Side by side

Gruppo Gamma Vanguard SteelvsCWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch

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

Vanguard Steel
Gruppo GammaVanguard Steel
MSRP $790
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
CWCSBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
MSRP $666

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Vanguard Steel42mm
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40mm
Power Reserve
Vanguard Steel42h
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40h
Water Resistance
Vanguard Steel100m
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch300m
MSRP
Vanguard Steel$790
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch$666

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Category
Diver
Diameter
42mm
40mm
Thickness
12.6mm
12mm
Lug-to-Lug
49.5mm
46mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Water Resistance
100m
300m

Crystal & Dial

2 specs
Dial Color
Forged Carbon
CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
Miyota 9039
Ronda 517
Type
Automatic
Quartz
Power Reserve
42h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$790
$666

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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.

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch

Owners widely praise the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch for its legible, uncluttered dial, excellent Super-LumiNova lume, and robust build quality, noting its comfortable 12mm thickness and durable PVD coating. The bezel action is described as having zero back play, and the fixed lugs are appreciated for easy strap changes. One owner reported the lume is readable throughout the night, while another flagged a faulty mechanism requiring replacement and poor retailer customer service. The £700 price is considered high by some compared to similar quartz divers, leading to questions about its value. Overall, owners rate the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch highly for its bombproof, toolish design and practical aesthetics.

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