Your basically paying a $100 dollars more for the bracelet. Not much difference between the watches really. I purchased the Steeldive and replaced the clasp for $8. Good as gold!
Bracelet, clasp, hands, and crystal on the San Martin make it worth the extra bit of dough imo although I wouldn’t wear either lol but I can see the allure for the price points. Good daily beater watches.
Steeldive, for me. I'm a sucker for a bargain. I like a flat crystal. Useful for signaling, by reflecting the sun. I prefer the normal size crown of the sd, also. Great video, Gary! Stay hydrated!
@rossco-dps5392 potentially a search & rescue team if you are diving and for whatever reason end up surfacing far away from your diving boat. It happens far more often than you probably think (scuba diver here).
@spartanthe300ththermopylae4 thank you for that information. I never would have thought of that. I was thinking up some pretty wild scenarios involving zombies etc. Non scuba guy here. Just a middle aged surfer.
I bought the Steeldive. Since I had intended to ditch the bracelet and put a period correct waffle strap on it that removed that from the mix. And the finishing...well, if you could see what I do while wearing a watch and the beating they take, you'd realize why I don't worry about super fine finishing. It's a tool watch after all.
I think it is really telling when Gary puts in the extra effort to have the seconds hands of both watches exactly in sync. It might seem minor but I truly admire the dedication to detail here and my watch-related decisions hinge quite heavily on your reviews. Props to you, may you get all the subscribers you deserve. Cheers!
Steeldive is a clear winner for 2 very important reasons. 1st San Martin's disproportionately long crown bites against the back of the hand causing much discomfort hence forcing the wearer to pull it back continuously and all the time it's on his wrist ! .. Secondly, Steeldive offers twice the value !. .. Just subscribed.
As a long-time Seiko fan and owner of the Steeldive model, these two watches are both phenomenal value compared to the now very pricey Seiko watches they homage. (Seiko is now homaging itself with many reissue models at a very high cost to us punters!!!)
I have the Steeldive and love it. Mine has a milled lower clasp and it fits me perfectly. When you are wearing a watch, no one will be able to notice the other differences, especially if your arm isn’t completely still. I prefer the overall look of the SD. The crown guards give it a smoother, more refined look, especially when viewed from a few feet away. The crown on the SM reminds me of a stallion in heat. That crown sticking out there disrupts the symmetry of the watch. I’ll save the $100 and be happy as a pig in poop!
I think most San Martin models are too expensive now, for what they are. Phoibos watches are now cheaper than SM. And i think Phoibos is a level up with more original design and a lil' better fit and finish.
I own a few San Martin watches and love them, but you can’t touch the Steeldive for price/quality, if it had a better bracelet it would be a no brainer right off the bat, I dont think the finishing is worth the price difference. How they can produce that kind of quality for so little money still amazes me, I also have a few Seiko watches, but ….Hey ! Seiko !! Check out Steeldive and learn a few things !! Great video…. Thanks !
I can't see spending that much more for the San Martin. I have a previous generation Steeldive and am quite happy with it. No QC issues and it feels great on the wrist. I think San Martin is overrated and over priced. I've had QC issues with most of the San Martin watches I've purchased in the past - bad crowns/crown tubes, bad clasps. Their reputation as the best of the Chinese homage brands is undeserved IMO. Their official store customer service left *a lot* to be desired as well. If someone is looking for the best Captain Willard homage, the Rdunae homage Gary reviewed previously is the best of the lot. The dimensions and proportions are excellent compared to the original. I'm very happy with it and my Steeldive.
I have the Steeldive and I was really impressed with the value. Especially after being brainwashed (by more well known brands) into thinking you need to pay more to get a good watch. Both of these are awesome. The SM just looks more refined overall but the SD is nice because it's a watch you don't have to worry about too much. At that price, it's the ultimate beater. If you mess it up, just grab another one. I also really enjoy the lumed bezel with the different colour lume in it. The only thing I didn't totally love was the finishing on the case. Mine is kind of rough, like you can actually feel the brushing when you run your finger over it. But at $100, I can deal with that. As others have stated, love the golf score card! Looking forward to another one!
Interesting video, thanks Gary - I like the golf scoring! I've got a Steeldive 1970 myself, and did look closely at the San Martin. I'd agree with most of your points . . . except for giving the movement tick to the Steeldive, when it's the same movement - that's more of a case by case really. My new Save The Ocean Samuri (4R35, essentially the same movement) is losing about a minute a day and has to go back, and that's an actual Seiko! In any case the bracelet & clasp is a big plus for the San Martin, as well as other points around finishing, but for half the money the Steeldive is still a cracking watch. See you in the next one!
I'll take the RDUNAE R2X. More faithful to the 70's Seiko and the dial definitely looks nicer with the minute track printed on it (and a blank rehaut).
So I have the black Steeldive version, and love it. No problem so for, just a great $90 watch with the Seiko auto movement. during the AliExpress sale bought a San Martin.. but completely different model. After most reviews of San Martin being great. I'm stuck. I really think I really don't see the difference in quality. I thought I was going to be impressed more. Im not complaining though. But I probably could have saved $100. Great review as always Gary! Cheers!
Did you not get one with a bracelet? The bracelet and clasp are significantly better, all the extra cost usually go there, and depending on the dial, they made incredible enamel or MOP dials. Steeldive is like the base model with non of the bells and whistles, and when you get the San Martin equivalent you will really realize the difference. I have ended up buying all the San Martin versions of the steeldives I first bought.
@@gilbertoflores7397 yes I do see a difference in the bracelet as they are both stainless steel. I only have one Steeldive watch.. I have two Pagani Design ones too. The clasp is were I see the money spent.
@@des9655 what color dial do you have for the steeldive? I think blue is the only one worth getting, their black dial is this odd glossy Matte thing, I find it rather dull, not that San Martin's vintage matte black is much better, but if you get their enamel or mop dials, you will really see the difference in quality. So I think steeldive are the best bang for buck, I have 4, got the Willard, tuna, sumo, and skx. But when I got the SM sumo, tuna, and mm300. I don't find myself wearing the steeldives as much, the quality difference is that noticeable. So I think the price jump is worth it, if you get the right options (colored dials).
@@gilbertoflores7397 it's the black dial.. but it's not so bad. I'm not an expert by any means. I just had other blue dial watches..so I got it in black.. since most can't mess it up
@@des9655 yeah, the blue is the go to option for making something look more expensive with little effort. The black is fine overall, it was just something I noticed when I got the black SM sumo, it's dial is a very striking inky black, it really made me wonder why they do offer it as much, as all the other black options they offer is that super dull matte grey/black dial they put on the vintage divers. And I noticed the black on the steeldive isn't as rich or deep as the SM in the Sumos. So a San Martin is definitely worth the extra cost, if you want the more flashy piece, I got their green, red, and black enamel dials watches and the blue fading MOP dial sub, they're definitely worth the extra price for the dial, clasp and bracelets. But steeldive to me is a very great option, I just found myself wanting the better or prettier option and detailing of the clasp and bracelet.
I own several steel dive watches, I'm very happy with them (and Pagani Design). This comparison objectively matches what I have suspected for some time now. SM in general, is way over priced. They have nice features, they are a good company. But, they are about 50% high in their pricing (30% minimum). To me, for chinese inexpensive watches, SM is not worth double vs SD, as well as Pagani Design. When you can buy 2 or 3 SD and or PD watches for 1 SM, that says it all.... Outstanding video, many thanks for the comparison.
