Side by side

Marathon MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's AutomaticvsHELM Vanuatu

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

MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Automatic
MarathonMSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Automatic
MSRP $1,800
Vanuatu
HELMVanuatu
MSRP $285

At a glance

13 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Automatic36mm
Vanuatu42mm
Power Reserve
MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Automatic40h
Vanuatu40h
Water Resistance
MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Automatic300m
Vanuatu300m
MSRP
MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Automatic$1,800
Vanuatu$285

Full specifications

Case

5 specs
Diameter
36mm
42mm
Thickness
18mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
50mm
Lug Width
18mm
22mm
Material
316L Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel

Crystal & Dial

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

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
Sellita SW200-1
Seiko Instruments NH35
Power Reserve
40h
40h
Jewels
25
24
Complications
None
Date

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$1,800
$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.

Marathon MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Automatic

The Marathon MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Automatic is lauded for its utilitarian, no-nonsense design, exceptional tritium lume for visibility, and comfortable 41mm wearability. Reviewers highlight its robust build, meeting ISO 6425 dive watch standards and approved for military use, demonstrating durability during demanding activities. One reviewer notes the stock rubber strap requires modification for a proper fit. Overall, reviewers rate the Marathon MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Automatic highly for its focus on utility and ruggedness at its price point.

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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