Side by side

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz WatchvsBaltic HMS 003

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

SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
CWCSBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
MSRP $666
HMS 003
BalticHMS 003
MSRP $416
What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

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

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch

Owners widely praise the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch for its legible, uncluttered dial, excellent Super-LumiNova lume, and robust build quality, noting its comfortable 12mm thickness and durable PVD coating. The bezel action is described as having zero back play, and the fixed lugs are appreciated for easy strap changes. One owner reported the lume is readable throughout the night, while another flagged a faulty mechanism requiring replacement and poor retailer customer service. The £700 price is considered high by some compared to similar quartz divers, leading to questions about its value. Overall, owners rate the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch highly for its bombproof, toolish design and practical aesthetics.

Baltic HMS 003

The Baltic HMS 003 is widely praised for its vintage charm, featuring a three-dimensional sector dial with a deep blue and gilt color scheme, heat-treated blue hands, and varied textures. Owners and reviewers highlight its 36.5mm case size, high-dome crystal, and Beads of Rice bracelet as particularly appealing. The Miyota 8315 automatic movement provides a 60-hour power reserve and stop-seconds function. One owner notes the domed hesalite crystal is prone to scratching. Overall, owners and reviewers rate the Baltic HMS 003 highly for its unbelievably gorgeous design and vintage aesthetic at its price point.

From video reviewers

The Baltic HMS 003's downsized case to 36.5mm is a significant strength, making it a genuinely vintage-sized watch. A notable trade-off is the relatively thin lume on the watch, which is 'not the brightest' but still functional. Reviewers disagree on the watch's overall build quality, with one reviewer stating it has "better finishing" than the previous model, while another reviewer notes that specific details about the watch's finishing, indexes, or overall build quality are not mentioned.

At a glance

11 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40mm
HMS 00336mm
Power Reserve
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40h
HMS 00360h
Water Resistance
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch300m
HMS 00350m
MSRP
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch$666
HMS 003$416

Full specifications

Case

4 specs
Category
Diver
Sport
Diameter
40mm
36mm
Thickness
12mm
13mm
Water Resistance
300m
50m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
Crystal
Sapphire
Hesalite
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
Blue Gilt

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
Ronda 517
Miyota 8315
Type
Quartz
Automatic
Power Reserve
40h
60h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$666
$416
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