Astor + Banks Sea Ranger M2vsNivada Grenchen Depthmaster

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 report terrific build quality and a feel similar to the 1960s original, with some appreciating its reasonable lug-to-lug and better-than-expected appearance in person. The compact 39mm case is praised for its wearability, especially on smaller wrists, and offers impressive 1,000m water resistance. However, the Soprod P024 movement's 38-hour power reserve is a point of criticism, as is a bezel that can be difficult to grip and weak lume. Some owners find the watch wears on the smaller side, and the date complication is seen by one owner as detracting from the design. The "Pacman" variant is noted as polarizing, with one owner questioning their purchase, while the "Ghost Purple" variant's 30 and 45 numerals are described as having a rushed aesthetic. Overall, owners and reviewers rate the Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster highly for its faithful reissue, impressive water resistance, and comfortable wearability at a competitive price.