The vintage-inspired Belhamel Contra A39

by Tyler Frederick

A nod to the Wittnauer “Skin Diver” ref. 4000

The recurring theme for my recent articles is the Toronto Timepiece Show. So much happened in three days, so many watches were on my wrist (sometimes three or more at once), and I had so much fun. I had the pleasure of seeing so many familiar faces and making new friends, but it’s always a fantastic time when you finally get to meet a friend you’ve known for years and have only exchanged DMs with. I was lucky enough to spend some time with Mr. Vincent Deschamps (mainspring.watch), talking about watches, life, and anything else that came to mind. He brought some pieces he thought I’d like to check out, including the Belhamel Contra A39 in Raisin Black. After some time and a couple of 7/11 hot dogs, he confirmed it was mine to take, and with a stunned look, all that left my mouth was, “Dude…are you sure?”

Belhamel Contra A39 watch review — ^{Belhamel Contra A39 @horologyobsessed}

Key Features of the Belhamel Contra A39

The Contra A39 was a watch that I picked up repeatedly–usually a sign that I liked it. What drew me was the simplicity and the cleanliness of an all-stainless steel construction–case, bracelet, and bezel insert–paired with a rich black dial. The accent colours of orange and the slightest bit of teal pop in contrast, breaking up the shades of silver and black perfectly. It should be noted the watch pulls direct inspiration from the 1960s via the Wittnauer “Skin Diver” ref. 4000; Belhamel brought a 1960s dive watch design into the modern-contemporary era and did a great job. The watch features a mix of brushed surfaces and polished chamfers on the case and bracelet, creating a look of uniformity and a slight “integrated” vibe; the finishing is fantastic.

Funny enough, Vincent and I have the same-sized wrists, so getting an immediate feel for the watch was easy, with no links removed or clasp adjustment required. The second the clasp made its securing click, the thought hit, “Oh yeah, that’s good stuff.” The proportions of the implied comfort and the implications are correct. With a 39mm case diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug and 11.8mm thickness, paired with a 20mm-16mm H-link bracelet, it feels homey and cozy, like a place of familiarity or you’ve reunited with an old friend, or in this case, one you’ve talked to for years and finally got to meet. When I receive watches from friends, I often have a much more significant bias towards those pieces because sentimentality means so much to me. Still, without letting that cloud my judgement, I think many would feel it’s a very comfortable watch.

While simple, the front of the watch has quite a bit going on. The satisfying 120-click unidirectional coin-edge bezel, stainless steel bezel insert with orange triangle and lume pip at 12, applied indices with polished edges paired with beautiful polished diamond-cut hands with an orange-accented seconds hand, placed atop a matte black dial, insert Chef’s kiss here. It’s functional simplicity at its finest, and the stainless steel insert on a black dial has been a look I’ve loved forever.

Specs

Case	316L Stainless Steel 39mm Diameter 47mm Lug to Lug 11.8mm Thick 20mm Lug Width Screw Down Crown & Case Back 120-click Unidirectional Bezel 300m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Double-Domed Sapphire Crystal Matte Black Dial Applied Markers Customized Sword Handset BGW9 Super-LumiNova
Movement	Miyota 9039 24 Jewels 28 00bph 40-Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Stainless Steel Bracelet

Belhamel Contra A39

Quibbles

The only “issue” I’ve had is the bezel. While it does make an exceedingly satisfying click, it was sticky. After many rotations, it’s better, but there are still some sticky spots when rotating the bezel. I know many of us wear dive watches and don’t dive, but I also know the bezel action is a big deal for people who love dive watches, so I thought I’d share.

Final Thoughts

Do you want a tool watch built for the depths (or your desk?) or anything you throw at it that looks great while doing it? The Belhamel Contra A39 is a fantastic choice. It punches much higher than its price tag dictates in looks and wrist feel and is an excellent choice for those looking for a budget-friendly tool watch. Just a reminder: There was a slight issue with my bezel, so you should keep that in mind. However, it’s still a great watch, and I’ve had a blast.

Pricing & Availability

The Contra A39 retails for $520 USD ($720 CAD), and as of the publication of this article, the A39 Contra is in a pre-order phase for Run 2 and is available for 20% off. For more information, please check out the Belhamel website.

About the author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.

Please understand that using any links to products on this site might result in us making money.