Which is cheaper, the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze or the Vario 1918 Medic Brass?

At MSRP the Vario 1918 Medic Brass is the cheaper of the two at $388, against $599 for the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze — a $211 gap before any retailer discounting.

Which is bigger, the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze or the Vario 1918 Medic Brass?

The Vario 1918 Medic Brass wears larger at 40mm versus 35mm for the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze — a 5mm difference across the dial.

Which has a longer power reserve, the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze or the Vario 1918 Medic Brass?

The KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze carries a 41-hour power reserve against 40 hours on the Vario 1918 Medic Brass.

What movement does the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze run compared to the Vario 1918 Medic Brass?

Both watches run automatic movements — the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze uses the NH38 and the Vario 1918 Medic Brass uses the Seiko NH38A.

Side by side

KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 BronzevsVario 1918 Medic Brass

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

KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze

os90002nd-bz-br

MSRP $599

Vario 1918 Medic Brass

vario-1918-medic-brass-white-dial-with-white-lume

MSRP $388

At a glance

13 of 29 specs differ

Diameter

OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze35mm

1918 Medic Brass40mm

Power Reserve

OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze41h

1918 Medic Brass40h

Water Resistance

OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze100m

1918 Medic Brass100m

MSRP

OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze$599

1918 Medic Brass$388

Full specifications

Case

5 specs

Diameter

35mm

40mm

Thickness

12.35mm

10mm

Lug-to-Lug

42mm

48mm

Lug Width

18mm

20mm

Material

Bronze

316L Stainless Steel

Crystal & Dial

5 specs

Crystal

Sapphire

Domed Sapphire

Crystal Shape

Dome

Flat

AR Coating

Yes

Inner

Dial Color

Brown

White

Lume

Super-LumiNova

None

Movement

2 specs

Caliber

NH38

Seiko NH38A

Power Reserve

41h

40h

Pricing

1 specs

MSRP

$599

$388

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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.

KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze

Owners widely praise the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze for its vintage military aesthetic and comfortable 35mm wearability, noting the lug design allows it to fit well on wrists around 7 inches. The Seiko NH-35 movement is reported to be reliable, keeping time within +2 to +3 seconds per day. Some owners dislike the 18mm lug width and the PVD coating on the NATO strap hardware, which does not match the bronze case. Overall, owners rate the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze highly for its vintage appeal and comfortable wearability.

From video reviewers

The watch's bronze case finish is a notable strength, with reviewers highlighting its unique patina and subtle aging effect. A weakness is the lume brightness, which may be a drawback for those who prioritize nighttime readability. Reviewers agree on the watch's movement accuracy, citing the reliable and accurate Seiko NH38 caliber.

WatchCrunch

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Vario 1918 Medic Brass

Owners widely praise the Vario 1918 Medic Brass for its crisp enamel dial, easy-to-read numerals, and cathedral hands, noting the brass case develops an attractive patina over time. However, the soft brass scratches easily, and one owner found the lume to be poor. Accuracy varies, with one example running slow by about 10 seconds per day and another owner deeming the Miyota 82s5 movement just okay. On balance, owners rate the Vario 1918 Medic Brass highly for its unique dial and the evolving character of its brass case.

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