I love this watch for a bunch of reasons. I get compliments every time I wear it. To me, this is the true definition of an "homage" watch. It's not a one-to-one copy of the original. You can see the influence, but they added their own elements to make it unique.
Really nice homage! Don't think people can have the usual homage complaints with this one considering the rarity and cost of the piece it comes from. Good review pal!
I'm not a big fan of homages, but the original is so insanely rare and expensive that it makes me feel a bit better about this one. Might have to pick it up when the next sale hits.
I don't mind an homage if the watch it's homaging is out of production & basically unobtainium, so I don't have a Milsub or a 1016 but Steinhart & Smiths have got it covered & I saved about £180k.
@@barryhearn8627 I've got the 42mm, the 39 is closer in size to a milsub but they use the hands from the 42 which always looked too big for the dial to me. I love mine.
For anybody researching this watch wanting to buy it and use it on the original strap: don't. I bought it in the aliexpress anniversary sale from the official store. 2 of the 4 screws I tried to undo, literally didn't open. The tools they provide, are just bad quality and damage the screws to the point you will never get them to turn again. I sent them a message, which they just replied to with a RUclips video that told me to use tools no regular customer has or to heat up my watch a bit. After that, they just started ignoring my messages. But at least they are still sending me messages to but more watches while the sale is still going on. The watch itself is nice (although slightly misaligned), but at this point I'm so frustrated I dumped the watch in a drawer and I am turned off from buying an aliexpress watch ever again. All the reviews were so positive, some even got the female end links, they got a signed warranty card, ... The reality however is that if you are not a reviewer, you don't get the nice treatment.
san martin makes a great watch. i have their pilots watch. EXCELLENT LUME, screw down crown and case back. 200m water resistance, sapphire, end of battery life indicator
Just want to let you & your viewers know that female end links are available on aliexpress for less than $10. I’m thinking of picking up this model during the current sale. Good video as always!
Nice review sir! I own this watch (changed out the bracelet in favorite of a high quality shell cordovan leather strap), and agree with every point you mentioned! This watch is incredibly attractive in person. It has a wonderful feel of build quality, QC control, and attention to detail. I get tons of compliments on this timepiece. One thing I really love that San Martin did was just stick to a simple, plain case back. To keep the price down, you always have to find ways to cut corners, and I love when companies skip out on the case back and pump that money into other areas of the watch. I’m seriously considering another San Martin. I am just floored by the quality here. Honestly guys, as long as you don’t mind that this is a homage piece, do yourself a favor and pick it up. This is outstanding value at the price point. You won’t regret it! I think the finishing is right there with my Hamilton khacki automatic, and that’s really saying something at half the price. I think San Martin should ditch the hexagonal logo personally and just stick to the attractive cursive font personally. Beautiful watch and wears wonderfully!
Thank you very much. It really is a great piece. San Martin rarely disappoint... Especially when it comes to build quality and finishing. If you're interested in checking out more of their watches, I have a playlist of all of the ones I've reviewed so far on the channel. ruclips.net/p/PLAvzyytvyE2dPF8JTFkZuKWpqzMUE__l1
It's a nice and well built little watch. The main issue I have with it is the colour of the printed indices and the bezel markings. I do like a little faux patina but for me they have overdone it on this watch, so instead of looking authentic it rather looks forced. A nice review James!
Love this watch! I think I'm the only person that doesn't mind the three logos. Such a good watch for the money. I have small wrists and it wears very well as the male end links and strap still flow in the right direction downwards. I think I prefer this one to the new Tudor homage.
Yeah this one is definitely a keeper... Saying that though, most of the watches I've reviewed are at the moment... Because I just haven't gotten around to trying to sell them yet 😆
Oh that’s a beautiful watch. If we could buy a sterile clasp it would be useful but I don’t think the hex logo is a deal breaker; it’s going to get scratched up anyway. Good review. I am not buying this one until the summer so I hope it will still be available. Maybe a version two?
