Side by side

HELM VanuatuvsZelos Helmsman 3

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

Vanuatu
HELMVanuatu
MSRP $285
Helmsman 3
ZelosHelmsman 3
MSRP $529

At a glance

15 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Vanuatu42mm
Helmsman 340mm
Power Reserve
Vanuatu40h
Helmsman 340h
Water Resistance
Vanuatu300m
Helmsman 3200m
MSRP
Vanuatu$285
Helmsman 3$529

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Diameter
42mm
40mm
Thickness
14mm
11.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
50mm
40mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
300m
200m

Crystal & Dial

4 specs
Crystal
Sapphire
Domed Sapphire
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
Black
SS - Frost
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
Seiko Instruments NH35
Miyota 9015
Power Reserve
40h
40h
Jewels
24
25
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$285
$529

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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.

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.

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