I have a Pelagos 39 on my wrist right now - funded by selling about 20 watches - and I love it. I’ve worn it everyday since I bought it except when I’m gardening when I’ve stuck by CWC G10 on. Hate to be that guy, but the lug width is 21mm!
Jody is seriously the most practical and TRUE watch enthusiast that makes content on youtube. I seriously love u man, I've gained so much knowledge on where sensible value lies in this crazy watch world. The mental gymnastics behind brand heritage, movements, and swiss manufacturing are properly put in the backseat on this channel behind what true enthusiasts love the most. And I deeply appreciate it. Not the only down to earth watch channel i know, but your entertainment and consistency puts you above all imho.
And the best watch was ..........( drum roll)............The Tudor Pelagos That's the one with brand heritage , the best movement and made in Switzerland .
@@richardb22 i have replicas that look better than that 6k tudor. And have better lume. Only morons who wanna burn money to impress people care about heritage. I'll take the 96% functioning look alikes all day and not waste 6k. I'll never have to worry about such a silly decision anyway lol.
100% agree. There are some great watch channels on youtube but Jody is the most practical and entertaining. I think I fell in love with his channel when I learned how much he likes the cheap and cheerful Casio watches.
I got the San Martin in both Black and Blue and did some side by sides with the other SM BB58 models. Gotta say I love it and think they did a whole lot of right with it, including hitting a great price point for this kind of quality.
I helped myself to an Octopus Kraken. The dial text is cleaner than the seestern and I think it would be in woyh a good chance of King of the homages 🙂
Really interesting comparison.San Martin and Seestern both really seem to be offering great budget watches. Would have been nice to have seen these on the timegraper, particularly for a comparison on the Seiko movements.
I’ve had the Octopus Kraken in blue for a month now. Absolutely love it. Dial and bezel are matte (which I prefer). Super slim at 11.7mm and exactly 39mm across the bezel. One important thing is the bracelet matches the original (even staggered links opposed to the oyster style with offset staggered links). First time with a PT5000 moment which over a month has averaged -3 seconds a day. I wear it 24hours a day and I’m rough on watches as a furniture maker and forestry worker here in Japan. Best of the 20 or so Ali watches I’ve bought over the past couple of years.
As with so many things, you reach a point of diminishing returns. And with respect to all of the traditional watchmakers, they are overpriced for what they offer IMHO.
And that’s before you consider the no doubt eye-watering cost of servicing Tudor in-house movements that will also require your Pelagos to be sent off to Tudor (away for many weeks) before it returns. With an NH35 or NH38 you can get a complete replacement movement for $40 or less. And as an aside tbh it does not impress me in the slightest that the Tudor name was patented a century ago and its first diver watch was made in the 1950s, any more than I care if SM has only been around for 5 years. So what? A watch should stand on its own merits and not depend on some artsy-fartsy “narrative” (aka bs) designed to inflate the SRP above what any sane human being would pay for a lump of titanium that tells the time less accurately than your smartphone. Titanium sponge is
Got the blue San Martin and love it. Looks better than the Seestern (or the original for that matter). Tempted to get the black version from San Martin!
You're still the master at finding these cheap but actually well made homages. Correction though, the Tudor is 21 mm which is a bit irritating but this gives the San Martin and Seestern a slight advantage at 20 mm. I have the Tudor and it's fast coming one of favorites in my collection. I'd recommend looking at the used market where they're now dropping below 5k.
I had the Seestern Titanium with the Seiko movement. What's interesting about it is the caseback: On the Tudor it's made of stainless steel, but on the Seestern it's fully made of titanium!
@@ssnerd583 Titanium allergy? Titanium is widely used in medicine. I have 16 titanium brackets in my body for example. This doesn't make sense to me, because the bracelet and clasp is also made of titanium and touch the wrist.
Very witty with the reviews which i appreciate,too many people are way so serious in there reviews,jody shows the rest that it can be witty but serious when needed with spot on reviews..cheers jody
Jodie, love these sorts of videos. But a small suggestion in terms of format. If someone has anywhere near the amount of coin required to buy the actual Pelagos, they obviously will given what a great watch it is. So ultimately these types of reviews are really about the other two watches for us "Beer budget but champagne taste" folks. So the winner here is really the Seestern given the Tudor is little more than the measuring stick the two options are judged by. Interesting too that the Tudor with its inhouse movement only gets 70 hours of reserve while my $550 Tissot PRX gets 80 hours. And yes, I love my PRX.
@J T Wow! You sound exactly like me! It took me a little longer at around 2 1/2 years but I'm pushing 50 watches now. Do you think there is any hope for us?! Will we ever stop?! 😊😊
Ive read a response from San Martin that they won’t be doing it in Titanium as they feel the teeth on the bezel won’t work with titanium, which seems odd considering Octopus and Seestern made it work.
I have the San Martin version and I love it! Combines the more interesting dial of the bigger Pelagos and the slimmer and smaller case size of the new one. I like titanium watches but I prefer stainless steel so it's a win win. Also available in date or no date, I think San Martin x Watchdives knocked it out of the park. Great video, thanks Jody!
I totally get that. I have the blue SS no date version and I love how the indices cut into that second sloped chapter ring. I'm now addicted to that dial design and go 'euch' to deep, bare steel chapter rings. I now have the Ti version on order in black with date window at the 3 position, they also do it with a 6 position date window.
The P39 is 21mm lug width! You can clearly see the other two are 20mm when in your side by side shot. Schoolboy error Jody. It’s a massive reason why it looks so good IMO.
