Side by side

Phoibos Reef MastervsZelos Helmsman 3

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

Reef Master
PhoibosReef Master
MSRP $335
Helmsman 3
ZelosHelmsman 3
MSRP $529

At a glance

11 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Reef Master42mm
Helmsman 340mm
Power Reserve
Reef Master40h
Helmsman 340h
Water Resistance
Reef Master200m
Helmsman 3200m
MSRP
Reef Master$335
Helmsman 3$529

Full specifications

Case

5 specs
Diameter
42mm
40mm
Thickness
13mm
11.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
48mm
40mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel

Crystal & Dial

4 specs
Crystal
Sapphire
Domed Sapphire
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
Green
SS - Frost
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

1 specs
Caliber
SII NH38
Miyota 9015

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$335
$529

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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.

Phoibos Reef Master

Owners widely praise the Phoibos Reef Master for its exceptional value, highlighting its sapphire crystal, DLC coating, and extensive BGW9 lume. The watch is noted for its cool lume, with one owner finding it not bulky despite its robust build. The Shamrock Green dial and texture are highly praised, as is the comfortable bracelet with solid end links. However, the bezel action is described as rough, and the basic folding clasp is a disappointment. Accuracy is reported as excellent, with one owner seeing +-2 sec/day. Some find the 42mm size almost too big for their wrists, and the date window is considered too small. Overall, owners rate the Phoibos Reef Master highly for its impressive feature set and value at its price point.

Zelos Helmsman 3

Owners widely praise the Zelos Helmsman 3 for its exceptional finishing and polishing on the titanium case, with some noting it feels nicer than previous models. The unique Titanium Crystalline Dial and Damascus Titanium dial are frequently highlighted as aesthetically pleasing and head-turning features, especially considering the price point. The brushed beads of rice bracelet is described as fitting well, and the on-the-fly clasp is considered amazing. Lume is also noted as great, with lumed crowns being a positive observation. However, some owners report the watch can feel top-heavy with sharp edges, making it uncertain as a daily driver for some. The meteorite bezel is seen by one owner as not adding significant value, and the stock strap's keepers and stitching were considered to detract from the watch's appearance.

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