I have the Steeldive 1980 in green. Mine also has the wonky dial which irks me as I am a detail guy. Other than that it's a wonderful watch. That being said I'm buying the San Martin in blue when the sale hits. Update 9 Oct 2022: I received my San Martin Willard. San Martin homaged the 1980 model with the minute markings on the chapter ring. There is no missallignment on the dial. The domed crystal is lovely. The bezel is not fully lumed except for the 12:00 position, which I prefer. The lume is fantastic and glows bright green for hours and all the lume matches. The watch is noticably larger than the Steeldive but not overly large. The beautifully finished cap on the hand stem shows San Martin is batting for the outfield stands. The San Martin is leagues above the Steeldive and well worth the additional cost. Thanks so much for your always enjoyable reviews.
I'm with you about the sunburst effect. These ought to be less 'showy' and more workmanlike. I love my black dial SD version. Straight onto a decent rubber strap and into the box with the bracelet.
I agree cept i like woven nylon. And i spotted in uk ebay theyve gotten round to stitching round the strap holes, so much better than a punched hole or a metal eyelet that lasts a month or so. Wonder how long i have to wait for em down here.
You made a great point on the differences in the sapphire crystals but for me it is not a large enough difference to warrant paying that much more for the San Martin. Nevertheless, great comparison and attention to the details in the comparison, thanks. I won't knock anyone for choosing the SM over the SD over the crystal or hands, just not a big enough difference to warrant the extra money.
Great video, thanks for the hard work. I have the Steeldive and swapped the bracelet for a rubber strap straight away. The SM has a nicer crystal, but for me personally that doesn't justify twice the price....but then I am a tight Yorkshireman :)
Great comparison. I’d probably still go with the Steeldive, simply due to the dollar/value equation. Stay safe in this horrible weather, we are stunned in Australia what you guys are copping over there.
I love the detailed comparison. The Steeldive was my first AliExpress watch, and it's great. I agree with you though - I prefer the extra touches on the San Martin (bracelet, clasp, crystal).
The detail finishing on the hands on the SM looked fabulous, that with double dome sapphire and a quality clasp, means l totally agree with you. However the SD is also a lot of watch for not much money. Great vid Gary and most useful. Cheers . David Rutherford.
before i watched this video i automatically thought san martin have used I like watches as a paid brand ambassador more over the last 6 months , so outcome was a certainty . in my opinion I feel I like watches has in last 6 months received a lot of free san martin to review to the point is used on official San martin stores , great business well gone . saying that in my opinion you did a great job in pointing out the better value parts and why the San martin is the better quality. and more expensive . and that steeldive for the money you pay is a great watch in the price range . and a fair assessment of both watches . thank you for your time and keep up the good work. ps i bought my sd1970 in July sale for £66 delivered to UK .
Very nice comparison review Gary. I've not tried out the San Martin, but I do have the Steeldive. You certainly get a lot watch for not a lot of money. For most people I think that will be enough. But if you want a watch that has a little more attention to detail in certain areas, then perhaps the San Martin is the one for you.
This is such a great comparison Gary. I have the Steeldive and I have been amazed by the finish for the price - the bracelet sucks but I wear it on a tropic strap so I don't care. I was surprised by how comfortable the case shape is....I agree, at under $200 the SM is also a great deal.
Got absolutely the same issues with SteelDive's applied indexes. That's not a problem to swap the dial someday if you have some tools. And I owe my SteelDive almost a year. NH35 runs with an accuracy +/-3 seconds per day, depending on different angles.
If you’re going to leave the bracelet on then it’s really a tough decision mainly because of the price difference, those little extra touches worth the extra money on the San Martin but if you’re likely to ditch the bracelet for a different strap option then surely the steeldive is the one to go for, also personally I find a flat crystal more legible.
I have both. This is actually the best watch steeldive make in my opinion. Phenomenal value. Their tuna is excellent too…but I’d avoid their submariners. I have 4 San Martins though and you can instantly feel they’re the next level up. The bracelets too…are strapcode quality and for that alone they’re more than worth the extra money. It actually makes them better value than Steeldive.
Another great job Gary! I went for the Steeldive because, I Like Money. I wish I could sympathize with you about the heat but here in West Texas we just call it summer. Get yourself a good fan it'll help a lot.
(repost from a year ago, edited out some typos). 14:44 vs Oris SM clasp actually nicer! Fully milled, whereas Oris has pressed top edit: actually SM top just *looks* milled, which is still convincingly nice and beautiful even if it might have really just been pressed first before they did some heavy brushing (and they definitely milled the chamfer) double edit: just checked and i'm 90% sure SM did actually first press the top part of the clasp, but then did some milling on it, used a much thicker metal than oris and put the work into those milled chamfers to give it a much more convincing appearance that nothing was just bent into place, and it transitions to the bracelet much more smoothly than the oris too, makes it look cheap by comparison anyway Gary thanks for hanging out in that body heat temperature room and giving us a fantastic review. will be watching more!
Gary I understand you have more experience in regards to what specification and detail adds more cost to the watch and by how much...in that way you would justify an increase in price over the steeldive but for us mere guys...we just can't tell the difference (and wouldn't really want to) between two watches with similar specs. So we wouldn't care about domed Sapphire crystal, more AR coating, better finished hands etc especially when you can get flat sapphire, AR coating on the SD etc... when you can buy 2 steeldives for one San Martin.
I have the 6105 Case San Martin with the Great Wave fully lumed dial and S/S bezel and it has worked fine for the last 18 months. Everything lines up and it's comfortable to wear. The Steeldive is excellent value but the triangle on the bezel at 12 o'clock seems slightly out of line as well as the other minor faults you mentioned + the poor lume. At the end of the day it comes down to what you can afford. Aother great video Gary useful and informative.👍⌚😎
Excellent video showing the differences but can we all just appreciate that you are nit picking two watches that are incredible value, quality and sell for @ under $400!
Great review. From what I gather, Steeldive have significantly now upgraded their clasp and is now milled 6 hole which makes them at least even. The crystal on the SM is clearly better. For me the biggest difference is the bit of the bezel/lume you didn't mention namely that the SM is only a lumed pip, where the SD is fully lumed. If you want originality or not a full lume, it's the SM. If like me you want fully lumed, it's the SD. That's the differentiation, and the fact that you pay half for it is win-win.
I've got the SD in black, lovely watch on a grey / silver canvas strap . Would genuinely buy another in blue , but don't like the shade of blue they offer , SM is a much better blue. I'd love SD to do the 1970 in a burgundy/ red similar to the red Kamasu .
I have the sterile dial blue SD, I love the colour, it almost looks violet in certain light. It gets a lot of wear to work, I keep my Tudors and Oris for the weekend.
Have to say both are just brilliant. But i would go for the San Martin...the double domed saffire crystal, clasp/ bracelet, extra adjustment point and the cap on the hands just make the difference enough for me personally. Its not just the monetary differential but the attention to details...going the extra mile. I'd consider the San Martin in my dirty dozen collections. To conclude you couldn't be disappointed with either 👍.
Steeldive seem to have got the balance between cost/features/quality at the budget end of the market spot on. San Martin (with this watch in particular) can do the same at the next level up, by improving the bracelet and clasp in particular. However its debatable if they do it with every watch (especially some of their more recent releases). Both watches are great buys, especially the Steeldive if you plan on wearing the watch on a strap rather than the supplied bracelet. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Gary.
