They are still considered exactly that by many, but in reality the Submariner develops and patented in 1954 by Rolex has expired Decades ago. Any one is free now to utilize this vintage design. Credit goes to the Chinese for their quality
Thanks for the side by side comparison. That helped me a lot! Not so crazy now for the Pelagos compared to the Mil-sub, that black dial is awesome, deep, intense, compared to the grayish one in the Pelagos and I think that’s more what I’m looking for.
I’m rewatching this video and I’ve got to say that I really appreciate how you make those comparisons. The down side is that I’d really like to own those four watches like you do but I can’t buy them all. Decisions. Pre-sale decisions. I have the black 0121 but I’m looking into the blue 004 now that the bezel is gone matte. Anyways, just want to say thanks for your work, once again and I’m looking forward to seeing your after sale videos.
The lume is excellent. As a professional photographer I struggle with the value of the lume shots as they usually provide little real world value for an actual indicator of what it looks like and how it performs as it is too dependent on the camera settings/exposure/light, all I can say it is fairly typical SM BGW9 application (which is good) plus bezel lume - though that might be a little weaker. Thus why you don't see lume shots in the majority of my videos.
Great video mate! Super helpful seeing both these variants side by side. I was about to pull the trigger on the blue dial, but after seeing this, I think I’ll wait for the black dial to restock.
I got the black date version and I’m pretty happy with it. After watching the review I want the blue one too now, but I’ll wait to see if they come up with a titanium version. Thanks for the video
Hi how would you describe the blue colour , is it similar to the original Pelagos or darker. I’ve have the original SN 008 BB blue and the blue colour is much more subdued in person the camera seems to make it more bright.
Blue or black? It's so hard to decide. The black fits the industrial look but I have already so many black dials. I am going have to watch the side-by-side part for a long time😀
Yeah, I put that on my SN008C as well as the SM BB Pro GMT. I didn't put it on the Pelagos as I don't think it matches the look quite as well personally.
Of course I have to have the weird wrist that this doesn't fit. If I add a link and bring the quick adjust all the way in, it's too loose. If I remove the link, and bring the quick adjust all the way out, it's too tight. I seem to always have this problem with watches, always falling in-between sizes. My seestern sub has half links, and consequently is the only bracelet watch I have that fits me right.
Yikes, sorry to hear that. My wrists swell up enough that I've learned to accept that most of the time I need to have it a little looser than ideal, and even on this one, I run the extension fully closed (which is slighly loose) when inside, but then one notch makes it just right when things start to swell up and if it is really swollen a couple notches to give me a little extra space. I will say that the range of adjustability even across the clicks might be less than what many would expect. I wonder if you can reach out to see if they have any half-links for sale that would fit this model.
Great review! I chose to purchase the Seestern because I wanted the watch to be in Titanium like the original. Unfortunately, they messed up the clasp! Rumor is they are going to release this watch in Titanium in a few months. If that's the case, I will buy this one also.
I was glad I held off on the Seestern. While I really like the block lume pips I was really disappointed at how aggressive the sunray effect is. I also didn't want to risk the bezel action or clasp milling to be off as Ti is notoriously difficult to get right. I was less concerned about this one being Ti due to the smaller size, the 148 grams sized for my 7.5 is a familiar weight of quality, I'm curious how I'd adjust to Ti.
Thanks for watching, I typically don't waste my time of lume shots with San Martin BGW9 watches as they are consistently quite good, and this watch is no exception. Doing video or photos of the lume doesn't really show what a watch does in the real world due to the way a camera sensor deals with light and the ISO levels you have to crank it to deal with it. Unlike other SM watches this one also have lume in the bezel. Where lume matters is in other brands that go "cheap" on the lume.
I received my SN0121G yesterday. To say the least, I'm disappointed. Both the bezel insert and hour hand are misaligned. The stem is wobbly and has way too much play before engaging. I have a Watchdives x San Martin Milsubmariner SN004 V2 that I purchased four months ago and everything is aligned correctly and the stem is not wobbly and engages immediately. Maybe they rushed this batch out to buyers.
I have two of these 121s and 3 004s. The 121s I can only tell the bezel isn't aligned via loupes or macros (not my naked eye) - though I would say the pip triangle, minute markers and then the applied triangle is at a slight angle but not anything to bother me with. The stem on both of mine - the stem and threads are not the thickest, but the engagement are arguably the best I've seen on any sub $500 watch including the 16 San Martins I have (including all three 004 which are quite good). Sorry to hears yours wasn't up to par. Where did you order from?
@@ArtoftheDial I ordered from Watchdives, same place I bought the 004 from. I contacted them yesterday and they already responded (they forwarded my email to another department). Anyway, the bezel on my 121 is clearly misaligned with the naked eye, no loupe necessary. I looked at the alignment from various angles and it's definitely misaligned, regardless of angle. As for the 004 stem--I completely agree with you. The engagement is one of the best I've experienced on a sub $500 watch. However, the stem on my 121 is one of the worst I've experienced with an NH35.
