Side by side

CWC SBS 1987 Aged SpecialvsHELM Vanuatu Titanium

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

SBS 1987 Aged Special
CWCSBS 1987 Aged Special
MSRP $1,083
Vanuatu Titanium
HELMVanuatu Titanium
MSRP $350

At a glance

13 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBS 1987 Aged Special40mm
Vanuatu Titanium42mm
Power Reserve
SBS 1987 Aged Special40h
Vanuatu Titanium40h
Water Resistance
SBS 1987 Aged Special300m
Vanuatu Titanium300m
MSRP
SBS 1987 Aged Special$1,083
Vanuatu Titanium$350

Full specifications

Case

5 specs
Diameter
40mm
42mm
Thickness
12mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
46mm
50mm
Lug Width
20mm
22mm
Material
Stainless Steel
Titanium

Crystal & Dial

2 specs
AR Coating
Inner
Yes
Dial Color
SBS 1987 Aged Special
Black

Movement

5 specs
Caliber
Seiko Instruments NH35
Type
Quartz
Automatic
Power Reserve
40h
40h
Jewels
25
24
Complications
None
Date

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$1,083
$350

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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.

CWC SBS 1987 Aged Special

Owners widely praise the CWC SBS 1987 Aged Special for its rugged build and military heritage, with some finding its quality comparable to higher-end watches. A reviewer notes the 41mm PVD-coated watch features a bright SuperLuminova dial. One owner reports a bit of play in the 60-click bezel, present from new, alongside minor wear on the PVD coating and bezel insert. On balance, owners rate the CWC SBS 1987 Aged Special highly for its rugged build and military heritage, despite some questioning its value at £700.

HELM Vanuatu Titanium

The HELM Vanuatu Titanium is widely praised by owners for its lightweight titanium construction, brushed gunmetal finish, simple design, legible hands and markers, and excellent lume, offering significant value at $300. Owners note the watch looks good in person and express enthusiasm for their existing Vanuatu Ti models. Some owners wish for Miyota 9x movements in place of the NH series. The unhardened titanium scratches easily, and the 42mm case may be too large for smaller wrists. A significant drawback is the long waiting list. On balance, owners rate the HELM Vanuatu Titanium highly for its lightweight titanium build and excellent lume at the price point.

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