s not where the fun stops. In addition to the long and legible minute and second hands, the shorter hour hand features a hollowed-out circle towards the tip, encircling the letters of the word “Shellback” below the pinion when passing over it.

Now you will understand why the word is curved on the lower half of the dial. At first, it seemed slightly odd, and I am generally not a fan of “smiley” text on dials. But this clever design trick is a nice detail that makes up for the different aesthetic.

A trusty movement and a bracelet with modern conveniences

Inside the case, Tusenö uses the familiar Sellita SW200-1 caliber. The automatic movement operates at 28,800vph, has 26 jewels, and offers 38 hours of power reserve. The brand uses the Elaboré grade, which is tested and adjusted in three positions to an accuracy of ±7–20 seconds per day. It’s the perfect workhorse to power these dive watches.

Both watches come fitted with a well-made and sturdy-feeling stainless steel bracelet. It features a three-row construction with beveled links held together with screws. Additionally, it tapers nicely from 20mm at the case to 18mm at the clasp.

Speaking of which, the clasp comes with a toolless micro-adjustment system, making it easy to size the bracelet perfectly. If you buy one of these watches during the pre-order period, you will get an additional black Tropic-style rubber strap, which you’ll also see in some of our photos. The bracelet’s quick-release pins make swapping it out for the strap easy, and these two comfortable options make the Shellback V2 quite versatile.

Wearing the Tusenö Shellback V2

Once on the wrist, you understand what makes the Shellback V2 such a great watch. The size and dimensions are spot on, ensuring it sits nicely on the wrist, and the overall construction feels satisfyingly sturdy.

The bracelet balances out the watch nicely on the wrist, and with a total weight of 153 grams, it feels solid but never too heavy. When the watches arrived, the bracelets were already sized to fit my wrist rather well, but thanks to the toolless micro-adjustment system, I could make them fit perfectly. Another nice detail I didn’t mention is that the clasp has a surface-hardening coating (1,200HV) to ensure it doesn’t scratch as easily. It’s a feature I adore because a heavily scratched clasp doesn’t look nice.

Of the two variants we received, I prefer the black/gilt model. I am not generally a fan of yellow dials, so I am not drawn to that version. But that is just a matter of personal preference. Nacho, my fellow Fratello team member, preferred the yellow dial immediately. But I consider that variety a great thing. The Shellback V2 collection currently consists of eight variations, each with a distinct appeal. The new black-dial version with its gold-colored details is right up there for me, along with the regular black and the blue versions.

Final thoughts on the new Tusenö Shellback V2 models

Overall, I found the Tusenö Shellback V2 impressive. That’s not only because the dial variations were stunning but also because it was my first encounter with the Shellback. It was a good opportunity to get a feel for the watches that have already impressed many enthusiasts. After wearing the watches for a week, I completely understand why. They are nicely proportioned, feature all the modern-day features you could want, and have nice design details that give them character. Therefore, I believe these watches are among the best available now for less than €1,000.

Tusenö currently offers these versions of the Shellback V2 for a pre-order price of €825. Considering what you get for that money, not many brands can top or even match it. Additionally, this sum gets you a watch that doesn’t look like anything specific that is already out there.

The combination of design details ensures that the Shellback V2 has a distinct identity. Then again, visually, it is comfortable enough to fit right in the category of popular dive watches. The Tusenö Shellback V2 is a perfect, affordable modern daily wearer that many fans will love.

The full collection of Tusenö Shellback V2 models is available for pre-order on the brand’s website. Deliveries are expected to start at the end of 2025. Once the watches are in stock, the prices will increase to €875.

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