Seestern S434 review. A homage of the Glashutte SeaQ... or is it?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- Hello and welcome to another WNC review.
Today I am reviewing the Seestern S434 which is basically a Glashütte SeaQ homage but then it also looks like a Wolbrook Skin diver and many other watches as you will see in the video.
I talk a little about Wolbrook and Fears near the end of the video.
Affiliate links if you would like to purchase the watch. Doesn't cost you anything extra but helps out the channel.
Seestern S434
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San Martin SN0007G-X1
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Cheers Nick.
Great review! Really digging the two-tone look on this one, the blue and gold pair nicely. Loved the in-depth history lessons scattered throughout, you dropped a ton of knowledge. I’ve got the black/gold version coming in next week - can’t wait!
Thanks. I agonised over the black or blue for about half an hour. The black and gold will be awesome going by how the blue looks.
Great review and I really appreciated the look back into a bit of watchmaking history. Keep up the great work and enjoy the hobby.
Great review Nick. Thank you for going the extra mile to include historical reference to similar watches. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for watching Clay.
Brilliant review, and I believe you're spot on with the good, the bad, and the ugly. I was going to order the green, but I think I'm going with the blue. Cheers
Nice review and thoughts on the homage talk.
I've got the Wolbrook and it's an excellent watch....really looking forward to see how it stacks up against the Seestern.
Looking forward to the comparison. If Wolbrook indeed is using Chinese Parts, I would assume the quality will be very similar. Interesting indeed.
@@adk7962 the Wolbrook is very nice. I wasn't expecting it to be, but it's very nice. Nicer than the San Martin Sea Q I reviewed a while back in nearly every way
Cheers. I haven't had hands-on with the Wolbrook, so I avoided any direct comparison. I take it you've got a Seestern on the way. Look forward to seeing the comparison.
@@EscapeWheel Wow. Nicer than the San Martin. That’s saying something. Then I would say it’s definitely worth the asking price.
I also just recently picked up a Wolbrook. Not so much bought into the heritage as the movement and fine-tuning that was promised with the Wolbrook version. They promised a -15/+15 per day range and I’m happy to report only averaging +9 sec/day. Which in my book is pretty good considering Omega will tolerate up to +5. Miyota wouldn’t be my first choice but it’s been solid. Also better choices in a vintage aesthetic from Wolbrook. Went with the green indices/numerals and was very pleased.
Enjoyed this review from a comparison standpoint, very thorough. Cheers!
Very nice. I think you’re the first reviewer with hands on. This watch is definitely on my list of “must haves.” I always enjoy learning something new. I did not know many brands used the same design. Definitely makes it less of a Homage and more of a reissue. Thanks for the great review.
Cheers. Thanks for watching.
Just got the watch you have reviewed but the latest version . It’s a beautiful watch both in aesthetics and build quality. The crown is now larger and the clasp uses the same on the fly mechanism as the SAN Martin now ( I think it’s the same clasp but Seestern branded ) . You are in no small way responsible for my purchase , so thanks for that . Ps I received a black 2 piece strap , screwdriver but no spare screws but they came out quite easily so no issues with that .
Awesome and nice to hear they've added an on the fly clasp.
Excellent review. Homage or not, this is a beautiful and well made watch. I took delivery of this exact watch a couple of weeks ago and love it. The crown is too small but not a deal breaker. Look forward to your future reviews.
Thank you for the kind comment.
@@thewristwatchnewschannel Thanks for your reply. Credit where credit is due. You have a natural talent for this and your delivery is spot on. A refreshing change to other reviewers who are less than interesting, shall we say! 😉
Appreciate it. It's great to know someone likes my ramblings, ha.
New subscriber! Nice review and nice added history documentary.
Cheers, thanks for the sub.
great video! I ordered the black / gold during the sale - it's great to infally see this one on video
Thanks. I had a hard time choosing between the black/g and blue/g. Looking forward to seeing the black/g. Escapewheel watch reviews has got one coming in not sure if it's the black/g but he's got a wolbrook so it will be interesting to see a side by side comparison. It will be worth checking out for sure.
Hi Nick. I received mine 2 days ago and agree on the issue with getting an exact fit with the bracelet, hence I have mine on the elastic/fabric strap which is very comfortable. I think they should have used the same lumed batons for the "1"s in the 10 and 12 as the fitted ones area little narrower and don't persist at the same rate as the rest of the numbers and batons. Definitely a Glasshutte homage and a better case shape than the Wolbrook. I do find my crown a little stiff and gritty, and the bracelet pins are also quite stiff to remove (which they obviously know about, hence the spare screw pins). Great review though, especially with the added historical info.