Actually, the clasps are clearly different, the San Martin used a much thicker pressed steel, you can see it quite clearly. And then they did a better job with the logo on it, though I suppose that logo could eventually fall out (if it's glued in), whereas the Oris and SD are just etched. All of this is totally academic for me, though. I never notice the tiny imperfections that you're so good at spotting, which is exactly why I am fascinated by your videos. Personally I would never pay twice for those tiny differences that I never even see (except perhaps when I first open the watch, thanks to your tutelage ;) let alone really appreciate them.
At twice the price is it the best watch though? Great scoring system btw...but..looks like a fair amount of the point difference is in the bracelet... I have the Steel Dive on a rubber strap ...it's great VFM. Thanks for showing the San Martin though, I have been intrigued by it. Cheers, Al
All of the elements that the SM won we’re finishing. Not surprising. I have the SD and do not believe I would have selected the SM had it been available when I purchased the SD. For me the difference is not enough to justify the different price.
I didn’t think the SM won the finishing…that was a draw…it has better lume, better clasp, applied logo on the dial, applied logo on the clasp, screw pins, more micro adjustments, better end links, much nicer hands, shorter case length, nicer bezel action, capped seconds hand and much nicer crystal which costs much more to buy…I guess some of the finishing was better, straighter applied indexes, nicer clasp finishing, nice finishing in the hands, nicer bezel insert and bezel finishing…you don’t think all that’s worth $100?
@@ilikewatches My SD has amazing lume but it is 2.5 years old, so maybe the new ones are not as good. I bought a cheap Ali machined clasp for $5.70 US to replace the SD clasp so the total price for me was about $98.00 US all in. It still only has 3 micro adjusts but I was able to get a great fit and think the size of the SD is perfect for me. I do like the SM screw links, end links and capped second hand more but I like the hands and crystal on the SD more. I suppose it all comes down to handling, I have not handled the SM so it is hard for me to judge things like case length, double dome vs flat crystal, and bezel feel. When I say finishing I mean the attention to the details, SD has a good bracelet (not great but better than every seiko at the same price point), but the SM is better, the split pins work and are found on more expensive watches than the SD, but they are not as good as the screws on the SM, the lume on the hands is good on the SD (great on mine) but not quite as good as the SM. Perhaps if you sent me the SM to try out I might come to a different conclusion. Maybe as a contrasting opinion video.😁
@@ilikewatches You should send it on a tour. The SM to 4 viewers you have worked with before that have the SD but not the SM, have them compare the 18 holes you selected and compare their individual SD against the SM. Bet that would make for good ILW2 content.
@@ilikewatchesApplied logo? Yep, that’s a plus. Logo on the clasp? Why should I care? Micro adjustments? $7 clasp should I want it. End links? $30 bracelet, solves the micro adjustments, too. Hands? I like the Steeldive hands. Crystal … yes, I give you that. All in all, I’d say apart from the crystal, it’s a draw. Is the crystal worth $100? Nah. Steeldive for me. I’ll rather buy me the Addiesdive Frozen Willard as well and still have a pub visit left.
Interesting review as always. I tend to be price and movement oriented which probably means it would be the Steeldive. Thanks for your hard work, now go and enjoy the 19th hole.
Enjoyed your review. I have purchased the Steeldive after watching this. I prefer a flat crystal, and I don't like the crystal on the SM. The crown also on the SD in my opinion is more protected, the SM crown sticks out a lot more, making it susceptible to being hit. I'm particularly rough on watches. As far as the endices, the SM was visible to me from the start. The SD indices weren't visible to me until the close up. I figure, I'm purchasing a homage or better yet, a copy of a known brand, so I'm not expecting perfection and obviously looking for a bargain. So for me, its the Steedive. Great looking watch.
I own the SD1970 (green dial variant) and immediately changed out the strap for a very nice MAIKES dark brown leather/white stitched full-leather strap with deployment clasp (~$20, AliEx). For the money, it's a no brainer and terrific watch. The San Martin is the better watch; better finish across the board. However, for me the price difference is not sufficient to change my opinion that the SD1970 remains a better purchase. I also have more than a few other SD's (1953, 1964, 1975XP, 1957). With every one, save for the 1964, I've changed out the SS bracelet for an after-market variant. I never bought an SD for the bracelet or strap...they are very average (unlike the watch, itself). However, even with that after-market upgrade, the total price remains astonishingly attractive.
Naughty, naghty Gary. For those out there that know nothing about golf (trust me, millions of them!) the "score sheet" would be tricky, to say the least, if someone skips to the end (approx.) of vid. Nice try, but i'm triple bogey on liking this style of watch at all, moving to the next course. Let me drive it now... FORE!!!!
Being the thrifty fellow that l am, l picked up the Steeldive during a sale and, strangely enough, the bracelet has screw pins. Granted, mine is not the "updated version", so 'twould seem they've made a change for, what l can only guess would be, financial reasons. Theirs, not ours, obviously. Even still, there's no dispute, your comparison is spot on, as usual. Cheers Gary.
Few too many comparisons around strap/bracelet. If you put both on a different strap there would be a lot closer and I think it would make the price jump harder to justify
@@ilikewatches feels a little like you don’t want to make it too close, split down the strap into 5 so it looks like a bigger gap, vote the less accurate watch the winner. I get and agree the San Martin is a better all rounder but is it hands down worth double the price? I also appreciate you are basing score on what’s in the box. Btw love the videos and watch them all
First of all Gary put an A/C in your studio you are going to get a heat stroke inside of it! Nice review and comparison this really helps. I would say if you are going to be using a different strap it is a really a tight fight
I just got my Steeldive 1980 a few days ago. Got it in the 11.11 sale for only 63 bux! There are almost no gaps between the links of the bracelet. It also came with a milled clasp with 6 micro adjustment holes. I'm impressed. I also have a San Martin Willard in bronze. The quality of the San Martin is better, but it's very close.
I own both brands and they're both practically the same. It's worth noting that on my Steeldive everything is aligned perfectly in 2024. They're both excellent brands. I used to buy Seiko (a good watch brand for sure) but I'm really enjoying the quality of these two brands and I'd buy the Steeldive over the San Martin all day long if there's a big difference in price. Very happy with the Steeldives.
Awesome content buddy! The Steeldive isn't a bad watch by any means but in the end you get what you pay for. I no respect the difference in class get more obvious than with the clasp. Pretty much the most basic and cheap looking clasp you can get against a clasp similar in quality and feel to the one on the Oris.
Great I'd (as always). Two categories that you mentioned but didn't score. 1. Value that is cost per feature. 2. Cost irrespective of value Both seem to be great value, but for the 200USD you can get SD plus another watch. 🤔
Spose you cant really complain at the price , id buy the steel dive , but there again i like invicta dive watches too .Price is a good factor for me , i can see past the idiosyncrasies and faults if the price is right . Mind you both watches look pretty good too me .
Great review as always, but one complaint I have with all review channels is the fact the watches are not stripped down. You took the caseback off so why couldn't we see the crown stem, how many gaskets did it have and what did the quality look like. Same goes for the bezel, pop it off lets see what system they use for the clicking action, click ring are retaining spring and wire? Also I guess, a real pressure test down to 220 meters. I understand that machines that test over 6atm are expensive. Still, I enjoy your content.
I have to re-sell most of the watches I buy or get free to support my family and also fund more watch purchases…the journey would be over quick if I stripped down every watch and made it impossible to sell on…or if I had to spend the additional time putting it all back together as good as new…and no one really expects this.
