Disclaimer: This watch was sent to me to review, and I do not need to return it after my review is complete. This watch was given to me without restriction and is not contingent upon a particular outcome for my review. All opinions here are my own, and Selten Watches, WatchHo & Co. had no influence over the opinions stated here.
Selten Watches: https://seltenwatch.com/
Watch Ho & Co: https://www.instagram.com/watchhoandco
Video
Review
If you’ve been following my reviews for a while, you might recall my deep dives into Selten’s Series 00 Meteorite, Salvage Bronze, M1 Moonphase, and Grand Feu Enamel models. Selten, a relatively new microbrand out of Hong Kong, was founded by Leonardo Tsai, who comes from a family of watch dial manufacturers. That pedigree shows in the brand’s focus on elaborate dial work, from genuine meteorite slices to hand-patinated bronze and even guilloché mother-of-pearl. Selten hit the ground running with its 2021 debut on Kickstarter: the Series 00 attracted around 750 backers and roughly $275,000 in pledges, and the follow-up Salvage diver pulled in another $80,000 from about 175 backers. These successful campaigns demonstrated Selten’s ability to navigate crowdfunding and deliver on its promises, and having reviewed four different series of their watches over the past few years, they’ve definitely earned my confidence and made me a fan.
Today, Selten’s latest project takes a slightly different path: it’s a collaboration with Hong Kong’s watch enthusiast club Watch Ho & Co. (WH&C). For those unfamiliar, WH&C is a collectors’ community co-founded by Jackie Ho about two years ago with a “good vibes only” group ethos. In just its first year, the club curated over 50 get-togethers connecting passionate collectors with watch brands and industry insiders, and its inaugural anniversary event drew over 130 aficionados from across Asia and even beyond. This inclusive, globe-spanning spirit has quickly made Watch Ho & Co. a notable hub in the watch community. The club hasn’t shied away from creative projects either – it previously teamed up with independent brand Zentier on two limited-edition watches, including a green malachite-dial jump hour and a follow-up featuring a striking lapis lazuli dial. In fact, Jackie Ho himself has been particularly excited about working with Selten on this special anniversary club watch, hinting at this collaboration in the months leading up to today.
All that brings us to the watch at hand: the Selten × Watch Ho & Co. “Jui” This piece commemorates WH&C’s 2nd anniversary, and as of today (August 13) it’s available to pre-order for just 72 hours, priced at $1,099 USD. While limited-edition collabs like this can sometimes stir up a frenzy of FOMO, I’m approaching the Jui with confident optimism. Selten’s proven track record of delivering ambitious designs on schedule give me more confidence than usual in recommending this project.
Case
I measured the stainless steel case of the Jui at 39mm in diameter, 45mm lug-to-lug, and an impressively slim 9.9mm in overall thickness. While at first glance I assumed it shared the same case design as the Grand Feu Enamel series, I quickly realized that’s not the case. Though the styling is similar, the construction and proportions differ significantly: this watch is over a millimeter slimmer and features lugs that are integrated into the case-back design, which is secured to the mid-case with screws.
The lugs themselves have broad polished bevels with satin-brushed top and side surfaces, flowing seamlessly into a fully polished case-back. The transition is executed perfectly. The case sides are horizontally brushed, with the mid-case set slightly inside the profile of the case-back and bezel, adding subtle depth to the silhouette.
The polished, concave bezel frames a flat sapphire crystal generously treated with AR coating, giving an unobstructed, crystal-clear view of the stunning mother-of-pearl guilloché dial. At 3 o’clock sits a 6mm push-pull crown, gently recessed into the case for protection, signed, and exceptionally easy to grip and operate.
Flipping the watch over reveals a polished case-back with a sapphire exhibition window, showing off the movement inside. Water resistance is rated at 50m; while 100m would have been a nice bonus, 50m feels perfectly adequate for a watch of this style.