Hi, I've been wearing it on the fabric strap myself, shame as the bracelet is nicely made, and usually on the fly adjustment is a godsend. Best on the fly I've come across was on the bracelet to an Omega Seamaster Master Co-axial perfect fit every time.
It's still a bit luck of the draw with movements in watches from Aliexpress/chinese brands, whether they are gritty or smooth.
They definitely used loctite on the screws.
I see what you're saying about the batons. Good eye.
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for this review Nick. That’s my favourite colour way too!
Thanks for watching. If you haven't bought one, keep an eye out for my giveaway video as when I hit a 1000 subs, I plan on giving away the S434.
Had the same Wolbrook-vibe when I saw it in the sale. Hope to se a v2 with domed crystal. Great review👍🏻
Thanks.
Thank you for nice review. I am glad someone know that this design is very generic and was used by many brands. I just wished they use top hat double dome crystal.
Thanks for watching.
I’ve just ordered the latest version in the colour combination you have reviewed . This should have the larger crown . I’m very pleased with my Seestern Sub 600 with the properly sized hands , so am looking forward to the watch coming . Regarding your comments about heritage I do rather agree as , for instance , in no way is a Chinese MG car connected to the iconic British brand other than the logo. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for watching. I believe the V3 has had a few more visual upgrades other than the larger crown. Better finishing, etc, you should be very happy.
Some claim this S435 is a homage of the Glashutte Sea Q. Not quite. The Glashutte Original SeaQ is arguably a homage of the "Le Forban Securite Mer" that had been originally introduced in 1966 for the French Navy, a few years prior to the vintage East German (GDR) produced Glashutte (GUB) diver from that era.
Therefore, the SeaQ is also, technically, a homage...and the Seestern S434/435 is either a homage or a homage of a homage.
went for the steel and blue
Great clasp, bracelet and yes,’ looks just like the Glashutte! Nice as Ice!!
It's a great watch. The subscriber giveaway video will be up tomorrow if you fancy having a punt.
Totally agree with you regarding Walbrook, however, I would be prepared to pay a couple of hundred more for one.
Doxa on the other hand have exactly the same business model and charge £2k plus for a Chinese watch. They don’t even assemble them themselves, use every possible trick to quality as Swiss Made and are on record as saying “Doxa is not a watch manufacturer “
That's interesting. I didn't know that about Doxa. I'll have to do a bit of research on them. Cheers.
Le Forban watches share the same kind of history with Wolbrook, established a long time ago, gone to the wall and then re-established by entrepreneurs with no connection to the original manufacturer. Le Forban too assembles Japanese and Chinese parts in France for which they charge 499 euros. Yet I bought both a Le Forban and a Wolbrook because I liked the idea of non-Swiss or German watch brands with a least a tinge of heritage. What the brands both did very well was the personal attention (hand written thank you notes) and very nice packaging. But I also bought two of these Seesterns because the quality-price ratio is unheard of, the clocks are very well put together and look awesome, although decidedly more blingy (in line with the Glashütte SeaQs) than the French watches.
Thanks for the insight into the personal attention. That's something I hadn't thought of at the time.
Great to see someone do deep research on the background of the design cues on a watch, stumbled across you channel by accident but looking forward to more.
Cheers. Thanks for watching.
I'm definitely going to buy this watch
It's a great watch. I've just seen that it's going to be $150 in the anniversary sale. Well worth it.
Very nice watch. The deep blue, the date, the glossy, nice balance and top construction. I prefer the Wolbrook but this watch have a good value, more than the San Martin. Stop making watches without date. Stop making watches whith NH35. Stop making watches whith mate dials. Stop making watches whith vintage lume. Thank you for revues, important pieces, and very very good watches from China. I love a bunch of them.
Excellent Taper! Why have I have not got this one in my box? Is beyond me. Target locked and read to fire. Lol
My golden blue is already on its way.
It looks like Wolbrook but I love Seestern's bezel lume. Great video! 😁
Thanks! 😀
I missed the part of the review on the micro-adjust clasp. Yeah that clasp I am pretty sure is a copy of the original Christopher Ward Sealander clasp mechanism with the ratchet system. People were complaining it didn't have enough adjustment points to get a good fit so they went back to the drawing board and made a clasp that has 6 points of adjustment (I just confirmed it on mine), and can no-longer be pushed in - you have to go at it with your thumb to adjust it in or out. This factor is enough to put me off this watch.
I think if I was to go for this style I'd be leaning towards the Wolbrook version, as I really like that two-tone BOR bracelet they have.
Nice point and review! Do the bracelet and case edges feel sharp?