@@ilikewatches I get what you are saying, totally. But for example the classic Marinemaster 300 has only one gasket on the stem just like an SKX007. So all that monoblock case technology is wasted in my view. I'm sure if buyers knew this they may chose a different dive watch with maybe a gasket on the the stem and one in the crown. I am amazed how this is not a major concern with dive watch buyers.
I purchased a Steeldive watch earlier this year but it was the quartz version of the Pilot 1903. It's an incredible good watch for the price of £79.99 from Steeldive UK. It has a Seiko VX48 quartz movement in it and has a sapphire crystal and is 200M water resistance and came on a good quality leather strap. The only downside for me though was the length of the strap which seems quite long. I have since changed the strap and am using the strap it came on as a spare. The lume is fantastic though and it really lasts a long time in the dark with the hands and numerals standing out very well, certainly on par with the Seiko watches that are in my collection. The service from Steeldive UK is also very good. I ordered it and it arrived the next day so no complaints with them. I am probably going to purchase the bronze 1940 Pilot automatic or the steel version but not decided yet. Both look like excellent value for money. Thanks for comparing the San Martin and the Steeldive Diver watches though, a very interesting comparison.
I think if you wear it on a steel bracelet then get the San Martin. If you are putting a rubber strap on it, then might as well get the Steeldive. I actually prefer flat crystals as I find they reflect less.
Not too keen on the golf style scoring, however, this is one of your best videos. Excellent comparison where you cover all the bases. Hat off. I have the Addisdive version which is one of my fave watches in my collection. Recently got the Red Star Bullhead. Everyone I've shown it wants one.
Glad to see the SM in the blue. I did end up with the Green version and am very happy with mine. Definitely another SM that I can't take the bracelet off. Very intresting to see these two side by side, definitely a few physical differences that would be hard to pick otherwise.
Just received that Steeldive watch two weeks ago, brilliant watch for the money I paid in the AliExpress sale. I agree about the bracelet and have already swapped mine for a tropical. I love the dial especially in the sun when the light catches it. 😍
I've watched a ton of the reviews on various dive watches and ironically enough decided on the Steeldive which I ordered yesterday! I've gone for the black face with the silicon strap and like a couple of the comments have said, you can't go wrong with the price. I've bought it more for a travel come beater and if it gets roughed up a bit, it's not as expensive to replace as my Seamaster!
Good vid, can see u have worked hard to present.I have the steel dive and like others acknowledge all your points re bracelet etc but for a homage where I want it but not the price preferring to save the bigger bucks for bigger watches, have to disagree and say as value goes, double the price is not double the watch. Once again…good vid..well done
I have two of the Steeldives (SD1970 & SD1980) and don't have any complaints. I concede that the San Martin most likely a little bit better in (almost) every detail. Thank you for the comparison!
Man that San Martin blue is just talking to me 😊. I definitely am getting the SD in black but that I give it to the San Martin towards the deep sea blue. Great watches!
Thank you Gary for that you so much for reviewing these two stunning watches, 'two phenomenal watches', you summed it up very well, although I don't own the 'SM' version I have two of the 'SD' versions. I think that which ever one you buy, relative to your budget and expectations, you should be a happy 'WIS?
Crystal on the SM looks so much better,the SD bracelet you can change out for not much money if you want to, although if you do that might as well pay a little more and get the SM...Wait for the sale and get the SM its still a very good value for money....a comparo between the SM and a original Willard would be fascinating,,if you ever have the chance to do that.
Better performing movement in the Steeldive in this case makes up for a lot. However as a beater watch, looking really good, the Steeldive is far better value in my estimation!
Steeldive for me, I just picked up a submariner homage and it wears fantastic on my 6 3/4in. wrist. The bracelet is a piece of jangle but is oh so comfortable! I think the biggest positive for me is the crystal, bracelet and clasp on the San Martin, but doesn't necessarily justify the price swing.
Interesting that this has just popped up as I've just got the san martin. I already own the SD. I love them both but prefer the SM for it's crystal and bracelet.
I've owned my steeldive 1970 for around 2 1/2 years and it still works great. I tend to wear it on a waffle or a black leather strap. Your SD's lume didn't look as good as mine. The hands looked week and the indices looked Inconsistent. I guess that's the problem with affordable watches, the batches of parts may not be consistent. I don't play golf and know nothing about it but I enjoyed this video anyway. It really was a great comparison video but I would appreciate it if you didn't get a heat stroke making it. Stay cool and drink a cold one.
I bought a Casio Edifice ERA200 2 weeks ago. While it is a good looking watch, its twin sensor is kinda gimicky (who uses thermometer or compass on a watch regularly lol). I just learned about the Steeldive, and I'm kinda regretting now lol.
If you are on a tight budget, the Steeldive wins. The quality of the San Martin bracelet and clasp, the double dome crystal and the hands set makes for a more refined watch. I own an older version of the Steeldive, I have replaced the bracelet for a rubber strap and I am completely satisfied with it. I don’t think that there’s enough differences to justify upgrading.
I'm watching this whilst wearing my SD in the same Colourway. I did think you would give the SD a point because the Movement was a bit more consistant. I put mine on the Free Strap instead of the Bracelet. Don't know if San Martin give a Free Strap with theirs?
Your basically paying a $100 dollars more for the bracelet. Not much difference between the watches really. I purchased the Steeldive and replaced the clasp for $8. Good as gold!
Steeldive recently upgraded their bracelet to have solid end links and a milled clasp as well so it’s even closer
What are you talking about lol the San Martin is far better
The hands and cap on the San Martin are dramatically better finished, and look much better than the Steeldive.
Bracelet, clasp, hands, and crystal on the San Martin make it worth the extra bit of dough imo although I wouldn’t wear either lol but I can see the allure for the price points. Good daily beater watches.
You forgot the way more expensive crystal.
Steeldive, for me. I'm a sucker for a bargain. I like a flat crystal. Useful for signaling, by reflecting the sun. I prefer the normal size crown of the sd, also. Great video, Gary! Stay hydrated!
At only twenty dollars more I picked up the San Martin as the true bargain.
can you reflect the sun even though it has a anti-reflective coating? (I genuinely don't know, I currently waiting for my first SD watch)
Who are you signalling and why?
@rossco-dps5392 potentially a search & rescue team if you are diving and for whatever reason end up surfacing far away from your diving boat. It happens far more often than you probably think (scuba diver here).
@spartanthe300ththermopylae4 thank you for that information. I never would have thought of that. I was thinking up some pretty wild scenarios involving zombies etc.
Non scuba guy here. Just a middle aged surfer.
I bought the Steeldive. Since I had intended to ditch the bracelet and put a period correct waffle strap on it that removed that from the mix. And the finishing...well, if you could see what I do while wearing a watch and the beating they take, you'd realize why I don't worry about super fine finishing. It's a tool watch after all.
I would only buy a San Martin if I wanted to keep the steel bracelet that came with it, they do make a nice steel bracelet
I think it is really telling when Gary puts in the extra effort to have the seconds hands of both watches exactly in sync. It might seem minor but I truly admire the dedication to detail here and my watch-related decisions hinge quite heavily on your reviews. Props to you, may you get all the subscribers you deserve. Cheers!
Thank you!
I take Gary's opinion very seriously also , he's seen enough watches to have a informed opinion
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Steeldive is a clear winner for 2 very important reasons. 1st San Martin's disproportionately long crown bites against the back of the hand causing much discomfort hence forcing the wearer to pull it back continuously and all the time it's on his wrist ! .. Secondly, Steeldive offers twice the value !. .. Just subscribed.
