Side by side

Fortis Novonaut N-42vsHELM Komodo

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

Novonaut N-42
FortisNovonaut N-42
MSRP $5,230
Komodo
HELMKomodo
MSRP $295

At a glance

15 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Novonaut N-4242mm
Komodo40mm
Power Reserve
Novonaut N-4260h
Komodo40h
Water Resistance
Novonaut N-42300m
Komodo300m
MSRP
Novonaut N-42$5,230
Komodo$295

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Category
Chronograph
Diver
Diameter
42mm
40mm
Thickness
14.6mm
15.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
47mm
Lug Width
21mm
20mm
Material
Titanium / Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel

Crystal & Dial

4 specs
Crystal Shape
Flat
Double-Domed
AR Coating
Inner
Yes
Dial Color
Titanium Legacy
Black
Lume
None
Super-LumiNova

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
Manufacture Caliber WERK 17
Seiko Instruments NH35
Power Reserve
60h
40h
Jewels
36
24
Complications
None
Date

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$5,230
$295

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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.

Fortis Novonaut N-42

Owners widely praise the Fortis B-42 Official Cosmonauts for its stunning fit and finish, excellent legibility, and a precise, grippy bezel, with one owner calling its bracelet the nicest they've ever owned. The Fortis Novonaut N-42 is described as a flawless beast with a WERK 17 column-wheel chronograph movement, featuring enhanced shock resistance and COSC adjustment, and is noted as a handsome tool watch with a beautiful dial and nice pusher action. However, the 42mm case of the B-42 wears larger than expected, and the Novonaut's 44mm case and chunky bracelet make it too large and heavy for many. The Fortis Titanium Legacy is a modern pilot's watch with a titanium case and bracelet, featuring a Kenissi WERK 13 movement with a 70-hour power reserve and three time zones. Overall, owners and reviewers highly regard the Fortis Titanium Legacy for its robust tool watch design and advanced movement technology, despite some concerns about case size and bracelet adjustability.

HELM Komodo

The HELM Komodo is widely praised for its excellent build quality, top-notch case finishing, clear double-domed sapphire crystal, wonderfully executed dial, and substantial lume, with reviewers noting its ISO 6425 compliance and 300m water resistance. Owners report a snappy 120-click bezel and appreciate the depth, detail, and finishing for a tool diver at its price point. Some owners find the 15.2mm to 15.5mm height makes the HELM Komodo feel thick and hefty, and the bezel ridges are noted as somewhat uncomfortable to turn, while the clasp design is also flagged as a drawback. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the HELM Komodo highly for its exceptional finishing and lume at its sub-$300 price point.

From video reviewers

The HELM Komodo's double domed sapphire crystal offers excellent optical clarity and minimal distortion. A notable weakness is its limited availability, making it harder to get than some other luxury watches. Reviewers disagree on the watch's lug-to-lug fit, with one reviewer noting it may not suit those with smaller wrists, while another reviewer does not mention this as a concern.

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