Great review as always. I'm so tempted by this, bit as someone that has 2 modern subs in the collection already, I worry about its place in the collection. Do I really need another black sub?
I just got one via Steeldive UKs eBay shop. It's a decent quality watch, looks great though smaller than I thought it would be. If I'm being picky the end links on mine aren't as flush fitting as I would like. They appear to have re-profiled the protruding link so I don't know if this has affected the fit? That said it's probably still better than the original. Mine also didn't come with the tools! I'm still awaiting a reply from the seller on that point as the bracelet was a pain to adjust with two screwdrivers. Overall a very nice watch.
I've changed the mic for the intro bit. I'm using the lav mic in the video description. For the review section I've tweaked the editing of the audio a bit. Is it worse then?
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR no worries. Your channel and content and the likes of Gary at I like Watches, Shane at Relative Time, Dave at Just the Watch and Chris at Watch Chris are my favourites...also Jason the Watch Guy and Design Artellier. A couple of the very big american channels have started to annoy me a bit with the lack of attention to detail or lack of appreciation for lesser known or new brands. Maybe they have so many watches coming in that they have less time but Shane and Jody at JOMW are bigger channels and still find the time to do their research and not just tear open the box and trash a watch based on looking at it for 5 mins!
Thanks for the review. I have issues with all the different logos and I do not like the "rivets" on the bracelet sides. Other than that, it is a nice watch.
I'm not a fan of double screw bracelets. They're a pain in the arse to use. Luckily though you only have to do it once. Otherwise though I really like the bracelet.
I agree with the points you mentioned. Personally I would rather they just removed the shark on the crown and the awful hexagon logo on the clasp. IMO they are tacky and doesn't fit the theme of the watch at all. My biggest complaint is the bracelet. It's really nicely finished, but I would much prefer a non-riveted one with FEMALE endlinks. The male endlinks make the fit a bit awkward for my small wrist. If you were to be really picky you could say the bezel should have been aluminium, or perhaps the dial shouldn't have been matte, as it's a bit weird with a very reflective and shiny bezel but dull dial. Anyways the watch is absolutely great and I love mine.
Amazing watches. I have one with orange-brown dial plate. Im just wondering, why is that inside ring(chapter ring?) in black color(plastic?)? In other Martins this part its usually from some metal.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I’m sure I won’t be. I just ordered it today…. So looking forward to receiving my watch. It’s my first San Martin, I have many other brands, Swiss made.
Black rehaut is really odd. I don't like it because it clashes with the grey dial, making it look washed out. As if the shiny ceramic bezel insert doesn't do it enough already.
If you use the app is on for £172 as a 'fans exclusive discount'. I think you just have to follow their store to get that price. I think it'll probably drop in price a bit more during the sale though. Which is the 29th of March.
Possibly more homage to a vintage Tudor Submariner than the Rolex of the same period ? Case shape and crown size seem that way to me. But a decent looking homage product with the usual issues around bracelet and clasp found on a number of sub $500 watches. And kind of recent 'Tudor 58' bracelet ques with the screws to imitate rivets, personally not my cup of tea, but I know other folk find them attractive. .
It's got the look of a few different watches I think. Which I guess isn't a bad thing. It's not just a straight homage of one particular watch. Which some people don't like.
I wish Addiesdive or someone else would make a nice Miyota 2035 Quartz-Retro-Diver (be it 200m or 100m). The San Martin, Cronos and Invicta versions are all on the upper end of what I'm willing to spend and I have enough NH35s in my house.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I'm not scared of automatic snobs. Automatics are inferior technology to quartz. I've still purchased it because I like the look, and it is much cheaper than the 35mm tissot I liked 👀
You'll have to judge that for yourself based on the lug to lug measurement. For example a lug to lug of 50mm is about the limit for my average 7" wrist.
