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

At MSRP the Vario 1918 Trench 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 Trench Brass?

The Vario 1918 Trench 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 Trench Brass?

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

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

Both watches run automatic movements — the KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze uses the NH38 and the Vario 1918 Trench Brass uses the Miyota 82s5.

Side by side

KUOE OLD SMITH 90-002 BronzevsVario 1918 Trench 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 Trench Brass

1918-brass-trench-white-dial-with-orange-lume

MSRP $388

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ

Diameter

OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze35mm

1918 Trench Brass40mm

Power Reserve

OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze41h

1918 Trench Brass40h

Water Resistance

OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze100m

1918 Trench Brass100m

MSRP

OLD SMITH 90-002 Bronze$599

1918 Trench Brass$388

Full specifications

Case

4 specs

Diameter

35mm

40mm

Thickness

12.35mm

10mm

Lug-to-Lug

42mm

45mm

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

Miyota 82s5

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

WatchUSeek

Vario 1918 Trench Brass

Owners widely praise the Vario 1918 Trench Brass for its attractive, precisely made dial and case, with the evolving brass patina noted as a positive feature. The bund strap is considered comfortable and well-fitting by some, though others find it stiff and short for larger wrists. The lume is considered poor. The Miyota 82s5 movement is described as adequate, with accuracy ranging from about -10 seconds per day to simply running slow. On balance, owners rate the Vario 1918 Trench Brass highly for its fantastic looks and the unique character of its brass case.

Reddit·2

WatchUSeek

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