I have the SS San Martin in blue no date and love it, it even came properly regulated and is running well within COSC specs at +4 per 24hr it was a bargain at £170 delivered to uk, no import or VAT scam added. I was so impressed with it that I have ordered the Ti version, this time in black, yes date. Great review as always, thumbs up, cheerio fer noo :-)
I bought the ST2130, and the clasp! Will be upgraded as soon as I can find a nice titanium one... So different from a Subby homage. Thanks Jody, good comparison again.
I got my San Martin Blue titanium yesterday. I have the Pelagos 42 and love it so I’m not about to get the 39 so i figured I try the Saint Martin. I AM BLOWN AWAY! Seriously I could not be happier with this watch. You can support the purchase all the way from the “value” conversation to the “horological” one. Yes it’s Chinese, yes it’s a homage and yes it does have a place in the present culture, as much as we “puritans” tend to not like. This watch is a total success and can have a space in most watch lovers from many angles. Well done Saint Martin.
Eventhough San Martin did not get a 1:1 copy, it looks nice in the blue matte colorway, not into titanium as well, it is sold out, but knowing them, it is not limited, they will restock…
I gotta be honest... the first luxury piece I bought in recent times was the Black Bay GMT. It was about half the price, its size of 41mm suits me perfectly, it is dead accurate and has the GMT complication I use on the daily. I find it hard to understand the appeal of the Pelagos as mine has the same water resistance rating. And who is actually diving with these? Just my opinion for all it's worth! Of course, it is stainless and not titanium but whatever... Cheers all!
That SM is 'homage' done right. Ive had the gents Pelagos in black for a few years now (never handled the new 39mm ladies version 😊) - the watch is amazing and the clasp is genius, but you may as well make a watch out of play doh as uncoated tiranium - it marks if you give it a funny look; steel is SO much better. The SM is basically a 40mm gents Pelagos in steel and the watch tudor should have made.
How you can build an expensive tool watch and not finish the titanium for scratch resistance just seems silly. SM are great value for money and finished better than the price point.
IMO, the San Martin is what the Pelagos 39 always should have been. A shrunken Pelagos...that's pretty much it. No messy starburst bezel...no basic 200m WR...keeps the lovely cutout chapter ring...less billboarding on the dial. A cleaner presentation, altogether. Not a perfect match to the Tudor, perhaps, but to my sensibilities, better than what Tudor actually did.
After looking at the Tudor Pelagos, I recently, purchased the San Martin (in blue) as well as the Octopus Oct-10. Very quickly, I put the San Martin in the corner with it's nose facing the wall, lol. I must say, I'm absolutely stunned at the Octopus... the dimensions are exactly the same as the Tudor with one exception... thanks to it's PT5000 movement, it cones in at 11.6 mm thick, which makes it wear even slimmer than the Pelagos. Additionally, the bracelet links are EXACTLY the same as the Pelagos, both shorter and fatter than the San Martin (and fully articulating as well) . And as shown in this video, the lume is at least as bright as the Seestern, meaning better than the Pelagos. The only real difference, apart from the brand, is the movement (which I have no problem with), and Tudor's excellent T-Fit adjustable clasp. I imagine it won't be long before they 'clone' the clasp as well. But for now, color me extremely happy.... I got both these watches for about 10% of what I would have paid for the Tudor, and I won't cry crocodile tears if I scrape it or drop them!
Yes, the Octopus only comes in Titanium. I must say, after wearing it, I find it hard to wear any of my heavy stainless steel watches, as they feel so heavy on the wrist compared to the Octo. @@TombstoneTube
I'd be interested to see what you think of the Thorn version of the Pelagos, supposedly titanium and it has a high-gloss ceramic bezel insert. I plumped for the San Martin, it has all my favourite features of the big and small Tudors, especially the matte black bezel. £136 ukp in the sale and a £10 coupon that effectively means free shipping.
Jodi love your insight and look to your video when considering a new watch, but I feel like you where kinda a little harsh w the Seestern and San Martin. This video di ld help me push more toward the Seestern. I was on the fence w both. Thank you, keep up the great work!!
Yeah these are not homage. Homage means to take inspiration from. Seestern flat-out copies a name brand and slaps their name on it. Look what they do with Doxa. They skirt the line of counterfeit for sure.
I own the san Martin in black, I loved that it is still (ever so slightly) it’s own thing and not a 1 for 1 copy. That being said I’ll bet the seestern looks amazing on an after market nato or rubber strap
Love the silhouette shaped chess queen figure created from the wording in Tudor's from the top (+logo) - being the crown head, followed by wording on the lower hemisphere shaped as figures base. The chess queen's shape is absolutely clear; but does not hit on the first sight. Some thinking there !!!!
Jody great video.. quick content suggestion. I’ve seen a couple Japanese micro brand lists. I am beginning to realize most UA-cam content is a qvc commercial for Chinese watches when there are heaps of others from other countries. Any chance you might utilize some of your horological excellence in covering micro brands from Japan?
Really appreciate this comparison. I tried on a Pelagos 39 about 6 months ago and wasn't completely smitten with it to be pressured into the sale. I recently bought a photocopy from Watchdives under the Octopus brand. It looks almost identical to the Seestern piece except it has a PT5000 movement which I've tested to be as accurate as promised. So far, I love it - it's light and easy to wear daily. The clasp as you point out is probably the biggest flaw but I can live with it for the money. I feel like I no longer need to drop over £3k on another Tudor! Or maybe I will...
Just received my sm watchdives 39mm pelag matte black 🙏. I don’t know in blue but in black it’s THE BEST SM AMONG MY 10. Beauty and luxury feeling and matte black is awesome. Titanium is great in grade 5 but grade 2 like seestern is a nightmare after 6 monthes = scratch collector.
