Side by side

Gruppo Gamma Vanguard SteelvsVario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

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

Vanguard Steel
Gruppo GammaVanguard Steel
MSRP $790
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound
VarioEmpire Art Nouveau Handwound
MSRP $888

At a glance

14 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Vanguard Steel42mm
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound38mm
Power Reserve
Vanguard Steel42h
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound40h
Water Resistance
Vanguard Steel100m
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound50m
MSRP
Vanguard Steel$790
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound$888

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
Dress
Diameter
42mm
38mm
Thickness
12.6mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
49.5mm
38mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
100m
50m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
Forged Carbon
Black
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
Miyota 9039
Miyota 6T33
Type
Automatic
Manual
Power Reserve
42h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$790
$888

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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.

Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

Owners widely praise the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound for its detailed, multi-layered dial featuring applied numerals and guilloche patterns, its elegant Art Deco-inspired design, and the enjoyable winding feel of the Miyota 6T33 handwound movement, often visible through an exhibition case back. The 38mm case size is considered a positive by many, and the included leather strap is noted for its comfort and quality. Some owners find the differing fonts on the sub-dials and perimeter less appealing, and the absence of a constant seconds sub-dial is flagged as a drawback. On balance, owners rate the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound highly for its distinctive Art Deco styling and detailed dial at its price point.

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