Side by side

CWC (Cabot Watch Company) 1980 RN Divers Automatic Re-Issue WatchvsHELM Vanuatu

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

Vanuatu
HELMVanuatu
MSRP $285
What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

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

CWC (Cabot Watch Company) 1980 RN Divers Automatic Re-Issue Watch

Owners widely praise the CWC (Cabot Watch Company) 1980 RN Divers Automatic Re-Issue Watch for its faithful homage to vintage military divers, highlighting details like the dial markings, luminous acrylic bezel, vintage logo, and well-proportioned hands. One owner reports accuracy under +2 seconds per day. However, some find the "faux patina" lume too gold and glossy, and the polished case unusual for a military watch. The fixed lugs are noted as a potential drawback for some, though others appreciate them as a tool watch feature. Opinions on the value are split, with some questioning the $2.5k price point due to the ETA movement, while others see it as a strong alternative to more expensive watches. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the CWC (Cabot Watch Company) 1980 RN Divers Automatic Re-Issue Watch well for its vintage aesthetic and tool watch capabilities, despite some reservations about its price and specific execution details.

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.

At a glance

13 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
1980 RN Divers Automatic Re-Issue Watch45mm
Vanuatu42mm
Power Reserve
1980 RN Divers Automatic Re-Issue Watch40h
Vanuatu40h
Water Resistance
1980 RN Divers Automatic Re-Issue Watch300m
Vanuatu300m
MSRP
1980 RN Divers Automatic Re-Issue Watch$3,747
Vanuatu$285

Full specifications

Case

5 specs
Category
Diver
Diameter
45mm
42mm
Thickness
12.7mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
47mm
50mm
Lug Width
20mm
22mm

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
AR Coating
Inner
Yes
Dial Color
Black
Lume
None
Super-LumiNova

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
ETA 2824
Seiko Instruments NH35
Power Reserve
40h
40h
Jewels
25
24
Complications
None
Date

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$285
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