@@georged822 Make sure to watch other videos too. As a pro-photographer, I'm sensitive to colors. While the blue of the dial and bezel don't match and the dial does change color in the light - I personally find the variations to be pretty "blue" and any green tint in person feels mild to not really present. But if it looks green to you, of course avoid it anyway.
@@ArtoftheDial Thanks so much, I notice personally that cameras always accentuate colors more than I perceive in person so maybe indeed it wouldn't be a big deal for me!
The first SM watching I got were sterile dial because I was afraid of the same thing, now I strongly disagree and think the logo is just fine. It certainly isn't my favorite logo in the world but it is insignificantly small and looks perfectly acceptable. The only place it is noticeable is on the clasp.
At 42mm vs 39mm it is anything but a 1:1 copy. If it is in fact a 1:1 copy minus the logo the why in the world would anyone pay $4K more for a logo? I actually prefer a watch to be smaller than 42mm.
Black is a perfect match color between bezel and dial and to me this black dial is the one I would go for. Thanks for video man.
10-20 years ago these would be considered replicas or even fakes with negative connotations. They look great and extremely well done.
They are still considered exactly that by many, but in reality the Submariner develops and patented in 1954 by Rolex has expired Decades ago. Any one is free now to utilize this vintage design. Credit goes to the Chinese for their quality
Thanks for the side by side comparison. That helped me a lot! Not so crazy now for the Pelagos compared to the Mil-sub, that black dial is awesome, deep, intense, compared to the grayish one in the Pelagos and I think that’s more what I’m looking for.
Glad to help, hopefully you have seen my more in depth look at the black-milsub one also ruclips.net/video/OFGTEwsJ2ts/видео.html
I’m rewatching this video and I’ve got to say that I really appreciate how you make those comparisons. The down side is that I’d really like to own those four watches like you do but I can’t buy them all. Decisions. Pre-sale decisions. I have the black 0121 but I’m looking into the blue 004 now that the bezel is gone matte. Anyways, just want to say thanks for your work, once again and I’m looking forward to seeing your after sale videos.
Thanks for the review, love the comparisons with the other models. A lume shot to top it off would have been perfect!
The lume is excellent. As a professional photographer I struggle with the value of the lume shots as they usually provide little real world value for an actual indicator of what it looks like and how it performs as it is too dependent on the camera settings/exposure/light, all I can say it is fairly typical SM BGW9 application (which is good) plus bezel lume - though that might be a little weaker. Thus why you don't see lume shots in the majority of my videos.
Great video mate! Super helpful seeing both these variants side by side. I was about to pull the trigger on the blue dial, but after seeing this, I think I’ll wait for the black dial to restock.
Glad you found it helpful, if I could only have one I think I would have to choose the black as well, it is so close to perfection for me.
@@ArtoftheDialBased on how quickly the black variant sold out, I can imagine how many others feel the same way we do!
@@WristWatching Indeed, I ordered on the first day and it seemed like by day 3 the Black was out of stock, before the Blue even went up for sale.
The blue one is of my favorites right now. I now want the black one.
I got the black date version and I’m pretty happy with it. After watching the review I want the blue one too now, but I’ll wait to see if they come up with a titanium version. Thanks for the video
Yeah, I thought about waiting for a titanium version but just couldn't do it. I needed both of these. 🤣
@@ArtoftheDial been there too 😂
Hi how would you describe the blue colour , is it similar to the original Pelagos or darker. I’ve have the original SN 008 BB blue and the blue colour is much more subdued in person the camera seems to make it more bright.
Blue or black? It's so hard to decide. The black fits the industrial look but I have already so many black dials. I am going have to watch the side-by-side part for a long time😀
Just got my blue no-date the other day. With this watch around, I can't see spending the extra 3.5K for a Pelagos.
Jubilee bracelet now available looks sharp 😊
Yeah, I put that on my SN008C as well as the SM BB Pro GMT. I didn't put it on the Pelagos as I don't think it matches the look quite as well personally.
Have you noticed any jingling sounds from the San Martin movement when wearing it? Specifically when shaking your wrist?
No, it isn't a San Martin movement it is a Seiko NH35 inside which is fairly quiet.
SM is incredible quality
Really love this blue one
Matte blue dial is the way to go along with cut out indices
I just picked up the Blue , one day I’ll be able to afford a pelagos 39 and will have one blue and one black watch
Of course I have to have the weird wrist that this doesn't fit. If I add a link and bring the quick adjust all the way in, it's too loose. If I remove the link, and bring the quick adjust all the way out, it's too tight. I seem to always have this problem with watches, always falling in-between sizes. My seestern sub has half links, and consequently is the only bracelet watch I have that fits me right.
