Side by side

CWC SBS 1987 Aged SpecialvsZelos Helmsman 3

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
Helmsman 3
ZelosHelmsman 3
MSRP $529

At a glance

10 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBS 1987 Aged Special40mm
Helmsman 340mm
Power Reserve
SBS 1987 Aged Special40h
Helmsman 340h
Water Resistance
SBS 1987 Aged Special300m
Helmsman 3200m
MSRP
SBS 1987 Aged Special$1,083
Helmsman 3$529

Full specifications

Case

4 specs
Thickness
12mm
11.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
46mm
40mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
300m
200m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
Crystal
Sapphire
Domed Sapphire
Dial Color
SBS 1987 Aged Special
SS - Frost
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

2 specs
Caliber
Miyota 9015
Type
Quartz
Automatic

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$1,083
$529

Follow this matchup

Get a note when CWC SBS 1987 Aged Special vs Zelos Helmsman 3 gets more votes, a community discussion, or a price drop. No account needed.

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.

Zelos Helmsman 3

Owners widely praise the Zelos Helmsman 3 for its exceptional finishing and polishing on the titanium case, with some noting it feels nicer than previous models. The unique Titanium Crystalline Dial and Damascus Titanium dial are frequently highlighted as aesthetically pleasing and head-turning features, especially considering the price point. The brushed beads of rice bracelet is described as fitting well, and the on-the-fly clasp is considered amazing. Lume is also noted as great, with lumed crowns being a positive observation. However, some owners report the watch can feel top-heavy with sharp edges, making it uncertain as a daily driver for some. The meteorite bezel is seen by one owner as not adding significant value, and the stock strap's keepers and stitching were considered to detract from the watch's appearance.

Keep exploring

More watches worth a look

Matched to the watches above on size, movement, style and price — microbrands first. Open any one to dig in.

Adjacent matchups

People also compared

Comparisons nearby in the catalog — alternatives to the watches above paired against the matchup.