Do you have a comparison of the Tudor with the Thorn 39mm Titanium version? The hands on the Thorn are much better than those others with respect to mimicking the Tudor, plus it comes with either the PT5000 or SW200-1 (high beat) and currently at ~$169 US
The San Martin is 39mm not 40mm. It's a very clever clomage (collage) of three Tudor watches to produce the 39mm Pelagos that I wanted, a smaller and more versatile version of the clunky 42mm toolwatch with a much nicer blue colouration. You could say a true update of the last Tudor sub discontinued in the 90s rather than the blinged up luxury watch Tudor have given us. Titanium made sense for the 42mm because it's a chunky watch that weighs around the 150g sweet spot. Not necessary for the 39mm and quite a surprising choice because, for a dress diver, being easily scratched up is quite unappealing.
Great review. Looking at a homage of the Pelagos to replace my now broken Christopher Ward Trident Pro. Either the Seestern or Octopus for me. As for the bracelet these look so much better on a rubber strap.
Glad to see this, I've been eyeing up one of the homages for the last while. I might just have to go for it. You're a bad influence though Jody, your video a few days ago gave me the push and now I'm waiting for my San Martin GMT to arrive...
Can anyone tell me why the back of Seestern and San Martin watches are smooth and appear to be counterfeit? Steeldive applies its own logo on the back of its watches!!
They are sterile, not counterfeit. This mimics the look of older Rolex and Tudor models, and yes, it is also a corner cut. I have complained about San Martin doing this in multiple videos. Cheers!
Great review of a fabulous watch. The blue looks good, but seeing as Tudor don’t a blue 39, as yet, I’d stick to the black with the radial dial and bezel insert. I have tried on the Pelagos 39 and it’s perfect for me and this looks like it’s close to the quality. Also I’ve heard that the PT5000 movement is ultra accurate. I just need to flog my SK007…..yep, I know, sacrilege, right? Well, I think I can live with it, because this looks ideal as a one watch collection.
Seestern should keep their amazing case back with the "Great Wave off Kanagawa" on all their watches. I know it's more of a Seiko thing, but it's just so beautiful. Same with the signed crown and clasp, please bring back the sea star! Major turn off to see the pin between the bracelet links (13:25). I will wait for version V2 or V3. I also agree with everything said about the writing on the dial.
Maybe San Martin did these things/differences to be an homage in the truest definition of the term and not merely a clone? After all the feeling that I have seen in forums and comments threads is that San Martin is trying to take the next step up. Just something to consider.
I can’t believe how good that Seestern is for a tiny fraction of the Pelagos and it’s titanium and sapphire crystal etc, to pay thousands more for the Tudor when you get virtually the same watch would be madness surely.
I was surprised that Tudor uses Grade 2 Titanium as it is quite prone to scratches and less easily fixed…. ask me how I know! I have since ordered the new Squale Master X Palombari Del Comsubin in Grade 5 Titanium, which comes in at a third of the price of the Pelagos (as it does not have a bracelet). It is limited to 420 pieces worldwide, though. I look forward to comparing the Pelly and Squale side-by-side. Thanks for a great review, Jody.
I didn't buy on these last sales I already have a bunch of look a like watches to last three lifetimes ..I'm definitely saving and waiting for something with personalized styling without a huge 45mm size ..maybe something will come along used
This was a great comparison! One dimension no one ever talks about though is the dial openings. I would love to see you start to include that in your reviews. That is the biggest indicator on how big or small a watch wears next to lug to lug.
I have to say I tried on a Tudor and the length of the clasp made it a non starter for me. ( at least on my barely sub 7" wrist ) otherwise it looked great on just couldn't get the fit right. I'd be all in for a shorter length clasp.
I would like to get a Pelagos GMT version . San Martin does one and it looks nice but 39mm just looks too small on my wrist and is way too small for my aging eyes. Would love a 42 or 41:at the smallest. Not worried whether it's Ti or Steel
Really hoping you'll do a comparison of the Orient Mako Chronograph and the Glycine Combat Chrono. Really like the idea of a diving chronograph for its everyday robustness, plus I can't afford a daytona...
hey jody just figured Id chime in but I heard seastern changed the clasp to be smaller and more streamlined since too many people whined about the original clasp ( apparently it was larger and sat higher like benarus dive clasp where its quite tall )
$6500.00 USD, what in the hell does anyone care about paying for design, history are heritage. It's $6500 dollars for a $300 dollar horse and carriage 19th. century automatic that has to send in every five years for service at $500 to 950 dollars. I'll be more than happy to purchase either other watches and because it's a Seiko NH35 that can be replaced for $35 bucks if I ever have to, I'll keep my $6500 in my pocket.
A question for everyone: do you think that Titanium is the new 'Damascus steel' or 'carbon' finishing or like the Tiffany blue or rose gold a trend that will fade in a couple of years?
I love titanium, so i can wear a big watch that is still light. Also it is anti alergic for people having problems with nickel steel. (I don‘t but still like the lightness)
I've got a Seastern coming & chose the Seiko movement, for your reference. With a smaller wrist, I actually prefer the lighter watch & the smaller clasp. I do live near a beach but like most people, even if I wear a wetsuit when swimming, I don't need to wear a dive watch over it, so a divers extension is just something else to go wrong & adds weight. Great comparison by the way. Thanks.
Anyone who's serious about diving would never wear a bracelet-type strap on a watch. I count myself among the above and I would only ever use a Velcro or NATO strap on a watch I was actually using when diving. That way, the strap would be looped through both spring bars and so when the inevitable spring bar failure happened, you wouldn't be waving goodbye to a critical piece of equipment, you were using to time your decompression stops. but I am sure there will be a plethora of desk divers telling me I'm talking BS, but I'm just talking from my experience - and any serious divers I've ever known.
