Side by side

Brew 8-Bit V2vsHELM Vanuatu

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

8-Bit V2
Brew8-Bit V2
MSRP $395
Vanuatu
HELMVanuatu
MSRP $285

At a glance

22 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
8-Bit V238mm
Vanuatu42mm
Power Reserve
8-Bit V2
Vanuatu40h
Water Resistance
8-Bit V250m
Vanuatu300m
MSRP
8-Bit V2$395
Vanuatu$285

Full specifications

Case

8 specs
Category
Chronograph
Diver
Diameter
38mm
42mm
Thickness
10.4mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
41.5mm
50mm
Material
Stainless Steel 316L
Stainless Steel
Finish
Brushed and polished
Water Resistance
50m
300m
Caseback
Stainless Steel 316L
Solid

Crystal & Dial

5 specs
Crystal Shape
Flat
AR Coating
Yes
Dial Color
3D Pixel Texture
Black
Indices
Applied
Lume
None
Super-LumiNova

Movement

8 specs
Caliber
VK64
Seiko Instruments NH35
Type
Quartz
Automatic
Beat Rate
0 vph
28,800 vph
Power Reserve
0h
40h
Jewels
0
24
Hacking
No
Yes
Hand-winding
No
Yes
Complications
Chronograph
Date

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$395
$285

Follow this matchup

Get a note when Brew 8-Bit V2 vs HELM Vanuatu gets more votes, a community discussion, or a price drop. No account needed.

What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Brew 8-Bit V2

The Brew 8-Bit V2 is praised for its casually elegant, versatile rectangular design that subtly balances 8-bit gaming and coffee themes, with solid build quality and finishing. Owners note the left subdial tracks 60 minutes and the right indicates day/night, with the chronograph's second hand only moving when activated. Criticisms include the lack of a seconds subdial, no lume, minor movement quirks like the chronograph minute hand jumping upon reset, and a slightly off-center yellow part on the hour hand. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Brew 8-Bit V2 highly for its unique design and solid build quality at its price point.

HELM Vanuatu

Owners widely praise the HELM Vanuatu for its exceptional comfort, with the titanium bracelet frequently cited as "uber-comfortable" and the watch itself being less overbearing on the wrist than comparable dive watches. Reviewers note its great bezel action and overall quality, with one owner finding the purchase satisfactory despite a nearly two-year wait. On balance, owners rate the HELM Vanuatu highly for its wearability and solid build at the price.

From video reviewers

The case finishing is consistently praised. The bracelet is noted as having significant rattle.

Keep exploring

More watches worth a look

Matched to the watches above on size, movement, style and price — microbrands first. Open any one to dig in.

Adjacent matchups

People also compared

Comparisons nearby in the catalog — alternatives to the watches above paired against the matchup.