Seestern S450 Ocean StarvsDOXA SUB 200 II

Owners widely praise the Seestern S450 Ocean Star's Yachtmaster-style case and flawless bracelet finishing, with one owner noting the ST2130 movement keeps good time. The bezel action is described as having individual notches but feeling like a friction bezel, while another owner flags the bezel and crown action as smooth with perfect alignment. Lume is a point of contention, with one source describing it as a nice cool blue with ice-white application, while others note it as weak or not matching Prospex standards, despite using BGW-9. The watch is considered a "big boy" ideal for larger wrists (19cm+), potentially too large for 17cm wrists due to its size and non-tapering bracelet. Overall, owners rate the Seestern S450 Ocean Star highly for its build quality and finishing at the price point, despite some reservations about its size and lume intensity.

The DOXA SUB 200 II is praised for its comfortable wearability, with its 44mm case and shorter lug-to-lug making it wear smaller than its dimensions suggest, and its new fumé dials are a notable aesthetic feature. Reviewers and owners note the inclusion of a Sellita SW200-1 movement with a 38-hour power reserve, an area where some alternatives offer longer durations. The watch's Milanese bracelet is also highlighted as a potentially divisive feature, and the lack of on-the-fly clasp adjustment is a point of criticism. The DOXA SUB 200 II is priced at $1,690 on rubber. On balance, owners and reviewers acknowledge the DOXA SUB 200 II's comfortable wearability and attractive fumé dials, though some criticize its increased size and power reserve compared to alternatives.