Side by side

Phoibos Wave Master GMTvsHELM Vanuatu

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

Wave Master GMT
PhoibosWave Master GMT
MSRP $399
Vanuatu
HELMVanuatu
MSRP $285

At a glance

11 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Wave Master GMT39.5mm
Vanuatu42mm
Power Reserve
Wave Master GMT40h
Vanuatu40h
Water Resistance
Wave Master GMT200m
Vanuatu300m
MSRP
Wave Master GMT$399
Vanuatu$285

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Category
GMT
Diver
Diameter
39.5mm
42mm
Thickness
12.7mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
46mm
50mm
Lug Width
20mm
22mm
Water Resistance
200m
300m

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
SII NH34
Seiko Instruments NH35
Power Reserve
40h
40h
Jewels
25
24
Complications
None
Date

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$399
$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.

Phoibos Wave Master GMT

The Phoibos Wave Master GMT is widely praised for its attractive design, comfortable 20mm tapering bracelet, and wearability on a 7" wrist, with owners finding it a strong value proposition at $220. Some minor finishing flaws, such as slightly crooked markers and off-center dial numbers, are noted by one owner, while accuracy averages around 5-10 seconds over two weeks. Overall, owners rate the Phoibos Wave Master GMT highly for its distinctive design and comfortable wearability at its price point.

From video reviewers

The Wave Master GMT's notable feature is its 200M water resistance. A drawback is the rattle of the bracelet. Reviewers disagree on the watch's value, with one reviewer noting its significant weight for a 39.5mm case diameter, but the other reviewer doesn't mention any specific weaknesses or trade-offs.

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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