As a long-time Seiko fan and owner of the Steeldive model, these two watches are both phenomenal value compared to the now very pricey Seiko watches they homage. (Seiko is now homaging itself with many reissue models at a very high cost to us punters!!!)
I have the Steeldive and love it. Mine has a milled lower clasp and it fits me perfectly. When you are wearing a watch, no one will be able to notice the other differences, especially if your arm isn’t completely still. I prefer the overall look of the SD. The crown guards give it a smoother, more refined look, especially when viewed from a few feet away. The crown on the SM reminds me of a stallion in heat. That crown sticking out there disrupts the symmetry of the watch. I’ll save the $100 and be happy as a pig in poop!
I have that exact Steeldive - for the money it's really hard to imagine a better watch.
Definitely the Steeldive, its their best model and just so affordable.
I love mine.. it's the black dial version.. it just makes a great beater.. even though I don't beat up my watches.
The San Martin is better built and better finished than the steeldive.
@@quarters-eye8922 there's no denying that but as a homage/copy it is hard to justify the extra cash.
Quality control is my main concern.
I think most San Martin models are too expensive now, for what they are.
Phoibos watches are now cheaper than SM. And i think Phoibos is a level up with more original design and a lil' better fit and finish.
I own a few San Martin watches and love them, but you can’t touch the Steeldive for price/quality, if it had a better bracelet it would be a no brainer right off the bat, I dont think the finishing is worth the price difference. How they can produce that kind of quality for so little money still amazes me, I also have a few Seiko watches, but ….Hey ! Seiko !! Check out Steeldive and learn a few things !!
Great video…. Thanks !
I can't see spending that much more for the San Martin. I have a previous generation Steeldive and am quite happy with it. No QC issues and it feels great on the wrist. I think San Martin is overrated and over priced. I've had QC issues with most of the San Martin watches I've purchased in the past - bad crowns/crown tubes, bad clasps. Their reputation as the best of the Chinese homage brands is undeserved IMO. Their official store customer service left *a lot* to be desired as well. If someone is looking for the best Captain Willard homage, the Rdunae homage Gary reviewed previously is the best of the lot. The dimensions and proportions are excellent compared to the original. I'm very happy with it and my Steeldive.
The crystal, bracelet and clasp add up to more than a hundred bucks. I also prefer the numbers on the bezel of the SM. Enjoyed the video!
exactly this. dont people know a good bracelet (even if marginally better) cost $100 by themselves.
I have the Steeldive and I was really impressed with the value. Especially after being brainwashed (by more well known brands) into thinking you need to pay more to get a good watch. Both of these are awesome. The SM just looks more refined overall but the SD is nice because it's a watch you don't have to worry about too much. At that price, it's the ultimate beater. If you mess it up, just grab another one. I also really enjoy the lumed bezel with the different colour lume in it. The only thing I didn't totally love was the finishing on the case. Mine is kind of rough, like you can actually feel the brushing when you run your finger over it. But at $100, I can deal with that.
As others have stated, love the golf score card! Looking forward to another one!
Yip, SD is a winner
I don't own a San Martin, I do own 3 SteelDive watches. 😉
Then don't dare to try or else it would be a never ending chase. 😅
Interesting video, thanks Gary - I like the golf scoring! I've got a Steeldive 1970 myself, and did look closely at the San Martin. I'd agree with most of your points . . . except for giving the movement tick to the Steeldive, when it's the same movement - that's more of a case by case really. My new Save The Ocean Samuri (4R35, essentially the same movement) is losing about a minute a day and has to go back, and that's an actual Seiko! In any case the bracelet & clasp is a big plus for the San Martin, as well as other points around finishing, but for half the money the Steeldive is still a cracking watch. See you in the next one!
I'll take the RDUNAE R2X. More faithful to the 70's Seiko and the dial definitely looks nicer with the minute track printed on it (and a blank rehaut).
So I have the black Steeldive version, and love it. No problem so for, just a great $90 watch with the Seiko auto movement. during the AliExpress sale bought a San Martin.. but completely different model. After most reviews of San Martin being great. I'm stuck. I really think I really don't see the difference in quality. I thought I was going to be impressed more. Im not complaining though. But I probably could have saved $100. Great review as always Gary! Cheers!
Did you not get one with a bracelet? The bracelet and clasp are significantly better, all the extra cost usually go there, and depending on the dial, they made incredible enamel or MOP dials. Steeldive is like the base model with non of the bells and whistles, and when you get the San Martin equivalent you will really realize the difference. I have ended up buying all the San Martin versions of the steeldives I first bought.
@@gilbertoflores7397 yes I do see a difference in the bracelet as they are both stainless steel. I only have one Steeldive watch.. I have two Pagani Design ones too. The clasp is were I see the money spent.
@@des9655 what color dial do you have for the steeldive? I think blue is the only one worth getting, their black dial is this odd glossy Matte thing, I find it rather dull, not that San Martin's vintage matte black is much better, but if you get their enamel or mop dials, you will really see the difference in quality. So I think steeldive are the best bang for buck, I have 4, got the Willard, tuna, sumo, and skx. But when I got the SM sumo, tuna, and mm300. I don't find myself wearing the steeldives as much, the quality difference is that noticeable. So I think the price jump is worth it, if you get the right options (colored dials).
@@gilbertoflores7397 it's the black dial.. but it's not so bad. I'm not an expert by any means. I just had other blue dial watches..so I got it in black.. since most can't mess it up
@@des9655 yeah, the blue is the go to option for making something look more expensive with little effort. The black is fine overall, it was just something I noticed when I got the black SM sumo, it's dial is a very striking inky black, it really made me wonder why they do offer it as much, as all the other black options they offer is that super dull matte grey/black dial they put on the vintage divers. And I noticed the black on the steeldive isn't as rich or deep as the SM in the Sumos. So a San Martin is definitely worth the extra cost, if you want the more flashy piece, I got their green, red, and black enamel dials watches and the blue fading MOP dial sub, they're definitely worth the extra price for the dial, clasp and bracelets. But steeldive to me is a very great option, I just found myself wanting the better or prettier option and detailing of the clasp and bracelet.
I own several steel dive watches, I'm very happy with them (and Pagani Design). This comparison objectively matches what I have suspected for some time now. SM in general, is way over priced. They have nice features, they are a good company. But, they are about 50% high in their pricing (30% minimum). To me, for chinese inexpensive watches, SM is not worth double vs SD, as well as Pagani Design. When you can buy 2 or 3 SD and or PD watches for 1 SM, that says it all.... Outstanding video, many thanks for the comparison.
Like the SM but I am.more into the SD as a beater watch. Thanks for the content Gary.
I have the Steeldive 1980 in green. Mine also has the wonky dial which irks me as I am a detail guy. Other than that it's a wonderful watch. That being said I'm buying the San Martin in blue when the sale hits.
Update 9 Oct 2022: I received my San Martin Willard. San Martin homaged the 1980 model with the minute markings on the chapter ring. There is no missallignment on the dial. The domed crystal is lovely. The bezel is not fully lumed except for the 12:00 position, which I prefer. The lume is fantastic and glows bright green for hours and all the lume matches. The watch is noticably larger than the Steeldive but not overly large. The beautifully finished cap on the hand stem shows San Martin is batting for the outfield stands. The San Martin is leagues above the Steeldive and well worth the additional cost. Thanks so much for your always enjoyable reviews.
