Expensive, But Is It Worth It? - San Martin Grand Seiko Homage Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ม.ค. 2025
- This one was a hot topic when it launched! The quality of this isn't in doubt and the movement selection is also fantastic. The real question is, is this worth it? This ones in curtesy of @TheWatcherReviews
San Martin GS Homage - s.click.aliexp...
www.thewatchgu...
/ jasonthewatchguy
Instagram - JasonTheWatchGuy
Email - jasonthewatchguy@gmail.com
#SanMartin #GrandSeiko #Aliexpress
I like the shark logo on the crown. It's a subtle nod to it being a dive watch without plastering dive or PADI all over the watch face
First time anyone's described a shark as subtle!
I'd have to agree with that one 😂😂😂
Easy Jase, great intro man, thanks for the shout out. I do agree though, it is expensive but you definitely get exceptional finish. Yes it has some gaps to improve but the way it feels on wrist is absolutely premium 👌
I think its better quality than pretty much anything on the major market for the same price. The real issue that have with this pricing is the lack of customer service and the Chinese identity
@@JasonTheWatchGuy yeh but i think people do need to start getting over the chinese identity considering 80% microbrands are chinese made too!
Thanks for the Great Review, Mate !!! I Can't get over the Attention to Detail on the Braclet. Absolutely Stunning Quality !!
It is amazing, genuinely loved it myself. The quality for price is insane
This San Martin Modell SN009-G is clearly a winner. I picked my San Martin Grand Seiko Homage up during the 11/11 sale with the PT5000 movement. The build quality and the outstanding bracelet is worth the money. I consider San Martin new good Mirco Brand and can’t wait to see new watch releases.
Jason! Please, keep up the good work and thank you!
No doubt this one is worth the money! Also nice to see the PT5000 movement being used. Hope to see it much more!
Thank you pal, I will!
It does look amazing.
Agreed mate, lovely watch
Hopefully if they make a V2 of this watch they make it either with no-date or put a small applied marker to right of date window to balance dial. Could also make applied markers slightly bigger imo. The finishing is incredible really, but that's to be expected from S.M.....a gilt version of this would be hard to resist.
I agree this watch has an exceptional level of finishing. But there are little things that put me off like the placement of the date window with an empty space next to it or the drab looking dial. When I'm in the market for a watch actually costing this much, these little things can actually be deal killers.
I think the biggest issue for me is the date window placement
@Jason The Watch Guy Jason I bought this and I wound up selling it. Because of the date window and also the indices just look too small for this size of a watch. It's almost 45 mm those indices should have been much bigger and the watch would have looked more uniform. There is just too much empty space on this dial. Ray
Exactly, a GS homage needs an exceptional dial and OCD levels of attention to detail, this fall's way short of that. The drab dial and absurdly placed date aperture, would really bug me. Lacks refinement.
I picked this watch up last year. I paid £200 for it. It’s a fantastic watch , it’s big but because of its shape wears really well. One down side is the bezel, it moves very easy and the lightest touch will move it . Excellent review
Very nice. Stepping back from buying watches at the moment.
Off travelling,soon.👍🏾
Which locations are you hitting up? Geneva needs to be on the list
Thanks for the video. I've been looking at the San martin SN019G for a while now. However, pricing seems to go up whenever I look close to 400 euro now, which is a bit steep for an AliExpress homage.
I won't get tired to reply the same thing: San Martin it's a great watch brand, it's overpriced though. Indeed The Watcher channel it's really cool and his host rocks!
I think I'd happily pay their prices for this quality. The watcher is a sick guy
@@JasonTheWatchGuy Tissot or an actual Seiko would be better imo... Even an Orient. Chinese watches are not worth$$$✌
Thanks for the heads up my friend 😎 . That is nice although a chunky monkey. I think I'd opt for a Samurai for the $ first. In other news I made a deal for my 1st gub Glashuetta 😇 ..
It is definitely a chunky fella! Ooft, congrats on the deal my man!
San Martin are just a great watch...have 2 and will get more. Gorgeous.
Can't blame you! I'll be adding to my collection soon too!
Love the gs
Nice watch but indices far too small should be same size as mm300 or sumo
Yeh I agree, needs to be more substance there
Excellent review Jason. It's a nice looking watch, and I would trust the water resistance. I have absolutely no issue with watches being Chinese, I have only 3 and all are great watches with great performance. The only thing is there is no real warranty and no global customer service with local repair centres and for that price it's a must. If I have a problem with the Tissot Seastar I bought recently, I can take it to a local Tissot service centre. If it was this, shipping it to China is probably not advisable given the cost and lack of security, plus the risk that a warranty claim might be rejected. There's a limit to what's advisable to pay for a Chinese brand and that's a fair bit over it. The watch is worth the money for sure but they need local repair possibilities.
