Astor + Banks Sea Ranger M2vsFarer MOONPHASE

The Astor + Banks Sea Ranger M2 is widely praised for its balanced design, excellent legibility, and strong GADA (go-anywhere, do-anything) capabilities, featuring 300m water resistance and a scratch-resistant coating. Reviewers note its comfortable 40mm case size and good lume, though one source describes it as good but not great. The movement is a Sellita SW200 adjusted by the brand, with accuracy reported around ±8 seconds per day. The pre-order price is $650, with a standard price of $850. On balance, reviewers find the Astor + Banks Sea Ranger M2 to be a compelling option due to its functional design and robust specifications.

Owners widely praise the Farer MOONPHASE for its unique design, hand-painted moon elements, and satisfying construction, with many highlighting the X1 Super-LumiNova indices and numerals for excellent nighttime legibility. The watch features a 38.5mm cushion case with a distinctive "grain twist" finish and is powered by a Sellita SW288-1 Ma Elaboré Grade movement. Some owners find the moonphase complication easy to set and appreciate the brand's customer service. However, opinions are divided on the price, with some finding it a bit high, and the lume on the hands and hour markers receives mixed feedback, with one owner describing it as "absolute trash" and another as "almost non-existent" while others note its legibility. The thickness of the included leather straps is also mentioned as a trade-off. Overall, owners rate the Farer MOONPHASE highly for its unique character and hand-crafted details at its price point.