Which is cheaper, the Astor + Banks AB Clásico or the Lorier Merlin?

At MSRP the Lorier Merlin is the cheaper of the two at $549, against $1,500 for the Astor + Banks AB Clásico — a $951 gap before any retailer discounting.

Which is bigger, the Astor + Banks AB Clásico or the Lorier Merlin?

The Astor + Banks AB Clásico wears larger at 40mm versus 36mm for the Lorier Merlin — a 4mm difference across the dial.

What movement does the Astor + Banks AB Clásico run compared to the Lorier Merlin?

The Astor + Banks AB Clásico runs a manual caliber (ETA 6497-1), while the Lorier Merlin runs a automatic.

Side by side

Astor + Banks AB ClásicovsLorier Merlin

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

Astor + Banks AB Clásico

ab-clasico

MSRP $1,500

Lorier Merlin

merlin

MSRP $549

At a glance

8 of 29 specs differ

Diameter

AB Clásico40mm

Merlin36mm

Power Reserve

AB Clásico40h

Merlin40h

Water Resistance

AB Clásico50m

Merlin50m

MSRP

AB Clásico$1,500

Merlin$549

Full specifications

Case

4 specs

Crystal & Dial

1 specs

Dial Color

Silver

Standard

Movement

2 specs

Caliber

ETA 6497-1

—

Type

Manual

Automatic

Pricing

1 specs

MSRP

$1,500

$549

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Astor + Banks AB Clásico

The Astor + Banks Silver is praised for its nice finishing on the case and dial, with a nice texture on the dial. The watch's lug-to-lug fit is relatively slim, making it comfortable to wear. A weakness of the watch is its lume, which could be a bit brighter.

Lorier Merlin

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.

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