Side by side

Oak & Oscar The Humboldt ExP-02vsHELM Vanuatu

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

The Humboldt ExP-02
Oak & OscarThe Humboldt ExP-02
MSRP $2,400
Vanuatu
HELMVanuatu
MSRP $285

At a glance

17 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
The Humboldt ExP-0239.5mm
Vanuatu42mm
Power Reserve
The Humboldt ExP-0256h
Vanuatu40h
Water Resistance
The Humboldt ExP-02200m
Vanuatu300m
MSRP
The Humboldt ExP-02$2,400
Vanuatu$285

Full specifications

Case

8 specs
Category
Tool
Diver
Diameter
39.5mm
42mm
Thickness
12.4mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
46.8mm
50mm
Lug Width
20mm
22mm
Material
316L Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
200m
300m
Caseback
Display
Solid

Crystal & Dial

4 specs
Crystal Shape
Double-domed
Flat
AR Coating
Inner
Yes
Dial Color
Grey
Black
Lume
Super-LumiNova BGW9
Super-LumiNova

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
Sellita SW300
Seiko Instruments NH35
Power Reserve
56h
40h
Jewels
25
24
Complications
GMT, Chronograph
Date

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$2,400
$285

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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.

Oak & Oscar The Humboldt ExP-02

Oak & Oscar The Humboldt ExP-02 is a 39.5mm stainless steel tool watch featuring a unique, layered aluminum "ghost dial" for legibility and 200m water resistance, powered by a Sellita SW300 movement. Its appeal is limited by a US$2,550 price and an extremely limited production of 20 pieces, with its experimental dial construction done in Chicago. Overall, reviewers highlight the endearing dial and in-house bezel production as key features of the Oak & Oscar Humboldt ExP-02.

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.

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