Prices have reduced since producing the video. see my links below: 1st Watch SN0026-G-JS s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCmMWbV 2nd Watch SN0075-G-B s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkwfBoj
I agree "24 hour" complications are pointless on quartz watches, but on an automatic it at least lets you know where the watch is in terms of the date advancing when setting the time (which happens often when you have multiple automatic watches!)
I honestly wasn't expecting to prefer the meca-quartz more than the automatic, but I'm with you. The Nautilus has been homaged to extinction at this point and even though the panda dial screams Daytona, and the flat industrial bezel with screws has been everywhere the past few years, I definitely think that if the two it's the more interesting design. Great review as always.
What a fantastic piece!, so many little details and so fun to look at. I wish they would get rid of the sterile case backs though! But great review! I’m subscribed
Great thorough reviews as always. I feel for San Martin, they make very high quality watches and unlike other Chinese brands are ready to try their own designs. It is depressing that the homages always seem to sell better. However, I think they have done it with the sn0116g GMT watch, finally I've found one of their designs I couldn't fault, so I bought one and I believe they have sold two hundred, so I'm not alone 👍
Thanks, yes the 0116 is a lovely model and one I have been considering, they are now making other colourways on it. Probably because the sales on that model were very high. One of the founders of SM said on Instagram that they make the homage because they sell really well whereas their own designs dont and as a result of the R&D to come up with them combined with low sales means they are a loss item for them.
thanks for sharing Mike...as a watchenthousiast and collector I always have a double feeling with these kind of "homage" watches...steal a design form another manufacturer and just put on your own logo...Davosa, Steinhart, Ginault, Pagani, Parnis ect.....there are many...
Loom on the San Martin I got here works well Could still read the clock very well at 23:30h. Went inside after that time. Been out side watching the Moon and Saturn, and some odd stars :)
I don’t think it’s overpriced. I paid 350 for a Straton with the _VK Please note the sale prices are now in force and that one is now actually £150 which is considerably cheaper than the price I shown in the review.
Hands down I like the first design better. But a bit pricey. ESPECIALLY the automatic version of it. I just don’t understand SM prices. I have to believe when they make an original, they are making it from the ground up whereas the Homages come from a parts bin albeit an expensive one. Thanks for the great reviews!
I love that panda on the first one, but the butterfly on these big-headed watches is a deal breaker. I can just imagine the head flopping around like mad, or the watch being too tight.
The clasp is a shame especially as I shown a light blue photo of my other version (non Chrono) and that has a stunning bracelet with normal clasp. Review of that one is on my other channel though .
Number two looks better :) And I actually understand the three little clocks. It has more heads that a Philishave though :) And nope, baby blue does not work.:)
VK63 two strikes against it for me - 1, that butterfly clasp, I've got one on another watch, and ended up taking it off because I could never get it right, and 2, it's battery-quartz, which means that every year or so, you have to break the seal to put a new battery in! (and you can bet your last penny it will die at the most inconvenient moment - and the local shops won't have one in! When I first glimpsed it, I hoped it would be an automatic.
I like the chronograph and there's a fair bit of reduction in the sale. I think I prefer the naughty lass although in light blue with the rubber strap, not too sure why.
I bought the naughty lass without the calendar and it is a thing of beauty - think I paid aroud 250 for it but it was worth every penny and more imo - - stunner of a watch
Typical.. the one time they use a 9 series they put it in a horror of a watch that's too big, expensive & busy regardless of how well its finished , Sm same old same old neither my cup of tea & the sooner this integrated bracelet fad is done with the better imo.
I agree the green one is not to everyones taste. They did reduce it considerably more in the sale compared to the price I shown in the review. Think it was more like £150 in the sale.
Maybe so but everything comes out of China and you can’t put the gene back in the bottle now. You could not avoid their products if you tried. A considerable amount of steel comes from china now too. I buy 100 tons a year in my day job alone.
Prices have reduced since producing the video. see my links below:
1st Watch SN0026-G-JS s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCmMWbV
2nd Watch SN0075-G-B s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkwfBoj
I agree "24 hour" complications are pointless on quartz watches, but on an automatic it at least lets you know where the watch is in terms of the date advancing when setting the time (which happens often when you have multiple automatic watches!)
I honestly wasn't expecting to prefer the meca-quartz more than the automatic, but I'm with you. The Nautilus has been homaged to extinction at this point and even though the panda dial screams Daytona, and the flat industrial bezel with screws has been everywhere the past few years, I definitely think that if the two it's the more interesting design. Great review as always.
I do like that white on the dial. reminds me a bit like the grand seiko snow flake vibe.