@@charlieromeu5748 Yeah that'll be absolutely fine then. If you do end up ordering one, please consider using my affiliate link in the description. As it really does help support the channel. But you don't pay extra.
I just don't like that Seiko movement. Much too thick in my opinion. I just wish these guys would use thinner movements. Not even good ones. Just thinner ones.
I agree, the watches should be made thinner with the ST-2130, PT-5000 or Miyota 9015. Bigger sizes mean jackshit in this market where there are so many 'sizeable' competitors. It would be better to fill up a hole in a market.
That's true. But, then you could say the same thing about the sapphire crystal as well. The way I see it, it's like buying an old house. You like the features, but you add things such as double glazing and central heating.
San Martin is the only Chinese brand worth your time, money and less headache and swear less! And I don’t work or associate with San Martin in any way, just many fxxking bad experiences with other Chinese brands....
![[DOKKAN BATTLE] Worldwide Campaign Announcement Video Part 2!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JpT5Voak6WA/mqdefault.jpg)
I love this watch for a bunch of reasons. I get compliments every time I wear it. To me, this is the true definition of an "homage" watch. It's not a one-to-one copy of the original. You can see the influence, but they added their own elements to make it unique.
They definitely did a great a job on this one.
Really nice homage! Don't think people can have the usual homage complaints with this one considering the rarity and cost of the piece it comes from. Good review pal!
Absolutely. I completely agree with you mate.
I'm not a big fan of homages, but the original is so insanely rare and expensive that it makes me feel a bit better about this one. Might have to pick it up when the next sale hits.
Well you've not got long to wait. Please consider using my affiliate link if you do get one.
I don't mind an homage if the watch it's homaging is out of production & basically unobtainium, so I don't have a Milsub or a 1016 but Steinhart & Smiths have got it covered & I saved about £180k.
@@piquetuk i had the steinhart 39 ovm. Great watch. I never wanted to sell it but i bought a omega planet ocean and they looked too similar.
@@piquetuk i was toying with the idea of a smiths Everest but still havent.
@@barryhearn8627 I've got the 42mm, the 39 is closer in size to a milsub but they use the hands from the 42 which always looked too big for the dial to me. I love mine.
Great review of a beautiful watch Dan! You pointed out many points that I missed on my review. As usual, I love those outdoor shots in the middle 😊
Thanks mate. It's James though, not Dan 😆
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR Damn you are right, really sorry my mind was elsewhere at 4AM :)
No problem mate. I know the feeling.
For anybody researching this watch wanting to buy it and use it on the original strap: don't.
I bought it in the aliexpress anniversary sale from the official store. 2 of the 4 screws I tried to undo, literally didn't open. The tools they provide, are just bad quality and damage the screws to the point you will never get them to turn again. I sent them a message, which they just replied to with a RUclips video that told me to use tools no regular customer has or to heat up my watch a bit. After that, they just started ignoring my messages. But at least they are still sending me messages to but more watches while the sale is still going on.
The watch itself is nice (although slightly misaligned), but at this point I'm so frustrated I dumped the watch in a drawer and I am turned off from buying an aliexpress watch ever again.
All the reviews were so positive, some even got the female end links, they got a signed warranty card, ... The reality however is that if you are not a reviewer, you don't get the nice treatment.
Channel just gets better mate
Loved the outdoor shots
Nice watch
Thank you very much mate. I appreciate that. I'm glad you liked it. I tried to make the outdoor shots a bit more interesting.
Such a good watch , great review James , and I do agree with your point on the logos !
Thanks Mate 👍
san martin makes a great watch. i have their pilots watch. EXCELLENT LUME, screw down crown and case back. 200m water resistance, sapphire, end of battery life indicator
You certainly get a lot of watch for your money.
Is that the panda-dialed one with the VK-64 movement?
Best release by SM so far. Thank you for the video!
This and their 62MAS homage I also have are both great.
This watch and the Invicta 1953 rock!
They did do a great on this one.
