Great review. I wonder if this is the best homage even at the $1,000 USD range as well? Easy to be the best at $200 buck price. I think this watch could also sell for $1,000.00 as well?
Nope, don’t think so… there is essentially NO watch anywhere AFAIK that’s a $1000 with an NH35A movement. It is much harder to be the best at $200, the competition is enormous and you have to shave everywhere you can.
Thanks, Ivan, for another professional and honest review! The point behind this specific model is cutting costs and producing the same San Martin quality and the (almost) same proven homage watch, but a bit cheaper. This is precisely why the clasp and the box are old San Martin stock, and the bracelet has friction pins and not screws.
The Submariner does nothing for me so it no surprise this doesn't either. The push pins and ordinary clasp allows them to concentrate on the bits you can see, looks very well done for the price, good value. I've never seen a watch on your channel that I'd like to own but I'm always interested to see what you show us next, keep it up.
hey Ivan, how are you mate, again??? ha ha. Currently I am writing this in Hong Kong. I have been in Taiwan, China & Hong Kong for 3 weeks and finally going back home to L.A. tomorrow. My first trip to China & HK in 3 years since Covid. So much changed for sure. Anyway, I went around last few days looking at Rolex watches. As you know, there are plethora of Rolex dealers in Hong Kong. Surprisingly, every Rolex was available for immediate purchase, including steel Rolex sub at around US$12K range. Still hefty premium, but much lower than 2 years ago and plenty of stock. As for San Martin, apparently, they are now targeting $130 to $199 market to expand their market share. They have cheapened bracelet & clasp "only". (however, I think that push pin is a mistake to do so...) But as you said, still they all are great value and I expect them to do very well in that price range. As Pagani was trying to move up in quality and price (which they are having some difficult time), I believe that it will be much easier for San Martin to step down and get the market share. As you know, it is always easy to go down on price from higher brand name than vice-versa. Thanks for the review, Ivan.
Hello!!! Oh wow great to hear you're travelling around mate! There are many Rolex ADs in HK indeed but I'm curious to hear about those dealers you are referring to - $12k is above retail so surely those are no ADs?? I think in reality any Rolex can be purchased with the online market these days... the issue is how much of a premium is one willing to pay and making sure there is a fool proof mechanism in place to guarantee authenticity. Good point about San Martin's moves and I think you're very likely correct there... still, not having screws and a glide-lock here means they very leave the window open for Pagani to stay strong.
They are now producing some of their own designs, I have bought a few. The SN0131 is amazing, and I reviewed it recently. They have just bought out a budget range, which come in the old black boxes, so I suspect the one you reviewed is one of those. Absolutely incredible value for money watches, and in reality so much better spec'd than a Tissot or Seiko. Ivan, they do supply a glidelock clasp on many of their watches now, but as that one is a budget model they left it off.
I sincerely believe that San Martin may have a collaboration with Watch Dive or really this watch is not an original San Martin. If you look at a WD 1860 it is clearly the same watch...same blue ar coating glass, same weaker bracelet, screws are not solid, packaging is WD... I think that for what this watch costs, it is not a good purchase. For €10-€20 more you have an authentic SM
Need to search as “WatchDives”. The site does list San Martin - more likely they took design from San Martin rather than other way around. That packaging is just a generic box and I guarantee you is *not* a designed by any watch company, definitely not WD. Look it up. And don’t be mistaken, this is definitely “authentic” 😂 What you mean to say is that for $10-20 more you can get a different SM but to get the Swiss movement Subby with screw links and glide-lock it would take a lot more than that.
Seems like San Martin has gooten the memo that at this point, if you're doing a sub homage you'd better be doing it right, or it's going to be lost in the ocean of sub alikes.
Just received a San Martin I purchased for the wife. I have two of the old style with screw in pins in the bracelet. Sizing this for her small wrist was a night mare. The new system is cheap and ridiculous. Each link has a sleeve, and a push pin that goes in. The sleeve automatically falls out each time a link is removed. The pins are a Bear to remove. Nearly just sent it back.
@@PerthWAtch oh, you are fine! It was a reply to the homage = fake guy. I would expect him to drink the expensive wine instead of the homage cheap wine according to his analogy. Lol
Then don't watch this video. It clearly says "submariner homage" in the title. You want to tell us that you would not wear any replica watches, then go ahead. No one cares if you wear real or fake ones lol