Astor + Banks Sea Ranger M2vsPagani Design PD-1685

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 Pagani Design PD-1685's striking white dial and attractive blue bezel, with some finding it a "looker" and feeling it generally high quality. Accuracy varies, with one owner reporting -3 seconds per day and another seeing it run 20 seconds slow after freezing, though it remained functional after rough use. Concerns exist regarding the watch's thickness and potential wearability on smaller wrists, the lume fading quickly, and difficulty reading silver hands on the white dial in sunlight. One owner experienced a misaligned dial marker and another noted a rough crown action upon arrival, with a lume pip detaching. There is ambiguity regarding the movement used, with owners speculating about NH35A, Miyota 8215, or DG2813 clones. Overall, owners rate the Pagani Design PD-1685 highly for its attractive design and perceived quality at the price point, despite some noted fit and finish inconsistencies.