Hi Jody , a great head to head, I have to say I love both of my Seestern's. Will take a hard look at this if they do make a mark 2, with your recommendations. I notice I getting more adverts in your latest videos
Agree with your comments regarding a potential V2 of the Seestern. In my opinion, Seestern is offering a lot more value for money than San Martin these days. I picked up the Sub600t homage a couple months ago and it's phenomenal.
I am currently wearing the Seestern with the seagull movement. It’s been fantastic so far. The crown gave me a bit of a headache at first, really have to make sure it’s properly screwed down. I love the 3D printed indices and the lume is amazing. I simply cannot be bothered by pedigree and “history” when I’d never be able to afford a watch like the Tudor. The homage watches will just keep getting better. Too bad you didn’t include the Octopus Kraken Pelagos in this battle.
I have the Seestern in blue which has a fantastic colour, I also have the Octopus Kracken version in black which is definitely a better watch with great bezel action and the bracelet is closer to the Tudor. Clasp is also better. If you want the best homage to the Pelagos 39 definitely go with the Octopus Kracken.
@@Ian-dd5dm Octopus and Baltany are the same company, while Seestern and Sugess are the same. I have the Octopus in black, and went for the Seestern in blue. I concur that Octopus is a MUCH better watch by far, but that Seestern blue color is something special. I wear the black Octopus as my daily driver. They both need a better clasp.
What would happen if a company like SM bought a factory in small Swiss village and setup and assembly shop - use SW movements, imports cases and bracelets for their home factory and re-label to 'Swiss Made?' Certainly the movement and in-country labor would represent 60% of the product value.
The perceived quality on the Seestern is really let down by the shoddy edges & finishing, endlinks and clasp. If only San Martin would make a faithful copy... Bit of a missed opportunity to include the Octopus Kraken homage, which overall is probably the best homage on the market at the moment.
I have a Pelagos 39 on my wrist right now - funded by selling about 20 watches - and I love it. I’ve worn it everyday since I bought it except when I’m gardening when I’ve stuck by CWC G10 on.
Hate to be that guy, but the lug width is 21mm!
And the case size is more like 40mm with bezel
Jody is seriously the most practical and TRUE watch enthusiast that makes content on youtube. I seriously love u man, I've gained so much knowledge on where sensible value lies in this crazy watch world. The mental gymnastics behind brand heritage, movements, and swiss manufacturing are properly put in the backseat on this channel behind what true enthusiasts love the most. And I deeply appreciate it. Not the only down to earth watch channel i know, but your entertainment and consistency puts you above all imho.
And the best watch was ..........( drum roll)............The Tudor Pelagos
That's the one with brand heritage , the best movement and made in Switzerland .
@@richardb22 had trash lume lol. 6k for shit lume.
@@richardb22 i have replicas that look better than that 6k tudor. And have better lume. Only morons who wanna burn money to impress people care about heritage. I'll take the 96% functioning look alikes all day and not waste 6k. I'll never have to worry about such a silly decision anyway lol.
100% agree. There are some great watch channels on youtube but Jody is the most practical and entertaining. I think I fell in love with his channel when I learned how much he likes the cheap and cheerful Casio watches.
@@richardb22 considering the price it'll better be!
Great Review. Thanks a lot.
We and San Martin will release Titanium version end of this week.
And Dive Bezel GMT version is producing too.
Add some red writing on the dial please!
@Watchdives Will you be making an homage of the new Rolex Titanium Yacht Master? I would buy it!
Great news. I for one appreciate the 42 Pelagos features being incorporated into the 39 case with date! Thanks for a great collaboration.
@@sinjinadams2862homage😂 come on buddy its a copy just without branding name. Homage is something like watches from Lorier
NCSheriff7 Oh I know and that's exactly what I want! I know that's not for you and that's ok.
Like the fact you synchronize the comparisons . Great bud as always
Bought the San Martin in Blue with a Date. Couldn’t be happier. And I’m not even a huge fan of blue watches. Great head to head to head as always!
Me too just with no date. Got it for $208 out the door including free shipping and it arrived in 4 days. I love it.
I got the San Martin in both Black and Blue and did some side by sides with the other SM BB58 models. Gotta say I love it and think they did a whole lot of right with it, including hitting a great price point for this kind of quality.
I helped myself to an Octopus Kraken. The dial text is cleaner than the seestern and I think it would be in woyh a good chance of King of the homages 🙂
I’m really interested in the Kraken, £240 on Amazon, that’s incredible, I may well get one.
@@TeddyBoy7796 Do it! It's a kraken watch for the money 😅👌🏽
Really interesting comparison.San Martin and Seestern both really seem to be offering great budget watches. Would have been nice to have seen these on the timegraper, particularly for a comparison on the Seiko movements.
Well my San Martin arrived running at +4 sec per 24h if that's anything to go by.
I’ve had the Octopus Kraken in blue for a month now. Absolutely love it. Dial and bezel are matte (which I prefer). Super slim at 11.7mm and exactly 39mm across the bezel. One important thing is the bracelet matches the original (even staggered links opposed to the oyster style with offset staggered links). First time with a PT5000 moment which over a month has averaged -3 seconds a day.
I wear it 24hours a day and I’m rough on watches as a furniture maker and forestry worker here in Japan. Best of the 20 or so Ali watches I’ve bought over the past couple of years.
Get to family mart and get yoself a strong zero !!
Yeah, I heard a lot of good things about the Octopus Kraken.
I wish I could have seen it in this comparison.
As with so many things, you reach a point of diminishing returns. And with respect to all of the traditional watchmakers, they are overpriced for what they offer IMHO.
I agree though keep in mind we could all just use our cellphone to tell the time.
And that’s before you consider the no doubt eye-watering cost of servicing Tudor in-house movements that will also require your Pelagos to be sent off to Tudor (away for many weeks) before it returns. With an NH35 or NH38 you can get a complete replacement movement for $40 or less.