What a fantastic piece!, so many little details and so fun to look at. I wish they would get rid of the sterile case backs though! But great review! I’m subscribed
Thanks for your subscription.
Great thorough reviews as always. I feel for San Martin, they make very high quality watches and unlike other Chinese brands are ready to try their own designs. It is depressing that the homages always seem to sell better. However, I think they have done it with the sn0116g GMT watch, finally I've found one of their designs I couldn't fault, so I bought one and I believe they have sold two hundred, so I'm not alone 👍
Thanks, yes the 0116 is a lovely model and one I have been considering, they are now making other colourways on it. Probably because the sales on that model were very high. One of the founders of SM said on Instagram that they make the homage because they sell really well whereas their own designs dont and as a result of the R&D to come up with them combined with low sales means they are a loss item for them.
thanks for sharing Mike...as a watchenthousiast and collector I always have a double feeling with these kind of "homage" watches...steal a design form another manufacturer and just put on your own logo...Davosa, Steinhart, Ginault, Pagani, Parnis ect.....there are many...
Loom on the San Martin I got here works well Could still read the clock very well at 23:30h. Went inside after that time. Been out side watching the Moon and Saturn, and some odd stars :)
2 nice ones there, although i'll agree with you on the annoyance of butterfly clasps, if they fit it's fine if they don't ouch
I have to say, I’m not sold on either watches, designs just a little too busy for me. Thanks for a great review as always buddy
That’s fair enough Darren.
The 75G in blue, nice review, but the 26G is a LOT for a VK63 movement?
I don’t think it’s overpriced. I paid 350 for a Straton with the _VK
Please note the sale prices are now in force and that one is now actually £150 which is considerably cheaper than the price I shown in the review.
Hands down I like the first design better. But a bit pricey. ESPECIALLY the automatic version of it. I just don’t understand SM prices. I have to believe when they make an original, they are making it from the ground up whereas the Homages come from a parts bin albeit an expensive one. Thanks for the great reviews!
I love that panda on the first one, but the butterfly on these big-headed watches is a deal breaker. I can just imagine the head flopping around like mad, or the watch being too tight.
The clasp is a shame especially as I shown a light blue photo of my other version (non Chrono) and that has a stunning bracelet with normal clasp.
Review of that one is on my other channel though .
Nice review, Mike.
My preference on this occasion probably the mecaquartz. Despite the butterfly clasp.
Not a fan of the automatic style.
I didnt catch what it was you didnt like about the second one?
Number two looks better :) And I actually understand the three little clocks. It has more heads that a Philishave though :) And nope, baby blue does not work.:)
VK63 two strikes against it for me - 1, that butterfly clasp, I've got one on another watch, and ended up taking it off because I could never get it right, and 2, it's battery-quartz, which means that every year or so, you have to break the seal to put a new battery in! (and you can bet your last penny it will die at the most inconvenient moment - and the local shops won't have one in! When I first glimpsed it, I hoped it would be an automatic.
I like the chronograph and there's a fair bit of reduction in the sale. I think I prefer the naughty lass although in light blue with the rubber strap, not too sure why.
I bought the naughty lass without the calendar and it is a thing of beauty - think I paid aroud 250 for it but it was worth every penny and more imo - - stunner of a watch
I didn't get either of these, but I did follow your link for a different San Marten I've been wanting.
Thank you.
I can see hat it's 87 dollars now, at the end of October for the panda chrono.
“Most of us can judge when it is the morning and when it is the night”😂
haha
I like the 24 hr subdial for military time.
That’s so obvious now! Never once crossed my mind 😂. Thanks for making me see sense
I usualy would choose the mechanical movement, but this time I favor the vk63 quartz one, plus the pathec phillipe style case I simply don't like it
A bit disappointed at the plastic movement holder tbh 🤔
It's a 20 quid movement.
In fact, it is not that the plastic movement holder is cheap, it has a better anti-shock effect than the metal movement holder.
Would’ve liked to see the first one on alternative straps, I don’t really wear bracelets😅
Sorry about that .
Typical.. the one time they use a 9 series they put it in a horror of a watch that's too big, expensive & busy regardless of how well its finished , Sm same old same old neither my cup of tea & the sooner this integrated bracelet fad is done with the better imo.
I agree the green one is not to everyones taste. They did reduce it considerably more in the sale compared to the price I shown in the review. Think it was more like £150 in the sale.
If we all stopped buying Chinese watches, the CCP would fail much sooner.
Maybe so but everything comes out of China and you can’t put the gene back in the bottle now. You could not avoid their products if you tried. A considerable amount of steel comes from china now too. I buy 100 tons a year in my day job alone.
the watches are one thing they're actually getting right