Side by side

Pinion Pure SteelvsVario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

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

Pure Steel
PinionPure Steel
MSRP $1,715
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound
VarioEmpire Art Nouveau Handwound
MSRP $888

At a glance

11 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Pure Steel38mm
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound38mm
Power Reserve
Pure Steel45h
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound40h
Water Resistance
Pure Steel100m
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound50m
MSRP
Pure Steel$1,715
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound$888

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Diameter
38mm
38mm
Thickness
11mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
44mm
38mm
Lug Width
20mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
100m
50m

Crystal & Dial

2 specs
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

2 specs
Caliber
Sellita SW261-1
Miyota 6T33
Power Reserve
45h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$1,715
$888

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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.

Pinion Pure Steel

Owners widely praise the Pinion Pure Steel's balanced 38mm case size and 44mm lug-to-lug, fitting most wrists well. The dial is described as clear and essential, though reviewers note the lack of a minute track makes precise minute setting difficult. Accuracy is regulated in-house to +/- 5 to +/- 15 seconds per day. Some commenters found the white straps on featured watches to look "horrible." Overall, owners and reviewers appreciate the Pinion Pure Steel for its well-proportioned case and essential dial design.

Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

Owners widely praise the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound for its detailed, multi-layered dial featuring applied numerals and guilloche patterns, its elegant Art Deco-inspired design, and the enjoyable winding feel of the Miyota 6T33 handwound movement, often visible through an exhibition case back. The 38mm case size is considered a positive by many, and the included leather strap is noted for its comfort and quality. Some owners find the differing fonts on the sub-dials and perimeter less appealing, and the absence of a constant seconds sub-dial is flagged as a drawback. On balance, owners rate the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound highly for its distinctive Art Deco styling and detailed dial at its price point.

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