And as an aside tbh it does not impress me in the slightest that the Tudor name was patented a century ago and its first diver watch was made in the 1950s, any more than I care if SM has only been around for 5 years. So what? A watch should stand on its own merits and not depend on some artsy-fartsy “narrative” (aka bs) designed to inflate the SRP above what any sane human being would pay for a lump of titanium that tells the time less accurately than your smartphone. Titanium sponge is
@@borassictime918 preach!
@Borassic Time I would stick with an Apple smart watch if I were you, there is a reason why NH35 movements are cheap, they tend to be rubbish.
@@kbarnbrook4993 definitely more accurate 👍 But many of us are grown men. If you dislike the NH35 you are shit out of luck on this channel mate.
Got the blue San Martin and love it. Looks better than the Seestern (or the original for that matter). Tempted to get the black version from San Martin!
Added a 39mm titanium Thorn SHY036 Pelagos homage with a PT5000 movement and tooless links for $200. No date and 4hz beat looks good.
You're still the master at finding these cheap but actually well made homages. Correction though, the Tudor is 21 mm which is a bit irritating but this gives the San Martin and Seestern a slight advantage at 20 mm. I have the Tudor and it's fast coming one of favorites in my collection. I'd recommend looking at the used market where they're now dropping below 5k.
I had the Seestern Titanium with the Seiko movement. What's interesting about it is the caseback: On the Tudor it's made of stainless steel, but on the Seestern it's fully made of titanium!
Some have a titanium allergy that you wont get with the SS on the Tudor
@@ssnerd583 Titanium allergy? Titanium is widely used in medicine. I have 16 titanium brackets in my body for example.
This doesn't make sense to me, because the bracelet and clasp is also made of titanium and touch the wrist.
Would've been nice if they used that extra bit of titanium on a proper diver's clasp instead!
@@ssnerd583um, the bracelet is titanium too, so using SS must have been for another reason
@@ssnerd583 😂 Titanium is EVEN for people who get allergy from stainless steel Wtf u talking man. Titanium is anti allergic material.
The Seestern is pretty cool. Great video. Thanks for being so realistic and open to even such affordable homages.
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Very witty with the reviews which i appreciate,too many people are way so serious in there reviews,jody shows the rest that it can be witty but serious when needed with spot on reviews..cheers jody
I always go for the 2130 or PT5000 when I can over the NH35. The sweep is so much nicer and I have more fun serving those movements over the seikos
Jodie, love these sorts of videos. But a small suggestion in terms of format. If someone has anywhere near the amount of coin required to buy the actual Pelagos, they obviously will given what a great watch it is. So ultimately these types of reviews are really about the other two watches for us "Beer budget but champagne taste" folks. So the winner here is really the Seestern given the Tudor is little more than the measuring stick the two options are judged by.
Interesting too that the Tudor with its inhouse movement only gets 70 hours of reserve while my $550 Tissot PRX gets 80 hours. And yes, I love my PRX.
Every time I consider a Pelagos, I remember I have a no-date RZE Endeavour in my watch box. That is the king of affordable titanium divers!
I was ogling one the other day; very nice!
When I started watching your channel I had 3 watches. A year later and I have 59 and counting. Cheers!!!
@J T Wow! You sound exactly like me! It took me a little longer at around 2 1/2 years but I'm pushing 50 watches now. Do you think there is any hope for us?! Will we ever stop?! 😊😊
Thanks for making your background brighter. Some videos it is hard making out the titles of the books.
I wish Tudor would make a 39 with date and with the bezel insert (like it's big brother). For now the San Martin seems to tick a lot of those boxes.
San Martin will probably come in Titanium before the end of the year. For now i settled for the blue one. The adjustable new clasp is a great upgrade.
Exactly my thoughts which is why it is in my cart but not purchased on this sale.
Ive read a response from San Martin that they won’t be doing it in Titanium as they feel the teeth on the bezel won’t work with titanium, which seems odd considering Octopus and Seestern made it work.
Thanks for a great vid Jody. Just ordered the Seestern.
I have the San Martin version and I love it! Combines the more interesting dial of the bigger Pelagos and the slimmer and smaller case size of the new one. I like titanium watches but I prefer stainless steel so it's a win win. Also available in date or no date, I think San Martin x Watchdives knocked it out of the park. Great video, thanks Jody!
Same here. Agreed.
I totally get that. I have the blue SS no date version and I love how the indices cut into that second sloped chapter ring. I'm now addicted to that dial design and go 'euch' to deep, bare steel chapter rings. I now have the Ti version on order in black with date window at the 3 position, they also do it with a 6 position date window.
The P39 is 21mm lug width!
You can clearly see the other two are 20mm when in your side by side shot.
Schoolboy error Jody.
It’s a massive reason why it looks so good IMO.
The Tudor is absolutely beautiful. If I ever came into a windfall, I'd pick it up immediately. Just so tool-y.
I have the SS San Martin in blue no date and love it, it even came properly regulated and is running well within COSC specs at +4 per 24hr it was a bargain at £170 delivered to uk, no import or VAT scam added.
I was so impressed with it that I have ordered the Ti version, this time in black, yes date.
Great review as always, thumbs up, cheerio fer noo :-)
I bought the ST2130, and the clasp! Will be upgraded as soon as I can find a nice titanium one... So different from a Subby homage. Thanks Jody, good comparison again.
