Side by side

HELM VanuatuvsZelos Skyraider 2

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

Vanuatu
HELMVanuatu
MSRP $285
Skyraider 2
ZelosSkyraider 2
MSRP $2,399

At a glance

14 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Vanuatu42mm
Skyraider 242mm
Power Reserve
Vanuatu40h
Skyraider 240h
Water Resistance
Vanuatu300m
Skyraider 250m
MSRP
Vanuatu$285
Skyraider 2$2,399

Full specifications

Case

5 specs
Category
Diver
Skeleton
Thickness
14mm
10.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
50mm
48.5mm
Material
Stainless Steel
Mokume Gane
Water Resistance
300m
50m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
Black
Mokume
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

5 specs
Caliber
Seiko Instruments NH35
ETA 6498-1 Élaboré
Type
Automatic
Manual
Power Reserve
40h
40h
Jewels
24
25
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$285
$2,399

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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.

HELM Vanuatu

Owners widely praise the HELM Vanuatu for its exceptional comfort, with the titanium bracelet frequently cited as "uber-comfortable" and the watch itself being less overbearing on the wrist than comparable dive watches. Reviewers note its great bezel action and overall quality, with one owner finding the purchase satisfactory despite a nearly two-year wait. On balance, owners rate the HELM Vanuatu highly for its wearability and solid build at the price.

From video reviewers

The case finishing is consistently praised. The bracelet is noted as having significant rattle.

Zelos Skyraider 2

The Zelos Skyraider 2 is praised for its value, particularly offering unique dial materials like meteorite at a fraction of luxury prices, and its bronze case is noted for a warm glow. Reviewers and owners highlight the Flieger-inspired design and the use of a manual-wind ETA 6498 movement, with BGW9 and C3 Super-LumiNova lume. Some owners find the skeletonized variant ideal for style over everyday legibility, while others note the brand's past designs have sometimes been hard to read or bulky. The Zelos Skyraider 2 is available in various materials and dial options, with prices ranging from $699 to $1,399. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Zelos Skyraider 2 highly for its distinctive materials and design at a competitive price point.

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