Side by side

HELM VanuatuvsVario 1945 D12 Bronze Fumé

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

Vanuatu
HELMVanuatu
MSRP $285
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé
Vario1945 D12 Bronze Fumé
MSRP $428

At a glance

15 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Vanuatu42mm
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé37mm
Power Reserve
Vanuatu40h
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé40h
Water Resistance
Vanuatu300m
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé100m
MSRP
Vanuatu$285
1945 D12 Bronze Fumé$428

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
Diver
Field
Diameter
42mm
37mm
Thickness
14mm
10.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
50mm
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

4 specs
Caliber
Seiko Instruments NH35
Miyota 82s5
Power Reserve
40h
40h
Jewels
24
25
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$285
$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.

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.

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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