Great video, thank you. You have the most detailed comparison on UA-cam. I will be waiting to watch all such comparisons of cool watches
My night is infinitely better when that JOMW noti slaps right before going to bed 🔥
I got my San Martin Blue titanium yesterday. I have the Pelagos 42 and love it so I’m not about to get the 39 so i figured I try the Saint Martin. I AM BLOWN AWAY! Seriously I could not be happier with this watch. You can support the purchase all the way from the “value” conversation to the “horological” one. Yes it’s Chinese, yes it’s a homage and yes it does have a place in the present culture, as much as we “puritans” tend to not like. This watch is a total success and can have a space in most watch lovers from many angles. Well done Saint Martin.
And by the way, I do think it does know what it wants to be: a blue pelagos 40 whiz still doesn’t exist. So brilliant.
Eventhough San Martin did not get a 1:1 copy, it looks nice in the blue matte colorway, not into titanium as well, it is sold out, but knowing them, it is not limited, they will restock…
Those group shots really show how much the hex logo of San Martin does throw off the visual balance of a dial..
I gotta be honest... the first luxury piece I bought in recent times was the Black Bay GMT. It was about half the price, its size of 41mm suits me perfectly, it is dead accurate and has the GMT complication I use on the daily. I find it hard to understand the appeal of the Pelagos as mine has the same water resistance rating. And who is actually diving with these? Just my opinion for all it's worth! Of course, it is stainless and not titanium but whatever... Cheers all!
BB gmt is so thick
That SM is 'homage' done right. Ive had the gents Pelagos in black for a few years now (never handled the new 39mm ladies version 😊) - the watch is amazing and the clasp is genius, but you may as well make a watch out of play doh as uncoated tiranium - it marks if you give it a funny look; steel is SO much better. The SM is basically a 40mm gents Pelagos in steel and the watch tudor should have made.
How you can build an expensive tool watch and not finish the titanium for scratch resistance just seems silly. SM are great value for money and finished better than the price point.
Lol you are an absolute fool if you think 39mm Is for ladies😂😂😂
Just ordered the Seestern with NH movement. Thx 4 the review. Get going 🚀
IMO, the San Martin is what the Pelagos 39 always should have been. A shrunken Pelagos...that's pretty much it. No messy starburst bezel...no basic 200m WR...keeps the lovely cutout chapter ring...less billboarding on the dial. A cleaner presentation, altogether. Not a perfect match to the Tudor, perhaps, but to my sensibilities, better than what Tudor actually did.
For money...tough to argue. Would have been interesting in a Titanium option.
@@nickberetanos7541there is a titanium option now for only about 40$ extra
@@nickberetanos7541 FYI - they have this in Ti now, in case you haven’t looked recently.
San Martin actually does have a Titanium version now.
After looking at the Tudor Pelagos, I recently, purchased the San Martin (in blue) as well as the Octopus Oct-10. Very quickly, I put the San Martin in the corner with it's nose facing the wall, lol. I must say, I'm absolutely stunned at the Octopus... the dimensions are exactly the same as the Tudor with one exception... thanks to it's PT5000 movement, it cones in at 11.6 mm thick, which makes it wear even slimmer than the Pelagos. Additionally, the bracelet links are EXACTLY the same as the Pelagos, both shorter and fatter than the San Martin (and fully articulating as well) . And as shown in this video, the lume is at least as bright as the Seestern, meaning better than the Pelagos. The only real difference, apart from the brand, is the movement (which I have no problem with), and Tudor's excellent T-Fit adjustable clasp. I imagine it won't be long before they 'clone' the clasp as well. But for now, color me extremely happy.... I got both these watches for about 10% of what I would have paid for the Tudor, and I won't cry crocodile tears if I scrape it or drop them!
Interesting. Does the Octopus come is titanium? Is it an Aliexpress watch? Thanks
Yes, the Octopus only comes in Titanium. I must say, after wearing it, I find it hard to wear any of my heavy stainless steel watches, as they feel so heavy on the wrist compared to the Octo. @@TombstoneTube
This might going to be the most watched video this year - I think. Very good comparison Jody as always.
BUT - where is the bezel action?
I'd be interested to see what you think of the Thorn version of the Pelagos, supposedly titanium and it has a high-gloss ceramic bezel insert. I plumped for the San Martin, it has all my favourite features of the big and small Tudors, especially the matte black bezel. £136 ukp in the sale and a £10 coupon that effectively means free shipping.
Octopus 🐙 makes a brilliant one as well. If you’re looking for one be sure you look at this titanium pelagos homage as well.
Jodi love your insight and look to your video when considering a new watch, but I feel like you where kinda a little harsh w the Seestern and San Martin. This video di ld help me push more toward the Seestern. I was on the fence w both. Thank you, keep up the great work!!
Morning jody, very interesting, still can't get my head around homages, that said the seastern is feckin close!
Yeah these are not homage. Homage means to take inspiration from. Seestern flat-out copies a name brand and slaps their name on it. Look what they do with Doxa. They skirt the line of counterfeit for sure.
I own the san Martin in black, I loved that it is still (ever so slightly) it’s own thing and not a 1 for 1 copy. That being said I’ll bet the seestern looks amazing on an after market nato or rubber strap
Love the silhouette shaped chess queen figure created from the wording in Tudor's from the top (+logo) - being the crown head, followed by wording on the lower hemisphere shaped as figures base. The chess queen's shape is absolutely clear; but does not hit on the first sight. Some thinking there !!!!
I went for the Seestern with NH38, for I don't like crown ghost positions, and had a few issues with (better looking) PT5000 on some other watches
So, the Seestern version 2 with the improvements is the way to go, if no money for the Tudor. Thanks
Jody great video.. quick content suggestion. I’ve seen a couple Japanese micro brand lists. I am beginning to realize most UA-cam content is a qvc commercial for Chinese watches when there are heaps of others from other countries. Any chance you might utilize some of your horological excellence in covering micro brands from Japan?
