Side by side

Phoibos Wave MastervsVario 1945 D12 Bronze Fumé

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

Wave Master
PhoibosWave Master
MSRP $309
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé
Vario1945 D12 Bronze Fumé
MSRP $428

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Wave Master42mm
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé37mm
Power Reserve
Wave Master40h
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé40h
Water Resistance
Wave Master300m
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé100m
MSRP
Wave Master$309
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé$428

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
Diver
Field
Diameter
42mm
37mm
Thickness
14mm
10.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
48.5mm
45mm
Lug Width
22mm
18mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
300m
100m

Crystal & Dial

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

Movement

1 specs
Caliber
SII NH35A
Miyota 82s5

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$309
$428

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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

Owners widely praise the Phoibos Wave Master for its attractive wavy dial, bright lume, and comfortable engineer bracelet, with many considering it one of the best-looking watches under $300. The watch features a sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel, and owners report good quality for the price, with a subtle wave pattern on the dial appreciated for its unique style. While some minor finishing flaws like slightly crooked hour markers or an off-center outer ring have been noted, these are generally considered not visible during wear. One owner experienced a clasp breakage after four years, but Phoibos replaced it free of charge. Some owners wish the watch were larger than 40mm, and one notes the GMT hand and other details may not hold up under extreme close-ups. Overall, owners rate the Phoibos Wave Master highly for its distinctive dial and value, especially considering its build quality and features.

From video reviewers

The unidirectional ceramic bezel action is praised. The lume brightness is noted as a weakness. Reviewers disagree on the water resistance rating, with some stating 300M and others 200M.

Vario 1945 D12 Bronze Fumé

Owners widely appreciate the Vario 1945 D12 Bronze Fumé for its historical representation and the use of two lume colors. The blended branding is considered tasteful by some, though one owner expressed indecision about the logo and crown position. The 37mm bronze case is designed to develop a patina, as are the bronze hands, complementing the gradient matte black dial with faux-patina lume. The Miyota 82S5 automatic movement, however, is noted by owners to be noisy and rattly, with one owner reporting +7 seconds per day accuracy and a 40-hour power reserve. Overall, owners rate the Vario 1945 D12 Bronze Fumé positively for its aesthetic appeal and historical narrative, despite the noisy movement.

From video reviewers

The bronze case developing a patina is a key aesthetic feature. Reviewers found the value proposition to be good at $428 USD.

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