You're completely right. The customer service over there is terrible at best most of the time and I imagine cashing in any sort of warranty would be impossible
Totally agree, SM is playing in the big league or trying too, with this model, while I wouldn't hesitate on spending this much money (£330) on a Chinese watch, I expect it to have a Swiss movement in it for that price. I don't see anything from San Martin that isn't available (in terms of quality) from Proxima and that would have a Swiss movement at this price point.
I have to agree SM is going he best Chinese brand that I’ve come across especially when it comes to lume I like to pick them up before making up my mind about buying the real deal specifically the size and how it looks on wrist I did this with their sla017 homage before buying the real thing as well and I was shocked as well at how they can make such a nice watch for so little. Recently I’ve been ogling the new hi beat diver from GS and to my surprise I found a pagani (my first ) of the same watch I’m interested in for $120 and I’ve had it for a few weeks and i have to say I’m even more impressed with what they can do for a third of the price of my SM SBGA. I’ve heard an seen some pretty bad QC issues with pagani but for the specs and the fact that I’m just using it for reference to decide if I want to go after this or another GS chronograph I’ve had my eyes on I got a very good example sure the lume is atrocious compared to my San Martin and the finishing isn’t quite as refined on the case or bracelet and the links are about .2 mm thicker on the SM for $120 to get a 200m screw down crown with pleasant winding and screw down action, a ceramic bezel insert with etched markings and lume pip that also has a nice smooth 120 click action with little back play and no lateral movement a chamfered sapphire crystal, and a solid screw link bracelet which the SM does not and it’s very tight fitting to the case and a solid fully milled clasp with dive extension something the SM also doesn’t have and a bullet proof nh35 under the hood is unbelievable to me that anybody can make a watch with all of that for literally less than a single link on My grand Seiko. I was so impressed I already ordered another that looks like a skeletonized submariner homage that features a decently finished hi beat movement with 3 day power reserve for like $85 I think I paid which is even more ridiculous still waiting for that to arrive
Great review, I always complain about prices and will do here also, however....one wee change and I'd take it back....chuck in a colour matched date wheel and I'd be happy with the price of both movements....you hit the nail, brand seems to be the only difference....the quality of finish is tip top....I haven't heard any horror stories regarding SM and they are now producing original designs....all positive good stuff really....🏴⌚🏴⌚
You know what Brian...can't argue with you at all there mate! You're on point. Be an exciting year for them for sure
Great review. It looks great, but.. for me the date, being too far in, ruins it. It will bother me too much. But other than that.. Yeah.. No more Seikos, no value there. I'd rather get a microbrand, aliexpress, Orient or Citizen, and get much better value.
Orient still have a lot of bargain pieces, I feel like they've taken seikos place in the budget world
@Juan Moore To each his own. Enjoy what you have and like. Let others enjoy what they have and like.
I'll consider getting a San Martin when they fix the marketing! The Shark and the Mario Bros "S" or "$" on the crown must go.
I get that! I think they definitely need to tie that crown in somehow
Apart from the identity crisis, the nasty pin and collar system and the mismatched badly placed date window this is a good looking watch. I am not sure I can square the value equation, would I buy this over a Hamilton? Not convinced.
The watch is nice but the deep coined bezel throws me off a little
I quite like it myself, something a little different
Looks like a high quality replica. Same as the guys who pay $500 for a replica Sub.
Ruined by the ridiculous placement of the date aperture and overly light bezel action (which might have been a single watch issue) Customary wobbly crown. Grip on the bezel I feel is a little aggressive looking for a GS (it is machined very well tho') With luck they'll get it right in the mk ii
For that price: NO. 150-200£was enough. They think they can put any price but for copies there is a limit. For that money you can buy a good original watch.
Better finishing, quality of the build, this more than justifies it's price. You can't cap it because its a homage, look at Steinhart, Ginault etc
Don't mind the shark but they need to be consistent. Their prices though, what they are reaching now I'd rather just buy an original recognised brand in the UK. Shop around for sales etc and seikos etc can be got for the same price. Without the lack of credibility an Ali brand carries. And don't get me started on Chinese shipping and customer service.
The quality for the price is definitely there...however I completely understand what you're saying, its hard to get past that brand identity and the lack of service that comes from a Chinese brand
Not one of my favourites from San Martin. Just seems a bit off overall.
I will however celebrate the day when we have they make a watch with the same brand logo everywhere 😅
That will be a really marvelous day!
I prefer the PD version of the GS diver, it's got a better-looking case (even if the finishing is not at this level but not much worse tbh), a cheaper and arguably more reliable movement in the NH35 and costs less than a third of this. I changed the hands for GS style ones with proper lume which cost me an extra $20 and it's now exactly what I want, as I said, you can't change the case and the case shape on the PD is better with the crown at 4 o'clock like the original (and has brushed sides).