Side by side

Gruppo Gamma Vanguard SteelvsWilliam Wood Beacon

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

Vanguard Steel
Gruppo GammaVanguard Steel
MSRP $790
Beacon
William WoodBeacon
MSRP $495

At a glance

13 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Vanguard Steel42mm
Beacon41mm
Power Reserve
Vanguard Steel42h
Beacon40h
Water Resistance
Vanguard Steel100m
Beacon50m
MSRP
Vanguard Steel$790
Beacon$495

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Category
Dress
Diameter
42mm
41mm
Thickness
12.6mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
49.5mm
41mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Water Resistance
100m
50m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
Forged Carbon
Blue
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
Miyota 9039
Ronda 762
Type
Automatic
Quartz
Power Reserve
42h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$790
$495

Follow this matchup

Get a note when Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Steel vs William Wood Beacon 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.

Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Steel

The Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Steel is praised for its aged steel case and cream sandwich dial. However, some owners dislike the distorted sapphire crystal and the absence of minute markers, with one noting difficulty in replacing the crystal due to hand fitment. The watch features a Miyota 9039 movement with a 42-hour power reserve and an accuracy range of -10 to +30 seconds per day, and is offered with two strap options. On balance, owners value the Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Steel for its distinctive aged aesthetic and dial design, despite some reservations about the crystal.

From video reviewers

Movement accuracy is a notable strength, with one reviewer noting a -1.8 second per day deviation after initial testing. A weakness is the substantial price hike for the re-release model, which raises questions about whether the upgrades justify the cost. Reviewers disagree on the watch's originality, with one calling it "decidedly derivative" and the other not mentioning this aspect.

William Wood Beacon

The William Wood Beacon is praised for its bold flavors, particularly its prominent oak and rye influence, with tasting notes of candied orange peel, dried apricots, and baking spices, and a long, full finish. Some find its oak-forward profile overwhelming and its MSRP of $300 unreasonable. Overall, owners rate the William Wood Beacon highly for its bold flavors and character, with one owner awarding it a score of 9.4/10.

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.