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Trafford Watch Co CrossroadsvsZelos Helmsman 3

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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.

Trafford Watch Co Crossroads

Owners widely praise the Trafford Watch Co Crossroads for its unique and unconventional case shape, dial execution, and overall design, often described as classy and evoking a 70s or scholarly vibe. The watch features a 36x38mm case with a 46mm lug-to-lug, which owners report wears like a 40mm round watch and is just under 11mm thick. Specific design elements frequently highlighted include polished lugs, an overlapping bezel, a concave crystal, and contrasting second hands, with some noting subtle case side finishing and a hardened case coating. The Miyota 9039 movement is reported to keep excellent time, with one owner seeing +/- 5 seconds per day accuracy. Some owners note a minor, light-dependent imperfection on the case near the 8 o'clock position. The 5ATM water resistance is considered a limitation for swimming. While brand owner responsiveness is generally praised, some potential buyers experienced difficulty reaching the brand via Instagram.

From video reviewers

The watch features a unique dial that shifts between bright and moody tones depending on lighting. One weakness is the lack of lume brightness, as the syringe hands are filled with BGW9 Swiss Super-LumiNova but don't seem effective in low-light conditions. Reviewers disagree on the watch's seriousness, with one reviewer saying it's not meant for formal occasions, while others don't mention this aspect.

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.

At a glance

15 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Crossroads38mm
Helmsman 340mm
Power Reserve
Crossroads48 hoursh
Helmsman 3
Water Resistance
Crossroads50m
Helmsman 3200m
MSRP
Crossroads$649
Helmsman 3$529

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
Sport
Diver
Diameter
38mm
40mm
Thickness
0mm
11.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
0mm
40mm
Lug Width
0mm
20mm
Finish
Hardened scratch-resistant coating
Water Resistance
50m
200m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
Crystal
Sapphire
Domed Sapphire
Dial Color
Moontower Edition
SS - Frost
Lume
Super-LumiNova BGW9
None

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
Miyota 9039
Miyota 9015
Beat Rate
28,800 vph
0 vph
Power Reserve
48 hoursh
0h
Jewels
24
0

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$649
$529
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