Just want to let you & your viewers know that female end links are available on aliexpress for less than $10. I’m thinking of picking up this model during the current sale. Good video as always!
Yeah I ended up getting them and did a quick video.
ruclips.net/user/shortsJu97rZnjnuQ?feature=share
Nice review sir! I own this watch (changed out the bracelet in favorite of a high quality shell cordovan leather strap), and agree with every point you mentioned! This watch is incredibly attractive in person. It has a wonderful feel of build quality, QC control, and attention to detail. I get tons of compliments on this timepiece.
One thing I really love that San Martin did was just stick to a simple, plain case back. To keep the price down, you always have to find ways to cut corners, and I love when companies skip out on the case back and pump that money into other areas of the watch. I’m seriously considering another San Martin. I am just floored by the quality here. Honestly guys, as long as you don’t mind that this is a homage piece, do yourself a favor and pick it up. This is outstanding value at the price point. You won’t regret it! I think the finishing is right there with my Hamilton khacki automatic, and that’s really saying something at half the price.
I think San Martin should ditch the hexagonal logo personally and just stick to the attractive cursive font personally. Beautiful watch and wears wonderfully!
Thank you very much. It really is a great piece. San Martin rarely disappoint... Especially when it comes to build quality and finishing. If you're interested in checking out more of their watches, I have a playlist of all of the ones I've reviewed so far on the channel.
ruclips.net/p/PLAvzyytvyE2dPF8JTFkZuKWpqzMUE__l1
It's a nice and well built little watch. The main issue I have with it is the colour of the printed indices and the bezel markings. I do like a little faux patina but for me they have overdone it on this watch, so instead of looking authentic it rather looks forced. A nice review James!
That's fair enough. It's not going to be to everyone's taste. Thanks for watching mate.
very nice review. just bought one and wanted to see what to expect. thanks.
Thanks. I'm guessing you didn't use my affiliate link then? Did watching this review make you more excited to receive yours then?
Love this watch! I think I'm the only person that doesn't mind the three logos. Such a good watch for the money. I have small wrists and it wears very well as the male end links and strap still flow in the right direction downwards. I think I prefer this one to the new Tudor homage.
That's good to know for those with smaller wrists. Yeah I prefer the look of this one as well.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR better price as well which is always nice
@@shanephillips8735 Hey Shane, mind telling me your wrist size? Not sure if it will look too big on my 6 inch wrist
@@thatoneguy9064 Hey dude, I have small wrists at 6½". It wears very well. I'd imagine it would be perfect for 6" wrists
@@shanephillips8735 Thank you Shane!
Love your reviews 🙂
Thank you very much.
I do like this watch...no doubt its a keeper right?
Good close ups and ofcourse the review!
Yeah this one is definitely a keeper... Saying that though, most of the watches I've reviewed are at the moment... Because I just haven't gotten around to trying to sell them yet 😆
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR 🤣
Oh that’s a beautiful watch. If we could buy a sterile clasp it would be useful but I don’t think the hex logo is a deal breaker; it’s going to get scratched up anyway.
Good review. I am not buying this one until the summer so I hope it will still be available. Maybe a version two?
Yeah it's not ideal, but definitely not a deal breaker. You never know.
Great review as always. I'm so tempted by this, bit as someone that has 2 modern subs in the collection already, I worry about its place in the collection. Do I really need another black sub?
Thanks mate. You could always buy it for doing a review, then see whether you want to keep it 😉 Once you've tried it though I think you'll love it.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR that's what I'm afraid of 😂. I know I'm going to love it. I think I'm holding off for their new explorer coming out soon.
I just got one via Steeldive UKs eBay shop. It's a decent quality watch, looks great though smaller than I thought it would be. If I'm being picky the end links on mine aren't as flush fitting as I would like. They appear to have re-profiled the protruding link so I don't know if this has affected the fit? That said it's probably still better than the original. Mine also didn't come with the tools! I'm still awaiting a reply from the seller on that point as the bracelet was a pain to adjust with two screwdrivers. Overall a very nice watch.
