Side by side

CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical WatchvsFortis Novonaut N-42

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

Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch
CWCMellor-72 Mechanical Watch
MSRP $499
Novonaut N-42
FortisNovonaut N-42
MSRP $5,230

At a glance

15 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch38mm
Novonaut N-4242mm
Power Reserve
Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch40h
Novonaut N-4260h
Water Resistance
Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch50m
Novonaut N-42300m
MSRP
Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch$499
Novonaut N-42$5,230

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
Field
Chronograph
Diameter
38mm
42mm
Thickness
12mm
14.6mm
Lug-to-Lug
42mm
Lug Width
18.5mm
21mm
Material
Stainless Steel
Titanium / Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
50m
300m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
Crystal
Acrylic
Sapphire
Dial Color
CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch
Titanium Legacy
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
Sellita SW210
Manufacture Caliber WERK 17
Type
Manual
Automatic
Power Reserve
40h
60h
Jewels
25
36

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$499
$5,230

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

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

CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch

The CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch is widely praised for its authentic, utilitarian design and satisfying hand-wound Sellita SW210 movement, with owners noting a smooth winding action and excellent accuracy, including one report of zero seconds deviation over 24 hours. Reviewers highlight the era-appropriate dial and functional "piece of kit" appeal, though some find the 35mm case small by modern standards and legibility can be impacted by the domed hesalite crystal. Owners report issues with fixed lug bars being poorly filled in and fogging inside the crystal, while others state no water resistance problems. Overall, owners and reviewers appreciate the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch for its genuine military heritage and functional charm, despite some practical drawbacks.

Fortis Novonaut N-42

Owners widely praise the Fortis B-42 Official Cosmonauts for its stunning fit and finish, excellent legibility, and a precise, grippy bezel, with one owner calling its bracelet the nicest they've ever owned. The Fortis Novonaut N-42 is described as a flawless beast with a WERK 17 column-wheel chronograph movement, featuring enhanced shock resistance and COSC adjustment, and is noted as a handsome tool watch with a beautiful dial and nice pusher action. However, the 42mm case of the B-42 wears larger than expected, and the Novonaut's 44mm case and chunky bracelet make it too large and heavy for many. The Fortis Titanium Legacy is a modern pilot's watch with a titanium case and bracelet, featuring a Kenissi WERK 13 movement with a 70-hour power reserve and three time zones. Overall, owners and reviewers highly regard the Fortis Titanium Legacy for its robust tool watch design and advanced movement technology, despite some concerns about case size and bracelet adjustability.

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