Dial
The dial is unquestionably the star of the Jui, featuring an intricate tessellation-style pattern engraved into a natural black Tahitian Mother of Pearl base. This Escher-esque guilloché is executed via CNC machining, and the precision is remarkable: especially given the challenging medium. I first encountered this pattern in the CNC work of Mike Mechanic on Instagram, whose artistry I greatly admire, and I know Leonardo Tsai shares that admiration.
Seeing Selten bring this idea to life, and to such a high standard on Mother of Pearl, is genuinely impressive. Under a macro lens or loupe, the craftsmanship speaks for itself. The iridescence of the mother of pearl adds yet another layer of depth, making the three-dimensional tessellation shift and transform depending on the light and angle, something my photos simply can’t fully capture.
I also appreciate how restrained the rest of the dial design is: no branding or text to compete with the guilloché, just a discreet “2” printed on the raised stainless steel chapter ring at 2 o’clock, marking the second anniversary of Watch Ho & Co.
The Jui also debuts a completely new hand set for Selten: matte-finished, skeletonized triangular hands that are perfectly proportioned and easy to read thanks to their slightly tactile media-blasted finish. A capped center stack, often overlooked on watches without a seconds hand, is another small but thoughtful touch. All told, this dial is phenomenal, and while it’s tricky to photograph, it’s nothing short of breathtaking in person.
Movement
The Jui is powered by the Miyota 9039, which is essentially the same workhorse as the Miyota 9015 found in the Selten M1 Moonphase I reviewed previously; only here, it’s stripped back to a clean, time-only configuration without a date complication. As I mentioned in that earlier review, the 9015 (and by extension the 9039) is one of my favorite movements in this price range thanks to its reliability, and notably slim profile. Being part of Miyota’s premium line, it sits thinner than many comparable Sellita, ETA, and Seiko calibers, allowing for a sleek, refined case design that wears comfortably on the wrist.
While the M1 Moonphase cleverly repurposed the 9015’s date-wheel gearing to drive its moonphase disc, the Jui keeps things simple with a time-only complication. Selten continues its attention to detail here with a custom rotor featuring the brand’s logo and engraved name in gold, lending a touch of visual sophistication to an already dependable movement.
Additionally, the case-back features engravings indicating the collaboration with WH & Co. and also includes a Chinese phrase on the sapphire that translates to “A place where people, time, and stories come together”, to honor the group‘s 2nd anniversary release.
On The Wrist
On the wrist, the Jui hits a sweet spot that is impossible to fault. Its 39mm diameter feels just right on my 6.75″ wrist, delivering what I consider the perfect size for a watch that walks the fine line between slightly dressy and slightly sporty. The 45mm lug-to-lug length is spot-on for a wide range of wrist sizes, and the 9.9mm overall thickness wears even slimmer, more like 8 or 9mm, thanks to the concave bezel and subtly sculpted case-back.
Combined with Selten’s new case design, these proportions make this the most comfortable and balanced wrist experience the brand has offered to date. The Jui comes fitted with a French Epsom leather strap lined with green goatskin, made by HasNoBounds, the strap atelier owned and run by Selten founder Leonardo Tsai’s wife Kristine. The craftsmanship is excellent, with supple leather and a comfortable fit that complements the watch beautifully.
If I had to nitpick, my only gripe would be that the buckle design and finishing leans a bit generic… I would’ve liked a slightly more angular profile and at least a few contrasting high-polished surfaces to elevate the visual interest further and match the case.
Wrapping Up
The Jui is, in my opinion, a home run for both collaborators. In terms of quality, it represents the very best of what Selten has delivered so far: great design, solid build quality, and refined finishing. And at roughly $1,100 USD, it’s difficult to argue with the value on offer for a watch that’s put together this well, especially with a dial as striking and uncommon as this one. The only real question is whether the design speaks to you.
Maybe you prefer more branding on the dial, distinctive hour markers, a seconds hand, or you’re simply not a fan of guilloché. But if the aesthetics here resonate with you, you can be confident the Jui will not disappoint when seen in the metal. As a final note, I’ll add that it’s a watch best appreciated in person: the mother-of-pearl dial, in particular, is notoriously tricky to capture accurately under studio lighting, and it looks far more captivating on the wrist than in photos or even my video.