I'm with you about the sunburst effect. These ought to be less 'showy' and more workmanlike. I love my black dial SD version. Straight onto a decent rubber strap and into the box with the bracelet.
I agree cept i like woven nylon. And i spotted in uk ebay theyve gotten round to stitching round the strap holes, so much better than a punched hole or a metal eyelet that lasts a month or so. Wonder how long i have to wait for em down here.
11% better, but twice as expensive. You do not need a university degree to figure out which one is (by far) best value for money!😄💲
If only it was that easy…
You made a great point on the differences in the sapphire crystals but for me it is not a large enough difference to warrant paying that much more for the San Martin. Nevertheless, great comparison and attention to the details in the comparison, thanks. I won't knock anyone for choosing the SM over the SD over the crystal or hands, just not a big enough difference to warrant the extra money.
Great video, thanks for the hard work. I have the Steeldive and swapped the bracelet for a rubber strap straight away. The SM has a nicer crystal, but for me personally that doesn't justify twice the price....but then I am a tight Yorkshireman :)
Some watches are just better on rubber. I have mine on a waffle strap but once in a while it'll be on a black leather strap with white stitches.
Great comparison. I’d probably still go with the Steeldive, simply due to the dollar/value equation.
Stay safe in this horrible weather, we are stunned in Australia what you guys are copping over there.
Don't worry Ryan, it lasted two days, and both "record" temperatures were taken at Airports ! Gatwick and Heathrow. Thanks for caring, though !
You’re very welcome.
I love the detailed comparison. The Steeldive was my first AliExpress watch, and it's great. I agree with you though - I prefer the extra touches on the San Martin (bracelet, clasp, crystal).
Thanks for helping me justify my recent purchase of sub-100$ SteelDive on rubber strap
The detail finishing on the hands on the SM looked fabulous, that with double dome sapphire and a quality clasp, means l totally agree with you. However the SD is also a lot of watch for not much money. Great vid Gary and most useful. Cheers . David Rutherford.
before i watched this video i automatically thought san martin have used I like watches as a paid brand ambassador more over the last 6 months , so outcome was a certainty . in my opinion I feel I like watches has in last 6 months received a lot of free san martin to review to the point is used on official San martin stores , great business well gone . saying that in my opinion you did a great job in pointing out the better value parts and why the San martin is the better quality. and more expensive . and that steeldive for the money you pay is a great watch in the price range . and a fair assessment of both watches . thank you for your time and keep up the good work. ps i bought my sd1970 in July sale for £66 delivered to UK .
I trust Gary to never sell out his integrity when he gets a free watch from any company and if he gets a bad SM he'll tell us, imo.
Very nice comparison review Gary. I've not tried out the San Martin, but I do have the Steeldive. You certainly get a lot watch for not a lot of money. For most people I think that will be enough. But if you want a watch that has a little more attention to detail in certain areas, then perhaps the San Martin is the one for you.
This is such a great comparison Gary. I have the Steeldive and I have been amazed by the finish for the price - the bracelet sucks but I wear it on a tropic strap so I don't care. I was surprised by how comfortable the case shape is....I agree, at under $200 the SM is also a great deal.
Got absolutely the same issues with SteelDive's applied indexes. That's not a problem to swap the dial someday if you have some tools. And I owe my SteelDive almost a year. NH35 runs with an accuracy +/-3 seconds per day, depending on different angles.
If you’re going to leave the bracelet on then it’s really a tough decision mainly because of the price difference, those little extra touches worth the extra money on the San Martin but if you’re likely to ditch the bracelet for a different strap option then surely the steeldive is the one to go for, also personally I find a flat crystal more legible.
I have the black version of the steeldive and it gets more wrist time than any other of my watches.
I have both. This is actually the best watch steeldive make in my opinion. Phenomenal value. Their tuna is excellent too…but I’d avoid their submariners. I have 4 San Martins though and you can instantly feel they’re the next level up. The bracelets too…are strapcode quality and for that alone they’re more than worth the extra money. It actually makes them better value than Steeldive.
Another great job Gary! I went for the Steeldive because, I Like Money. I wish I could sympathize with you about the heat but here in West Texas we just call it summer. Get yourself a good fan it'll help a lot.
The San Martin looks sweet, but i was able to purchase the steeldive one for $59... for that price I couldn't pass it up.
(repost from a year ago, edited out some typos).
14:44 vs Oris SM clasp actually nicer! Fully milled, whereas Oris has pressed top
edit: actually SM top just *looks* milled, which is still convincingly nice and beautiful even if it might have really just been pressed first before they did some heavy brushing (and they definitely milled the chamfer)
double edit: just checked and i'm 90% sure SM did actually first press the top part of the clasp, but then did some milling on it, used a much thicker metal than oris and put the work into those milled chamfers to give it a much more convincing appearance that nothing was just bent into place, and it transitions to the bracelet much more smoothly than the oris too, makes it look cheap by comparison
anyway Gary thanks for hanging out in that body heat temperature room and giving us a fantastic review. will be watching more!
Gary I understand you have more experience in regards to what specification and detail adds more cost to the watch and by how much...in that way you would justify an increase in price over the steeldive but for us mere guys...we just can't tell the difference (and wouldn't really want to) between two watches with similar specs. So we wouldn't care about domed Sapphire crystal, more AR coating, better finished hands etc especially when you can get flat sapphire, AR coating on the SD etc... when you can buy 2 steeldives for one San Martin.
I have the 6105 Case San Martin with the Great Wave fully lumed dial and S/S bezel and it has worked fine for the last 18 months. Everything lines up and it's comfortable to wear. The Steeldive is excellent value but the triangle on the bezel at 12 o'clock seems slightly out of line as well as the other minor faults you mentioned + the poor lume. At the end of the day it comes down to what you can afford. Aother great video Gary useful and informative.👍⌚😎
Excellent video showing the differences but can we all just appreciate that you are nit picking two watches that are incredible value, quality and sell for @ under $400!
Great review. So if you planned to wear the watch on a strap or rubber band anyway, there is definitely a winner!
Great review. From what I gather, Steeldive have significantly now upgraded their clasp and is now milled 6 hole which makes them at least even. The crystal on the SM is clearly better. For me the biggest difference is the bit of the bezel/lume you didn't mention namely that the SM is only a lumed pip, where the SD is fully lumed. If you want originality or not a full lume, it's the SM. If like me you want fully lumed, it's the SD. That's the differentiation, and the fact that you pay half for it is win-win.
Maybe opt for the Steeldive and put the extra 100 toward an air conditioner.
I’ve had the SD Willard for over a year...very pleased 👍
I've got the SD in black, lovely watch on a grey / silver canvas strap . Would genuinely buy another in blue , but don't like the shade of blue they offer , SM is a much better blue.
I'd love SD to do the 1970 in a burgundy/ red similar to the red Kamasu .
I have the sterile dial blue SD, I love the colour, it almost looks violet in certain light.
It gets a lot of wear to work, I keep my Tudors and Oris for the weekend.
I consider also the less expensive addiesdive's captain w. That's a good alternative
Have to say both are just brilliant. But i would go for the San Martin...the double domed saffire crystal, clasp/ bracelet, extra adjustment point and the cap on the hands just make the difference enough for me personally. Its not just the monetary differential but the attention to details...going the extra mile. I'd consider the San Martin in my dirty dozen collections. To conclude you couldn't be disappointed with either 👍.
