Which is cheaper, the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch or the Formex Reef 42 mm?

At MSRP the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch is the cheaper of the two at $499, against $2,414 for the Formex Reef 42 mm — a $1,915 gap before any retailer discounting.

Which is bigger, the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch or the Formex Reef 42 mm?

The Formex Reef 42 mm wears larger at 42mm versus 38mm for the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch — a 4mm difference across the dial.

Which has better water resistance, the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch or the Formex Reef 42 mm?

The Formex Reef 42 mm is rated to 300m versus 50m for the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch.

Which has a longer power reserve, the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch or the Formex Reef 42 mm?

The Formex Reef 42 mm carries a 56-hour power reserve against 40 hours on the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch.

What movement does the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch run compared to the Formex Reef 42 mm?

The CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch runs a manual caliber (Sellita SW210), while the Formex Reef 42 mm runs a automatic (Sellita SW300-1).

Side by side

CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical WatchvsFormex Reef 42 mm

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

CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch

cwc-navigator-mechanical-hand-wound-gs-watch-1970-pattern

MSRP $499

Formex Reef 42 mm

reef-42mm-automatic-cosc-300m-black

MSRP $2,414

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ

Diameter

Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch38mm

Reef 42 mm42mm

Power Reserve

Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch40h

Reef 42 mm56h

Water Resistance

Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch50m

Reef 42 mm300m

MSRP

Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch$499

Reef 42 mm$2,414

Full specifications

Case

6 specs

Crystal & Dial

2 specs

Crystal

Acrylic

Sapphire

Dial Color

CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch

Black

Movement

3 specs

Caliber

Sellita SW210

Sellita SW300-1

Type

Manual

Automatic

Power Reserve

40h

56h

Pricing

1 specs

MSRP

$499

$2,414

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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.

CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch

The CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch is widely praised for its authentic, utilitarian design and satisfying hand-wound Sellita SW210 movement, with owners noting a smooth winding action and excellent accuracy, including one report of zero seconds deviation over 24 hours. Reviewers highlight the era-appropriate dial and functional "piece of kit" appeal, though some find the 35mm case small by modern standards and legibility can be impacted by the domed hesalite crystal. Owners report issues with fixed lug bars being poorly filled in and fogging inside the crystal, while others state no water resistance problems. Overall, owners and reviewers appreciate the CWC Mellor-72 Mechanical Watch for its genuine military heritage and functional charm, despite some practical drawbacks.

The Formex Reef 42 mm is widely praised for its comfortable bracelet featuring a micro-adjust clasp, COSC-certified Sellita movement, and excellent build quality. Owners appreciate the gradient dial's visual appeal and the overall wearability. Some owners note the seconds hand does not perfectly align with markers, and one owner found the lugs' taper hinders third-party strap fit. The bracelet's length and sporty design are noted as limiting versatility by some. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Formex Reef 42 mm highly for its impressive wearability and value at the price point.

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