Side by side

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz WatchvsHELM Vanuatu

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

SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
CWCSBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
MSRP $666
Vanuatu
HELMVanuatu
MSRP $285

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40mm
Vanuatu42mm
Power Reserve
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40h
Vanuatu40h
Water Resistance
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch300m
Vanuatu300m
MSRP
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch$666
Vanuatu$285

Full specifications

Case

4 specs
Diameter
40mm
42mm
Thickness
12mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
46mm
50mm
Lug Width
20mm
22mm

Crystal & Dial

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

Movement

5 specs
Caliber
Ronda 517
Seiko Instruments NH35
Type
Quartz
Automatic
Power Reserve
40h
40h
Jewels
25
24
Complications
None
Date

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$666
$285

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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 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.

HELM Vanuatu

Owners widely praise the HELM Vanuatu for its exceptional comfort, with the titanium bracelet frequently cited as "uber-comfortable" and the watch itself being less overbearing on the wrist than comparable dive watches. Reviewers note its great bezel action and overall quality, with one owner finding the purchase satisfactory despite a nearly two-year wait. On balance, owners rate the HELM Vanuatu highly for its wearability and solid build at the price.

From video reviewers

The case finishing is consistently praised. The bracelet is noted as having significant rattle.

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