Steeldive seem to have got the balance between cost/features/quality at the budget end of the market spot on.
San Martin (with this watch in particular) can do the same at the next level up, by improving the bracelet and clasp in particular. However its debatable if they do it with every watch (especially some of their more recent releases).
Both watches are great buys, especially the Steeldive if you plan on wearing the watch on a strap rather than the supplied bracelet.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Gary.
Both great buys depending on budget constraints. Thanks for the comparo.
I’d love to watch the comparison but your video isn’t working right now. I have the green Steeldive and got it on sale for $78. I love it.
Actually, the clasps are clearly different, the San Martin used a much thicker pressed steel, you can see it quite clearly.
And then they did a better job with the logo on it, though I suppose that logo could eventually fall out (if it's glued in), whereas the Oris and SD are just etched.
All of this is totally academic for me, though. I never notice the tiny imperfections that you're so good at spotting, which is exactly why I am fascinated by your videos.
Personally I would never pay twice for those tiny differences that I never even see (except perhaps when I first open the watch, thanks to your tutelage ;) let alone really appreciate them.
At twice the price is it the best watch though?
Great scoring system btw...but..looks like a fair amount of the point difference is in the bracelet... I have the Steel Dive on a rubber strap ...it's great VFM. Thanks for showing the San Martin though, I have been intrigued by it. Cheers, Al
i'd go for the steeldive. i don't like bracelets and the price difference i don't think is justified.
All of the elements that the SM won we’re finishing. Not surprising. I have the SD and do not believe I would have selected the SM had it been available when I purchased the SD. For me the difference is not enough to justify the different price.
I didn’t think the SM won the finishing…that was a draw…it has better lume, better clasp, applied logo on the dial, applied logo on the clasp, screw pins, more micro adjustments, better end links, much nicer hands, shorter case length, nicer bezel action, capped seconds hand and much nicer crystal which costs much more to buy…I guess some of the finishing was better, straighter applied indexes, nicer clasp finishing, nice finishing in the hands, nicer bezel insert and bezel finishing…you don’t think all that’s worth $100?
@@ilikewatches My SD has amazing lume but it is 2.5 years old, so maybe the new ones are not as good. I bought a cheap Ali machined clasp for $5.70 US to replace the SD clasp so the total price for me was about $98.00 US all in. It still only has 3 micro adjusts but I was able to get a great fit and think the size of the SD is perfect for me. I do like the SM screw links, end links and capped second hand more but I like the hands and crystal on the SD more.
I suppose it all comes down to handling, I have not handled the SM so it is hard for me to judge things like case length, double dome vs flat crystal, and bezel feel. When I say finishing I mean the attention to the details, SD has a good bracelet (not great but better than every seiko at the same price point), but the SM is better, the split pins work and are found on more expensive watches than the SD, but they are not as good as the screws on the SM, the lume on the hands is good on the SD (great on mine) but not quite as good as the SM. Perhaps if you sent me the SM to try out I might come to a different conclusion. Maybe as a contrasting opinion video.😁
Lol….very good…let me think about it 😂
@@ilikewatches You should send it on a tour. The SM to 4 viewers you have worked with before that have the SD but not the SM, have them compare the 18 holes you selected and compare their individual SD against the SM. Bet that would make for good ILW2 content.
@@ilikewatchesApplied logo? Yep, that’s a plus. Logo on the clasp? Why should I care? Micro adjustments? $7 clasp should I want it. End links? $30 bracelet, solves the micro adjustments, too. Hands? I like the Steeldive hands. Crystal … yes, I give you that. All in all, I’d say apart from the crystal, it’s a draw. Is the crystal worth $100? Nah. Steeldive for me. I’ll rather buy me the Addiesdive Frozen Willard as well and still have a pub visit left.
Interesting review as always. I tend to be price and movement oriented which probably means it would be the Steeldive.
Thanks for your hard work, now go and enjoy the 19th hole.
Enjoyed your review. I have purchased the Steeldive after watching this. I prefer a flat crystal, and I don't like the crystal on the SM. The crown also on the SD in my opinion is more protected, the SM crown sticks out a lot more, making it susceptible to being hit. I'm particularly rough on watches. As far as the endices, the SM was visible to me from the start. The SD indices weren't visible to me until the close up. I figure, I'm purchasing a homage or better yet, a copy of a known brand, so I'm not expecting perfection and obviously looking for a bargain. So for me, its the Steedive. Great looking watch.
I own the SD1970 (green dial variant) and immediately changed out the strap for a very nice MAIKES dark brown leather/white stitched full-leather strap with deployment clasp (~$20, AliEx). For the money, it's a no brainer and terrific watch. The San Martin is the better watch; better finish across the board. However, for me the price difference is not sufficient to change my opinion that the SD1970 remains a better purchase.
I also have more than a few other SD's (1953, 1964, 1975XP, 1957). With every one, save for the 1964, I've changed out the SS bracelet for an after-market variant. I never bought an SD for the bracelet or strap...they are very average (unlike the watch, itself). However, even with that after-market upgrade, the total price remains astonishingly attractive.
So, when you say very detailed I half expect a 30+ min video. On a serious note, thank you for another great video Gary!
Love my Steeldive. But that double dome is nice
Naughty, naghty Gary. For those out there that know nothing about golf (trust me, millions of them!) the "score sheet" would be tricky, to say the least, if someone skips to the end (approx.) of vid. Nice try, but i'm triple bogey on liking this style of watch at all, moving to the next course. Let me drive it now... FORE!!!!
I guess the uninitiated have a bit of a...handicap.
I'll see myself out.
Being the thrifty fellow that l am, l picked up the Steeldive during a sale and, strangely enough, the bracelet has screw pins. Granted, mine is not the "updated version", so 'twould seem they've made a change for, what l can only guess would be, financial reasons. Theirs, not ours, obviously. Even still, there's no dispute, your comparison is spot on, as usual.
Cheers Gary.
Congrats Gary ! very interesting comparison !, Greetings from the south of Spain, suffering the same temperatures !!
Few too many comparisons around strap/bracelet. If you put both on a different strap there would be a lot closer and I think it would make the price jump harder to justify
I’m comparing what you get for the money, not what you would have if you started swapping stuff out with what you already have 😂
@@ilikewatches feels a little like you don’t want to make it too close, split down the strap into 5 so it looks like a bigger gap, vote the less accurate watch the winner. I get and agree the San Martin is a better all rounder but is it hands down worth double the price? I also appreciate you are basing score on what’s in the box. Btw love the videos and watch them all
Love your 2 n Go wall clock.
First of all Gary put an A/C in your studio you are going to get a heat stroke inside of it!
Nice review and comparison this really helps. I would say if you are going to be using a different strap it is a really a tight fight
I just got my Steeldive 1980 a few days ago. Got it in the 11.11 sale for only 63 bux! There are almost no gaps between the links of the bracelet. It also came with a milled clasp with 6 micro adjustment holes. I'm impressed. I also have a San Martin Willard in bronze. The quality of the San Martin is better, but it's very close.
I own both brands and they're both practically the same. It's worth noting that on my Steeldive everything is aligned perfectly in 2024. They're both excellent brands. I used to buy Seiko (a good watch brand for sure) but I'm really enjoying the quality of these two brands and I'd buy the Steeldive over the San Martin all day long if there's a big difference in price. Very happy with the Steeldives.
