belhamel - A.39 CONTRA - Unisex - 2024

We’re proud and beyond excited to introduce Belhamel’s first-ever timepiece: a handsome, practical, Miyota 9039-engined dive watch that’s built to last.

At Belhamel, we build premium every day (sports) watches. They’re classy and reliable — but without the exorbitant price tag.
And our Contra A40 is no exception. You’ll get simplicity with just the right amount of detail — no “trendy” distractions that’ll fade, no gimmicks you’ll grow bored of. And it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

This dive watch is built to suit your lifestyle, no matter how active; and designed to highlight timeless aesthetics, no matter your wardrobe. And with its economical price tag, the Contra A40 is a complete dive watch you didn’t know you needed till now.


Remember the counterculture that started in the ’60s? Whether or not you experienced it yourself, we can all benefit from the aspirations for individualism and freedom that inspired an entire generation to fight for their rights.
Even watch brands took notice. Embracing the zeitgeist of self-expression, they got more creative. So emerging from this era of watchmaking were some of the most beautiful and innovative watches of that time, and they remain so even today. That’s why the counterculture of the ’60s inspired the Contra A40’s design.

Our vision for this watch was that it’d marry the aesthetics of the past with the aesthetics of the present. So, the Contra A40 also draws inspiration from a wide array of contemporary influences — especially from sports cars and modern architecture.

After iterating countless times and applying valuable feedback from watch enthusiasts across the world, we finally crystallized the Contra A40’s retro-contemporary design.

Yes, less truly is more. With each new iteration, we found ourselves removing more than what we had added on. More than anything, we learned that simple design demands a design process that's anything but simple.
But we persisted, setting out to design and prototype the Contra A40 with great attention to detail and an almost obsessive drive to get it perfect. More importantly, we did it with the help and feedback of watch enthusiasts wherever we could find them.



A premium watch deserves a premium mechanical movement. Moving in the direction of a no-date dial to achieve perfect, distraction-free symmetry, we needed a powerful automatic movement with no date complications.
After careful deliberation, we decided to go with the respectable Miyota 9039 Premium Automatic (28,800 BPH). As a movement known for its reliability, accuracy, stop-second device, sweeping seconds, and slim design, it’s usually seen in watches whose price tag doubles the Contra A40’s.


Sleek lines, detailed brushed finishing, polished chamfers, and marine-grade 316L stainless steel. The Contra A40’s practical, lightweight case is built to handle a beating and is designed to sit comfortably on your wrist. With modest dimensions of 40mm (diameter), 48mm (lug-to-lug), and 13.8mm (thickness, including the crystal), it remains true to the Contra A40’s retro-contemporary feel — perfect for any wrist, large or small.


The 316L stainless steel caseback sports both brushed and polished surfaces, giving it the same care-to-detail as the rest of the watch. And if we reach the first stretch goal in this campaign, each watch will also have a unique number engraved on the caseback. Finally, as a reference to the ’60s and the Contra A40’s diving features, the screw-down watch back is signed with a simple but beautiful mark of Aquarius.


The Contra A40’s crown at 3 o’clock is proportionally sized in relation to the case, easy to get a grip on, and signed with Belhamel’s logomark for a complete look. When you’re done setting the time, you can effortlessly secure the crown with its screw-down function to keep the watch watertight and protected.


The 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel features a flat and micro-toothed surface that will allow you to comfortably rotate it. The rotating system is engineered to click smoothly and remain firmly fixed in position when not in use. The bezel also features a stainless steel insert with a curved design that prevents ripping into clothes. Together with the engraved markers, the Contra A40’s bezel makes for a practical and sleek design.


The Contra A40’s retro-inspired dial is the result of an obsession with creating balance, symmetry, and hierarchy. The applied hour markers are subtle in thickness and feature an orderly layout, matching perfectly with its lozenge-style hands. We’ve also incorporated high-quality Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9 lume on the dial, visible on the hour markers and hands. The dial’s simple but noticeable color scheme gives it a sporty look, and its overall minimal aesthetics make for a contemporary and timeless design.


As mentioned, we’ve applied Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9 to the Contra A40’s dial and hands. The quality of this particular lume provides a clear, bright, and durable light in dark environments — perfect for quickly telling the time when diving, when it’s pitch black at night outdoors, or when you’ve got no light indoors.


The sapphire crystal’s domed design gives the Contra A40 a level of depth and elegance that blends naturally with the rest of the watch. We also applied a layer of anti-reflective coating to the inside so that when you’re admiring the dial, it’ll look like there’s barely any glass covering it.
And reinforcing the sapphire crystal’s exceptional hardness and strength is an additional scratch-resistant coating. So you can feel comfortable being active while wearing your watch.



To achieve a completely integrated steel look, a premium 316L stainless steel bracelet compliments the watch. The 3-Link (Oyster style) custom bracelet with solid links, finely brushed surface, 20mm-to-16mm tapering, and uniquely fitted end-links create a comfortable fit and a sleek appearance. The bracelet, together with the signed push-button safety tri-fold clasp and adjustable holes, completes the Contra A40 in a stylish way.