Side by side

Gruppo Gamma Vanguard SteelvsChristopher Ward The C12 Loco

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

Vanguard Steel
Gruppo GammaVanguard Steel
MSRP $790
The C12 Loco
Christopher WardThe C12 Loco
MSRP $5,460

At a glance

14 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Vanguard Steel42mm
The C12 Loco47.5mm
Power Reserve
Vanguard Steel42h
The C12 Loco144h
Water Resistance
Vanguard Steel100m
The C12 Loco30m
MSRP
Vanguard Steel$790
The C12 Loco$5,460

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Diameter
42mm
47.5mm
Thickness
12.6mm
13.7mm
Lug-to-Lug
49.5mm
47.5mm
Lug Width
22mm
25mm
Finish
Brushed and polished
Brushed + Polished + Sandblasted
Water Resistance
100m
30m

Crystal & Dial

2 specs
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
Forged Carbon
Blue

Movement

5 specs
Caliber
Miyota 9039
CW-003
Beat Rate
28,800 vph
4 vph
Power Reserve
42h
144h
Jewels
25
29
Complications
None
Moonphase, Day-date, Date

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$790
$5,460

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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.

Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Steel

The Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Steel is praised for its aged steel case and cream sandwich dial. However, some owners dislike the distorted sapphire crystal and the absence of minute markers, with one noting difficulty in replacing the crystal due to hand fitment. The watch features a Miyota 9039 movement with a 42-hour power reserve and an accuracy range of -10 to +30 seconds per day, and is offered with two strap options. On balance, owners value the Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Steel for its distinctive aged aesthetic and dial design, despite some reservations about the crystal.

From video reviewers

Movement accuracy is a notable strength, with one reviewer noting a -1.8 second per day deviation after initial testing. A weakness is the substantial price hike for the re-release model, which raises questions about whether the upgrades justify the cost. Reviewers disagree on the watch's originality, with one calling it "decidedly derivative" and the other not mentioning this aspect.

Christopher Ward The C12 Loco

Owners widely praise the Christopher Ward The C12 Loco for its unusual technical ambition, well-finished movement aesthetics, and value, particularly noting the dial-side floating free-sprung balance. Some owners find the mid-case design creates odd proportions, and the 30m water resistance is flagged as a limitation. The watch features a manually wound twin-barrel movement in a 41mm steel case with a 47.5mm lug-to-lug and 13.7mm thickness. Overall, owners rate the Christopher Ward The C12 Loco highly for its ambitious movement design and value at its price point.

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