Side by side

Christopher Ward The C12 LocovsPhoibos Wave Master

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

The C12 Loco
Christopher WardThe C12 Loco
MSRP $5,460
Wave Master
PhoibosWave Master
MSRP $309

At a glance

15 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
The C12 Loco47.5mm
Wave Master42mm
Power Reserve
The C12 Loco144h
Wave Master40h
Water Resistance
The C12 Loco30m
Wave Master300m
MSRP
The C12 Loco$5,460
Wave Master$309

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
Diver
Diameter
47.5mm
42mm
Thickness
13.7mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
47.5mm
48.5mm
Lug Width
25mm
22mm
Finish
Brushed + Polished + Sandblasted
Brushed and polished
Water Resistance
30m
300m

Crystal & Dial

2 specs
AR Coating
Inner
Yes
Dial Color
Blue
Black

Movement

5 specs
Caliber
CW-003
SII NH35A
Beat Rate
4 vph
28,800 vph
Power Reserve
144h
40h
Jewels
29
25
Complications
Moonphase, Day-date, Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$5,460
$309

Follow this matchup

Get a note when Christopher Ward The C12 Loco vs Phoibos Wave Master gets more votes, a community discussion, or a price drop. No account needed.

What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

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.

Phoibos Wave Master

Owners widely praise the Phoibos Wave Master for its attractive wavy dial, bright lume, and comfortable engineer bracelet, with many considering it one of the best-looking watches under $300. The watch features a sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel, and owners report good quality for the price, with a subtle wave pattern on the dial appreciated for its unique style. While some minor finishing flaws like slightly crooked hour markers or an off-center outer ring have been noted, these are generally considered not visible during wear. One owner experienced a clasp breakage after four years, but Phoibos replaced it free of charge. Some owners wish the watch were larger than 40mm, and one notes the GMT hand and other details may not hold up under extreme close-ups. Overall, owners rate the Phoibos Wave Master highly for its distinctive dial and value, especially considering its build quality and features.

From video reviewers

The unidirectional ceramic bezel action is praised. The lume brightness is noted as a weakness. Reviewers disagree on the water resistance rating, with some stating 300M and others 200M.

Keep exploring

More watches worth a look

Matched to the watches above on size, movement, style and price — microbrands first. Open any one to dig in.

Adjacent matchups

People also compared

Comparisons nearby in the catalog — alternatives to the watches above paired against the matchup.