Really appreciate this comparison. I tried on a Pelagos 39 about 6 months ago and wasn't completely smitten with it to be pressured into the sale.
I recently bought a photocopy from Watchdives under the Octopus brand. It looks almost identical to the Seestern piece except it has a PT5000 movement which I've tested to be as accurate as promised.
So far, I love it - it's light and easy to wear daily. The clasp as you point out is probably the biggest flaw but I can live with it for the money.
I feel like I no longer need to drop over £3k on another Tudor! Or maybe I will...
Just received my sm watchdives 39mm pelag matte black 🙏. I don’t know in blue but in black it’s THE BEST SM AMONG MY 10. Beauty and luxury feeling and matte black is awesome. Titanium is great in grade 5 but grade 2 like seestern is a nightmare after 6 monthes = scratch collector.
Those Recessed indices on the dial are killing me ❤❤❤. And no mismatch COLOR with black dial and bezel
I could see San Martin coming out with a V2 in grade five Titanium much as they have done with another of their watches.
Great video, but it's you missed the bezel test comparisons it's very important.
I see they have a V2 now with yhe choice of an ETA 2824. Bit pricier but as a pauper who loves the Tudor I am considering..
Great reviews as usual. I think my next watch purchase will be the Seestern!
3:48
Do you have a comparison of the Tudor with the Thorn 39mm Titanium version? The hands on the Thorn are much better than those others with respect to mimicking the Tudor, plus it comes with either the PT5000 or SW200-1 (high beat) and currently at ~$169 US
The San Martin is 39mm not 40mm. It's a very clever clomage (collage) of three Tudor watches to produce the 39mm Pelagos that I wanted, a smaller and more versatile version of the clunky 42mm toolwatch with a much nicer blue colouration. You could say a true update of the last Tudor sub discontinued in the 90s rather than the blinged up luxury watch Tudor have given us. Titanium made sense for the 42mm because it's a chunky watch that weighs around the 150g sweet spot. Not necessary for the 39mm and quite a surprising choice because, for a dress diver, being easily scratched up is quite unappealing.
Will probably get these SM in black stainless steel for now and get the blue once titanium comes out…just not keen on Seestern lettering.
Great review. Looking at a homage of the Pelagos to replace my now broken Christopher Ward Trident Pro. Either the Seestern or Octopus for me. As for the bracelet these look so much better on a rubber strap.
Glad to see this, I've been eyeing up one of the homages for the last while. I might just have to go for it. You're a bad influence though Jody, your video a few days ago gave me the push and now I'm waiting for my San Martin GMT to arrive...
Ugh.. Chinese knock offs.
Can anyone tell me why the back of Seestern and San Martin watches are smooth and appear to be counterfeit? Steeldive applies its own logo on the back of its watches!!
They are sterile, not counterfeit. This mimics the look of older Rolex and Tudor models, and yes, it is also a corner cut. I have complained about San Martin doing this in multiple videos. Cheers!
@@JustOneMoreWatch yes man!! I dont like it, I like with images in the back wacht!!
I picked up the San Martin and I love the stepped dial. Much more visually appealing and the finishing is amazing…so what if it’s steel.
i prefer the steel honestly. If u just want the look and not trying to fool people, its a no brainer.
The lack of the 3D dial is what ruined the P39 for me
Great review of a fabulous watch. The blue looks good, but seeing as Tudor don’t a blue 39, as yet, I’d stick to the black with the radial dial and bezel insert. I have tried on the Pelagos 39 and it’s perfect for me and this looks like it’s close to the quality. Also I’ve heard that the PT5000 movement is ultra accurate. I just need to flog my SK007…..yep, I know, sacrilege, right? Well, I think I can live with it, because this looks ideal as a one watch collection.
Seestern should keep their amazing case back with the "Great Wave off Kanagawa" on all their watches. I know it's more of a Seiko thing, but it's just so beautiful. Same with the signed crown and clasp, please bring back the sea star! Major turn off to see the pin between the bracelet links (13:25). I will wait for version V2 or V3. I also agree with everything said about the writing on the dial.
Maybe San Martin did these things/differences to be an homage in the truest definition of the term and not merely a clone? After all the feeling that I have seen in forums and comments threads is that San Martin is trying to take the next step up.
Just something to consider.
“seestern was founded last tuesday…”- your scottish humour is showing laddie…great review as always
I can’t believe how good that Seestern is for a tiny fraction of the Pelagos and it’s titanium and sapphire crystal etc, to pay thousands more for the Tudor when you get virtually the same watch would be madness surely.
The Tudor P39 has 21mm lug width.
I just bought the tactical frog fxd and I absolutely love it
I was surprised that Tudor uses Grade 2 Titanium as it is quite prone to scratches and less easily fixed…. ask me how I know! I have since ordered the new Squale Master X Palombari Del Comsubin in Grade 5 Titanium, which comes in at a third of the price of the Pelagos (as it does not have a bracelet). It is limited to 420 pieces worldwide, though. I look forward to comparing the Pelly and Squale side-by-side. Thanks for a great review, Jody.
Worth looking now at the Sam Martin SN0121T - Great watch!! and Titanium
What do you think of the octopus kraken?
I didn't buy on these last sales I already have a bunch of look a like watches to last three lifetimes ..I'm definitely saving and waiting for something with personalized styling without a huge 45mm size ..maybe something will come along used
This was a great comparison! One dimension no one ever talks about though is the dial openings. I would love to see you start to include that in your reviews. That is the biggest indicator on how big or small a watch wears next to lug to lug.
I have to say I tried on a Tudor and the length of the clasp made it a non starter for me. ( at least on my barely sub 7" wrist ) otherwise it looked great on just couldn't get the fit right. I'd be all in for a shorter length clasp.