Awesome content buddy! The Steeldive isn't a bad watch by any means but in the end you get what you pay for. I no respect the difference in class get more obvious than with the clasp. Pretty much the most basic and cheap looking clasp you can get against a clasp similar in quality and feel to the one on the Oris.
Great I'd (as always). Two categories that you mentioned but didn't score.
1. Value that is cost per feature.
2. Cost irrespective of value
Both seem to be great value, but for the 200USD you can get SD plus another watch. 🤔
Spose you cant really complain at the price , id buy the steel dive , but there again i like invicta dive watches too .Price is a good factor for me , i can see past the idiosyncrasies and faults if the price is right . Mind you both watches look pretty good too me .
Great review as always, but one complaint I have with all review channels is the fact the watches are not stripped down. You took the caseback off so why couldn't we see the crown stem, how many gaskets did it have and what did the quality look like. Same goes for the bezel, pop it off lets see what system they use for the clicking action, click ring are retaining spring and wire? Also I guess, a real pressure test down to 220 meters. I understand that machines that test over 6atm are expensive. Still, I enjoy your content.
I have to re-sell most of the watches I buy or get free to support my family and also fund more watch purchases…the journey would be over quick if I stripped down every watch and made it impossible to sell on…or if I had to spend the additional time putting it all back together as good as new…and no one really expects this.
@@ilikewatches I get what you are saying, totally. But for example the classic Marinemaster 300 has only one gasket on the stem just like an SKX007. So all that monoblock case technology is wasted in my view. I'm sure if buyers knew this they may chose a different dive watch with maybe a gasket on the the stem and one in the crown. I am amazed how this is not a major concern with dive watch buyers.
Hi Gary
Not crazy about Steel Dive logo.
I purchased a Steeldive watch earlier this year but it was the quartz version of the Pilot 1903. It's an incredible good watch for the price of £79.99 from Steeldive UK. It has a Seiko VX48 quartz movement in it and has a sapphire crystal and is 200M water resistance and came on a good quality leather strap. The only downside for me though was the length of the strap which seems quite long. I have since changed the strap and am using the strap it came on as a spare. The lume is fantastic though and it really lasts a long time in the dark with the hands and numerals standing out very well, certainly on par with the Seiko watches that are in my collection.
The service from Steeldive UK is also very good. I ordered it and it arrived the next day so no complaints with them. I am probably going to purchase the bronze 1940 Pilot automatic or the steel version but not decided yet. Both look like excellent value for money. Thanks for comparing the San Martin and the Steeldive Diver watches though, a very interesting comparison.
Whichever blue dial appears blue instead of purple wins !
I have a steeldive and I don't like the hands, the crown size. Other than that, it's a good watch for the money. Thanks 4 this video!
I think if you wear it on a steel bracelet then get the San Martin. If you are putting a rubber strap on it, then might as well get the Steeldive. I actually prefer flat crystals as I find they reflect less.
Not too keen on the golf style scoring, however, this is one of your best videos. Excellent comparison where you cover all the bases. Hat off.
I have the Addisdive version which is one of my fave watches in my collection. Recently got the Red Star Bullhead. Everyone I've shown it wants one.
Yeah I agree I only went with the golf theme to add more categories…I’ll rethink it
Well done for recording in that heat! San Martin for me, the Steeldive is great for the money, but I would be willing to pay the extra.
Glad to see the SM in the blue. I did end up with the Green version and am very happy with mine. Definitely another SM that I can't take the bracelet off. Very intresting to see these two side by side, definitely a few physical differences that would be hard to pick otherwise.
Just received that Steeldive watch two weeks ago, brilliant watch for the money I paid in the AliExpress sale. I agree about the bracelet and have already swapped mine for a tropical. I love the dial especially in the sun when the light catches it. 😍
I've watched a ton of the reviews on various dive watches and ironically enough decided on the Steeldive which I ordered yesterday! I've gone for the black face with the silicon strap and like a couple of the comments have said, you can't go wrong with the price. I've bought it more for a travel come beater and if it gets roughed up a bit, it's not as expensive to replace as my Seamaster!
Good vid, can see u have worked hard to present.I have the steel dive and like others acknowledge all your points re bracelet etc but for a homage where I want it but not the price preferring to save the bigger bucks for bigger watches, have to disagree and say as value goes, double the price is not double the watch. Once again…good vid..well done
I have two of the Steeldives (SD1970 & SD1980) and don't have any complaints. I concede that the San Martin most likely a little bit better in (almost) every detail. Thank you for the comparison!
It's the same watch, with a different name on each dial.
Steeldive 🙌
Man that San Martin blue is just talking to me 😊. I definitely am getting the SD in black but that I give it to the San Martin towards the deep sea blue. Great watches!
Great comparison vid! Ive been debating between a San Martin & a Steeldive and this helped tremendously!
Thank you Gary for that you so much for reviewing these two stunning watches, 'two phenomenal watches', you summed it up very well, although I don't own the 'SM' version I have two of the 'SD' versions.
I think that which ever one you buy, relative to your budget and expectations, you should be a happy 'WIS?
Crystal on the SM looks so much better,the SD bracelet you can change out for not much money if you want to, although if you do that might as well pay a little more and get the SM...Wait for the sale and get the SM its still a very good value for money....a comparo between the SM and a original Willard would be fascinating,,if you ever have the chance to do that.
Better performing movement in the Steeldive in this case makes up for a lot. However as a beater watch, looking really good, the Steeldive is far better value in my estimation!
Steeldive for me, I just picked up a submariner homage and it wears fantastic on my 6 3/4in. wrist. The bracelet is a piece of jangle but is oh so comfortable! I think the biggest positive for me is the crystal, bracelet and clasp on the San Martin, but doesn't necessarily justify the price swing.
Interesting that this has just popped up as I've just got the san martin. I already own the SD. I love them both but prefer the SM for it's crystal and bracelet.
Oooh. I've got the SM on leather and the SD on a tropic. I wear the SD as one of my "daily watches". The SM is usually in the weekend gang.
I've owned my steeldive 1970 for around 2 1/2 years and it still works great. I tend to wear it on a waffle or a black leather strap.
Your SD's lume didn't look as good as mine. The hands looked week and the indices looked Inconsistent. I guess that's the problem with affordable watches, the batches of parts may not be consistent.
I don't play golf and know nothing about it but I enjoyed this video anyway. It really was a great comparison video but I would appreciate it if you didn't get a heat stroke making it. Stay cool and drink a cold one.
The lume on my SD looks much better than the one shown here.
My sterile Addiesdive was less than $90 USD, I added a $7 milled clasp and you can’t beat the thing with a stick on price and quality
I bought a Casio Edifice ERA200 2 weeks ago. While it is a good looking watch, its twin sensor is kinda gimicky (who uses thermometer or compass on a watch regularly lol). I just learned about the Steeldive, and I'm kinda regretting now lol.
I got the steel dive for £64. Awesome lume and fantastic value…yes a naff bracelet but at that price dont care lol
If you are on a tight budget, the Steeldive wins. The quality of the San Martin bracelet and clasp, the double dome crystal and the hands set makes for a more refined watch.
I own an older version of the Steeldive, I have replaced the bracelet for a rubber strap and I am completely satisfied with it. I don’t think that there’s enough differences to justify upgrading.
I'm watching this whilst wearing my SD in the same Colourway.
I did think you would give the SD a point because the Movement was a bit more consistant.
I put mine on the Free Strap instead of the Bracelet. Don't know if San Martin give a Free Strap with theirs?