Side by side

Gruppo Gamma Vanguard SteelvsZelos Helica

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

Vanguard Steel
Gruppo GammaVanguard Steel
MSRP $790
Helica
ZelosHelica
MSRP $499

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Vanguard Steel42mm
Helica39mm
Power Reserve
Vanguard Steel42h
Helica40h
Water Resistance
Vanguard Steel100m
Helica100m
MSRP
Vanguard Steel$790
Helica$499

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Category
Diver
Diameter
42mm
39mm
Thickness
12.6mm
10.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
49.5mm
39mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
Forged Carbon
39 - Wave MOP
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

2 specs
Caliber
Miyota 9039
Miyota 9015
Power Reserve
42h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$790
$499

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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.

Zelos Helica

Owners widely praise the Zelos Helica for its stunning, often color-shifting dials, with specific mentions of the MoP, slate grey, 'Steel Blue', and red opal variants being particularly captivating and artful. The 39mm case size is noted as fitting well on smaller wrists, and the overall build quality and finishing for the price are frequently highlighted as impressive, with one owner calling it "a lot of watch for the price." Some owners appreciate the novel bracelet designs and full lume dials, while others find the bracelet and clasp edges sharp or the clasp lacking on-the-fly adjustment. Opinions on the date window are mixed, with one owner disliking it. The Zelos Helica Moonphase was considered cluttered by one owner, and its $1K USD price point was felt to be steep by another, though popular variants sold out rapidly. Overall, owners rate the Zelos Helica highly for its striking dial designs and impressive value proposition.

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