Gear helix deviation is an important index for evaluating gear accuracy class and bearing uniformity， and it is one of the four mandatory inspection items specified in the national standard for gear GB/T 10095.1-2008. The datum for tracing the source of gear helix deviation and value transmission is the gear helix artifact. To realize high-precision helix deviation measurement， studies have considered the perspectives of high-precision helix artifact structure， manufacturing， and development of high-precision special measuring instrument， which have improved the measurement accuracy of helix deviation to a certain extent. However， the structural parameters of existing helix artifact and the measurement uncertainty of existing special measuring instruments do not meet the specification and measurement requirements of a Class-1 gear helix artifact in China， respectively. This paper summarizes two conventional measurement methods and instruments of helix deviation， followed by a summary of the design and structural characteristics of gear helix artifacts and the research results of special measuring instruments for high-precision gear helix deviation measurement. A pure rolling measurement method and instrument of a gear helix artifact with an equal common normal is proposed in line with the Chinese national standard.