I would like to get a Pelagos GMT version . San Martin does one and it looks nice but 39mm just looks too small on my wrist and is way too small for my aging eyes. Would love a 42 or 41:at the smallest. Not worried whether it's Ti or Steel
Really hoping you'll do a comparison of the Orient Mako Chronograph and the Glycine Combat Chrono. Really like the idea of a diving chronograph for its everyday robustness, plus I can't afford a daytona...
hey jody just figured Id chime in but I heard seastern changed the clasp to be smaller and more streamlined since too many people whined about the original clasp ( apparently it was larger and sat higher like benarus dive clasp where its quite tall )
Hey! What about Casio Marlin/Duro?
$6500.00 USD, what in the hell does anyone care about paying for design, history are heritage. It's $6500 dollars for a $300 dollar horse and carriage 19th. century automatic that has to send in every five years for service at $500 to 950 dollars. I'll be more than happy to purchase either other watches and because it's a Seiko NH35 that can be replaced for $35 bucks if I ever have to, I'll keep my $6500 in my pocket.
The IXDOA comes with an eta movement and is reportedly better than the Seestern. Close enough to the Tudor but you still have 6.5K in the bank.
Exactly says he who is wearing the SM 54 🤩. I’m so happy with it. I wear it to bed so I can look at it during the night 😂😂love the lume 🎉
Nice video, but how did you not twist the bezels?
Great show Audio levels are a bit low.
A question for everyone: do you think that Titanium is the new 'Damascus steel' or 'carbon' finishing or like the Tiffany blue or rose gold a trend that will fade in a couple of years?
Bit of a fad imo. Remember a few years ago where people were going nuts for bronze watches?
@@chrisc475 lol yup ... I picked one up ... although I haven't with the Tiffany blueish fad.
I love titanium, so i can wear a big watch that is still light. Also it is anti alergic for people having problems with nickel steel. (I don‘t but still like the lightness)
I've got a Seastern coming & chose the Seiko movement, for your reference. With a smaller wrist, I actually prefer the lighter watch & the smaller clasp. I do live near a beach but like most people, even if I wear a wetsuit when swimming, I don't need to wear a dive watch over it, so a divers extension is just something else to go wrong & adds weight. Great comparison by the way. Thanks.
Anyone who's serious about diving would never wear a bracelet-type strap on a watch.
I count myself among the above and I would only ever use a Velcro or NATO strap on a watch I was actually using when diving. That way, the strap would be looped through both spring bars and so when the inevitable spring bar failure happened, you wouldn't be waving goodbye to a critical piece of equipment, you were using to time your decompression stops. but I am sure there will be a plethora of desk divers telling me I'm talking BS, but I'm just talking from my experience - and any serious divers I've ever known.
the seestern red text does make it look real good 🔥
Please list with or without A/R and numbers of layers, etc. Thank you!
Ixdao tudor homage quality its even more defined than san martin...it'll be cool to see a comparison of both them too
Hi Jody , a great head to head, I have to say I love both of my Seestern's. Will take a hard look at this if they do make a mark 2, with your recommendations. I notice I getting more adverts in your latest videos
Agree with your comments regarding a potential V2 of the Seestern. In my opinion, Seestern is offering a lot more value for money than San Martin these days. I picked up the Sub600t homage a couple months ago and it's phenomenal.
@@thadeusbaggins9967 I have a Sub600T as well great watch. my only problem with these 3 watches I don't like snowflake hands LOL
my San Martin retro homage of the black bay or old rolex diver, is my daily and maybe favorite watch
How much is a pelagos selling now adays?
For the price out of the 3 I would take the Seestern. 6k is better spent elsewhere even though I like the Tudor.
I am currently wearing the Seestern with the seagull movement. It’s been fantastic so far. The crown gave me a bit of a headache at first, really have to make sure it’s properly screwed down. I love the 3D printed indices and the lume is amazing. I simply cannot be bothered by pedigree and “history” when I’d never be able to afford a watch like the Tudor. The homage watches will just keep getting better. Too bad you didn’t include the Octopus Kraken Pelagos in this battle.
how's the accuracy?
So which Clonelagos is the best??
I have the Seestern in blue which has a fantastic colour, I also have the Octopus Kracken version in black which is definitely a better watch with great bezel action and the bracelet is closer to the Tudor. Clasp is also better. If you want the best homage to the Pelagos 39 definitely go with the Octopus Kracken.
I prefer the branding on the Octopus. Do you happen to know who makes them or are they out the same factory you think?
Imagine there are a couple of factories and the brands ask for better finishing and pay a bit more.
@@Ian-dd5dm Octopus and Baltany are the same company, while Seestern and Sugess are the same. I have the Octopus in black, and went for the Seestern in blue. I concur that Octopus is a MUCH better watch by far, but that Seestern blue color is something special. I wear the black Octopus as my daily driver. They both need a better clasp.
@@danspanos Thank you...
the seestern offers far superiour value for money and quality is up there
Have had a watch in grade 2 titanium and - never again. Have a grade 5 San Martin watch and it is great.
San Martin make this watch in titanium as well adding $40 usd to the steel version at $238. You can get them lower with a discount code
What would happen if a company like SM bought a factory in small Swiss village and setup and assembly shop - use SW movements, imports cases and bracelets for their home factory and re-label to 'Swiss Made?' Certainly the movement and in-country labor would represent 60% of the product value.
I bought the SM as I always liked the look of the first Pelagos but never considered it because of it's dimensions. (and it's cost)
The perceived quality on the Seestern is really let down by the shoddy edges & finishing, endlinks and clasp. If only San Martin would make a faithful copy... Bit of a missed opportunity to include the Octopus Kraken homage, which overall is probably the best homage on the market at the moment.