I'm getting mine from them as well, though I'll probably drop mine onto a tropic rubber strap
This was a really fantastic watch review 👏
Thank you very much 🙏
Solid review as always....has your microphone changed. .sounds a bit boxy?
I've changed the mic for the intro bit. I'm using the lav mic in the video description. For the review section I've tweaked the editing of the audio a bit. Is it worse then?
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR not massively...just a little boxy not quite as full...sounds like you are a little further away. Still a great review.
Thanks for the feedback. I added some noise reduction to it, that might be why.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR no worries.
Your channel and content and the likes of Gary at I like Watches, Shane at Relative Time, Dave at Just the Watch and Chris at Watch Chris are my favourites...also Jason the Watch Guy and Design Artellier. A couple of the very big american channels have started to annoy me a bit with the lack of attention to detail or lack of appreciation for lesser known or new brands. Maybe they have so many watches coming in that they have less time but Shane and Jody at JOMW are bigger channels and still find the time to do their research and not just tear open the box and trash a watch based on looking at it for 5 mins!
Thanks for the review. I have issues with all the different logos and I do not like the "rivets" on the bracelet sides. Other than that, it is a nice watch.
Ordered mine during the sale. Cant wait to receive it!
You'll love it. It's a fantastic watch.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR thank you! i hope so!
How much ?
@@AK-pr2nk The link is in the description.
Great review James. This is am awesome watch....in my basket waiting to see if it goes on sale.....
Thanks mate. It really is a great watch.
Very cool watch. 😎 James Bond would like it.
Yeah I think so too.
Thanks, man I saw it on the Aliexpress forum on WUS! So what your opinion on the bracelet with those screws? I'm not sure I like them... Cheers
I'm not a fan of double screw bracelets. They're a pain in the arse to use. Luckily though you only have to do it once. Otherwise though I really like the bracelet.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR Might look at getting one. Thanks
You won't be disappointed if you do.
I agree with the points you mentioned. Personally I would rather they just removed the shark on the crown and the awful hexagon logo on the clasp. IMO they are tacky and doesn't fit the theme of the watch at all. My biggest complaint is the bracelet. It's really nicely finished, but I would much prefer a non-riveted one with FEMALE endlinks. The male endlinks make the fit a bit awkward for my small wrist.
If you were to be really picky you could say the bezel should have been aluminium, or perhaps the dial shouldn't have been matte, as it's a bit weird with a very reflective and shiny bezel but dull dial. Anyways the watch is absolutely great and I love mine.
I actually really like the riveted bracelet. Although it was fiddly to adjust because of the double screws.
Amazing watches. I have one with orange-brown dial plate. Im just wondering, why is that inside ring(chapter ring?) in black color(plastic?)?
In other Martins this part its usually from some metal.
Nice video. Subscribed!
Thank you 🙏
I just bought one, it will be here soon!
You won't be disappointed.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I’m sure I won’t be. I just ordered it today…. So looking forward to receiving my watch. It’s my first San Martin, I have many other brands, Swiss made.
@@jasonwho000 You'll have to let me how the quality compares.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR sure will mate
Amazing channel.
Any suggestion for an automatic watch with bidirectional bezel under 200 dollars (not a Vostok)?
Thank you very much
Thank you very much. The only other one I've reviewed is this one:
ruclips.net/video/99oWt-8WDvU/видео.html
Black rehaut is really odd. I don't like it because it clashes with the grey dial, making it look washed out. As if the shiny ceramic bezel insert doesn't do it enough already.
This is the first time I'm seeing your face!
Did you miss the Q&A video and the last few videos then?
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I must have 😅
You'll have to go back and check them out then 😜
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR alright alright alright alright alright 🤣🤣🤣 (watching it now)
I thought that was a bit of fun, seeing as I always start videos saying "alright" 😆
Can I ask what camera do you use to do these videos? :-)
I just use my phone. The OnePlus 7 Pro.