Yikes, sorry to hear that. My wrists swell up enough that I've learned to accept that most of the time I need to have it a little looser than ideal, and even on this one, I run the extension fully closed (which is slighly loose) when inside, but then one notch makes it just right when things start to swell up and if it is really swollen a couple notches to give me a little extra space. I will say that the range of adjustability even across the clicks might be less than what many would expect. I wonder if you can reach out to see if they have any half-links for sale that would fit this model.
Pretty nice stuff. Very tempting!
Yeah, these felt like the pieces I've waited a long time for...couldn't resist the temptation.
Great review! I chose to purchase the Seestern because I wanted the watch to be in Titanium like the original. Unfortunately, they messed up the clasp! Rumor is they are going to release this watch in Titanium in a few months. If that's the case, I will buy this one also.
I was glad I held off on the Seestern. While I really like the block lume pips I was really disappointed at how aggressive the sunray effect is. I also didn't want to risk the bezel action or clasp milling to be off as Ti is notoriously difficult to get right. I was less concerned about this one being Ti due to the smaller size, the 148 grams sized for my 7.5 is a familiar weight of quality, I'm curious how I'd adjust to Ti.
Your lume section was like 10 seconds on the lume and 3 minutes on the bracelet. I would really have liked to see an actual lume shot.
Thanks for watching, I typically don't waste my time of lume shots with San Martin BGW9 watches as they are consistently quite good, and this watch is no exception. Doing video or photos of the lume doesn't really show what a watch does in the real world due to the way a camera sensor deals with light and the ISO levels you have to crank it to deal with it. Unlike other SM watches this one also have lume in the bezel. Where lume matters is in other brands that go "cheap" on the lume.
You need more one the wrist shots that are shot from further away to see how it really wears
I like it. I’m going to get one
Fine vid! Thanks
I received my SN0121G yesterday. To say the least, I'm disappointed. Both the bezel insert and hour hand are misaligned. The stem is wobbly and has way too much play before engaging. I have a Watchdives x San Martin Milsubmariner SN004 V2 that I purchased four months ago and everything is aligned correctly and the stem is not wobbly and engages immediately. Maybe they rushed this batch out to buyers.
I have two of these 121s and 3 004s. The 121s I can only tell the bezel isn't aligned via loupes or macros (not my naked eye) - though I would say the pip triangle, minute markers and then the applied triangle is at a slight angle but not anything to bother me with. The stem on both of mine - the stem and threads are not the thickest, but the engagement are arguably the best I've seen on any sub $500 watch including the 16 San Martins I have (including all three 004 which are quite good). Sorry to hears yours wasn't up to par. Where did you order from?
@@ArtoftheDial I ordered from Watchdives, same place I bought the 004 from. I contacted them yesterday and they already responded (they forwarded my email to another department). Anyway, the bezel on my 121 is clearly misaligned with the naked eye, no loupe necessary. I looked at the alignment from various angles and it's definitely misaligned, regardless of angle. As for the 004 stem--I completely agree with you. The engagement is one of the best I've experienced on a sub $500 watch. However, the stem on my 121 is one of the worst I've experienced with an NH35.
The blue color dial kills it for me. I’m seeing way too much green depending on lighting
Thanks for watching. Hope you can find a model that suits your taste.
@@ArtoftheDial The black one for now! haha the Blue Pelagos is my GRAIL!!
@@georged822 Make sure to watch other videos too. As a pro-photographer, I'm sensitive to colors. While the blue of the dial and bezel don't match and the dial does change color in the light - I personally find the variations to be pretty "blue" and any green tint in person feels mild to not really present. But if it looks green to you, of course avoid it anyway.
@@ArtoftheDial Thanks so much, I notice personally that cameras always accentuate colors more than I perceive in person so maybe indeed it wouldn't be a big deal for me!
Hope you didn't scratch the watches put putting the crown of one watch next to the other watch ...
Nope, the watches never touched each other.
It very nice, but the awful logo ruins it.
The first SM watching I got were sterile dial because I was afraid of the same thing, now I strongly disagree and think the logo is just fine. It certainly isn't my favorite logo in the world but it is insignificantly small and looks perfectly acceptable. The only place it is noticeable is on the clasp.
@@ArtoftheDial I would rather wait till they design something better before I give them any money.
Perhaps a good watch but it remains a cheap copy of a better watch. Some call it hommage but for me it's an 1:1 copy minus the logo...
Just shows how overpriced swiss watches actually are. You do you
At 42mm vs 39mm it is anything but a 1:1 copy. If it is in fact a 1:1 copy minus the logo the why in the world would anyone pay $4K more for a logo? I actually prefer a watch to be smaller than 42mm.