Lorier MerlinvsOrient 75th Anniversary RA-AC0Q12L30B

Owners widely praise the Lorier Merlin for its vintage-inspired 37mm case, heat-blued hands, raised numerals, and hesalite crystal. The watch is noted for its comfortable wear, with some finding it wears large despite its size and even thinner on a two-piece strap. Drilled lug holes and a locking bezel are also appreciated features. Accuracy varies, with one owner reporting +8 seconds per day, while others do not specify. Some owners find the dual-crown design unappealing or the case chunky, with the 37mm size feeling small for a dive bezel watch, though others find it perfect for smaller wrists. The supplied strap and its hardware are considered cheap by one owner, and the bezel action is described as light and hollow. A desire for a sapphire crystal option at the price point is mentioned by some, while others prefer the hesalite for its vintage look. On balance, owners and the community rate the Lorier Merlin highly for its authentic vintage aesthetic and comfortable wear.

The Orient 75th Anniversary RA-AC0Q12L30B is widely praised for its classy, dressy aesthetic, beautiful periwinkle or light blue sunray dial with deep-relief radial grooves, and crisp engraved bezel numerals, all within a compact 39.9mm to 40mm case. Owners consider it a great value, with some noting it looks better in person and is destined to become a classic, punching above its price point. One owner finds the dial color too feminine for a dive watch and considered the dial craftsmanship inferior to the Presage Cocktail series, while another flags the lack of lume as a drawback. The bracelet clasp and end links are consistently considered a weak point, and the steel case is noted as less rounded than other Orient divers. The watch features 200m water resistance and a 46.5mm lug-to-lug measurement. Overall, owners rate the Orient 75th Anniversary RA-AC0Q12L30B highly for its stunning dial and compact size at the price.