Niceeee piece 👌
Quite a looker isn't it?
Currently listed at around £176 on alliexpress is this the sale price?
If you use the app is on for £172 as a 'fans exclusive discount'. I think you just have to follow their store to get that price.
I think it'll probably drop in price a bit more during the sale though. Which is the 29th of March.
Possibly more homage to a vintage Tudor Submariner than the Rolex of the same period ? Case shape and crown size seem that way to me. But a decent looking homage product with the usual issues around bracelet and clasp found on a number of sub $500 watches. And kind of recent 'Tudor 58' bracelet ques with the screws to imitate rivets, personally not my cup of tea, but I know other folk find them attractive. .
It's got the look of a few different watches I think. Which I guess isn't a bad thing. It's not just a straight homage of one particular watch. Which some people don't like.
I wish Addiesdive or someone else would make a nice Miyota 2035 Quartz-Retro-Diver (be it 200m or 100m). The San Martin, Cronos and Invicta versions are all on the upper end of what I'm willing to spend and I have enough NH35s in my house.
Yeah that would be good.
Yeah lol, I wanted this but in quartz.
Don't like automatics.
You should be careful saying that around here 😉
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I'm not scared of automatic snobs. Automatics are inferior technology to quartz.
I've still purchased it because I like the look, and it is much cheaper than the 35mm tissot I liked 👀
@@reet-ard1527 Have you already got it, or did you buy it in this sale?
beautiful watch!
Isn't it just. Are you tempted to get one then?
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR very tempted :) already in my cart ;)
@@ulysses14101966 You won't be disappointed if you do. Does that mean you've already used someone else's affiliate link then? 😉
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR just yours mate :)
Thanks very much 👍
Interesting review. Regards.
Thanks.
SM is not a brand. They are a manufacturer. Hence the mixed up logos. They need to get it together.
Can't they be both?
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR not yet. They need to market/ manage much better
Would it look good on a 6inch wrist?
You'll have to judge that for yourself based on the lug to lug measurement. For example a lug to lug of 50mm is about the limit for my average 7" wrist.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I have a 47 lug to lug, that works fine. So it would be ok right?
@@charlieromeu5748 Yeah that'll be absolutely fine then.
If you do end up ordering one, please consider using my affiliate link in the description. As it really does help support the channel. But you don't pay extra.
The ‘sale’ price for this is slightly more than it was earlier this month 🤔
I'm sure it'll go down in price during the sale starting on the 29th of March.
I just don't like that Seiko movement. Much too thick in my opinion. I just wish these guys would use thinner movements. Not even good ones. Just thinner ones.
I agree, the watches should be made thinner with the ST-2130, PT-5000 or Miyota 9015.
Bigger sizes mean jackshit in this market where there are so many 'sizeable' competitors.
It would be better to fill up a hole in a market.
I instantly thought the 9015 myself. That would be a nice upgrade.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR
Nice but noisy.
Trade-offs, trade-offs...
Does it still work well?
Yes it's still going strong, no issues at all.
What is the movement?
It's an NH35.
No pierced lugs. Shame. Good review though.
Shame about the male endlinks!
It comes with female endlinks now. Here's a quick video I did showing what it looks like with them.
ruclips.net/user/shortsJu97rZnjnuQ?feature=share
One could question the ceramic bezel on a vintage styled watch. Quite a nice result though, I would like one.
That's true. But, then you could say the same thing about the sapphire crystal as well.
The way I see it, it's like buying an old house. You like the features, but you add things such as double glazing and central heating.
@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I agree with you
San Martin is the only Chinese brand worth your time, money and less headache and swear less! And I don’t work or associate with San Martin in any way, just many fxxking bad experiences with other Chinese brands....
Call me crazy but this is one unattractive watch, I’d rather have the Steinhart OVM
You're crazy 🤪
Ya....your nuts