Cheers. Nope, no sharpness.
If it came in black and fauxtina, I would seriously consider buying one.
You should already have black dial watch with "golden" details by now. So many brands to get that.
Glashutte for the masses!
I agree with you on the heritage thing. If you want to use the heritage, you have to be what the company stood for and stood on. If you don’t you’re just Unicron devouring worlds and claiming you’re this incredible thing when you’ve done nothing. If Wolbrook used Chinese parts and assembled in other countries then they’re golden.
Got to admit when I first read this, I thought it said Unicorn. I was trying to grapple with the meaning, then realised it was Unicron, ha.
@@thewristwatchnewschannel But that would be my kind of unicorn for sure.
Hi there great overview . As far as companies using a name/heritage to extract extra hard earned $ unless they are making the majority of components in house or at least sourced from the same country as manufacture then you are better off spending less on an Aliexpress watch . I bought a Seiko watch last year & was terribly disappointed to find out that it was only the movement that was Japan made . The wrest including assembly was chinese .
Thanks for the comment. I think if companies were completely clear about how much of their watches were chinese made a lot of people would be shocked.
Nice watch, great review. Thanks!
Thanks for watching.
i really appreciate your reviews!!!
Glad you like them!
@@thewristwatchnewschannel absolutely! You are one of the best out there!
Ha, not quite, but I really appreciate the comment.
Really interesting and thorough review. I have similar feelings towards resurrected brands . In Wolbrook's case it looks like resurrected brand name, without a real lineage to the original firm.
Current owners assume ( somewhat rightfully) that vast majority of their customers will not dig into nitty-gritty of the historic details and will prefer American-French company to a Chinese, even paying 120% more for inferior components (movement, bezel material)
Thanks. A few commenters advised me to look into Doxa. The Doxa name was bought by the Jennny company, and from what I've been able to find, it was just the name and access to the back catalogue that was bought just like Wolbrook. Doxa ceased trading in 1980, and then the Jenny family resurrected it in 1997. I see many reviewers touting Doxas heritage as a positive during reviews, but is it really true heritage when there's been a 17-year gap with a completely different company picking up the name.
@@thewristwatchnewschannel good to know! Now as you laid down to facts it seems to be the same for Doxa up as any other defunct watch maker.
Doxa, however enjoys much more respect
Doxa is another brand of dubious authenticity. Jacques Costeau's nephew went snorkeling with one in the 1960's or something, and several holding companies later they are selling a 500 dollar watch for 2000 based on the brand heritage.
Another commenter advised me of the Doxa issue. I've been doing a bit of research since. Now owned by the Jenny company who tried to put out their own line of Jenny branded watches, which were doxa styled from what I've seen but didn't take off, then found success by purchasing doxa itself and gaining that needed 'Heritage'. Very intriguing.
i like the history lesson you gave! very edcucational...
Cheers. Thanks for watching.
I think half-links are necessary when providing on-the-fly micro-adjust. Otherwise it can't be used as intended (unless you're lucky)
Definitely, either half links or a finer adjustment in the on the fly. I had an Omega Seamaster Master Co-axial for a while, which had on the fly micro adjustment, and it had such a fine adjustment, I could get an exact fit no matter what.
@@thewristwatchnewschannel that’s fair. 4 points isn’t enough by itself. 6 would do it though, but then your clasp is longer which can get uncomfortable.
These look great, just wish they'd branded these as Sugess instead as the font on their watches is closer to the Glasshutte logo and would have looked better IMO
The Sugess logo would have definitely suited the style of the watch better especially the gold variants. 👍
Great review. Love mine. Subscribed with "All". Cheers, Dis
Thanks for the video. I would group Walbrook and Seestern together. As far as pricing goes, does the Walbrook put more work into the case? Not all Chinese cases can be painted with the same brush. Cheers from Atlantic Canada!
San Martin is my fav
You're absolutely right. I haven't had hands-on with the wolbrook to make direct comparison. Escape wheel watch reviews just messaged and advised he's got a wolbrook to compare it will be well worth watching his review when it comes out.
Great review! Seastern please make the crown bigger with the regular logo (sea star), that Seiko “S” seems out of place. Would also love the usual caseback with the wave. Make those changes in V2 and I will buy it.
They haven't released it as a V2 as I think it's the only change, but if you buy an S434 now, it comes with a bigger crown. Still has the 'S' on it, unfortunately.
Nice one. The lack of a domed crystal is a bummer, it complements this design so well!
im hesitating to buy the s434 because usually seestern revised their products. hope they release one with box sapphire for the v2
Great looking watch!
Didnt they make the crown bigger in the second version?
Yes, bigger crown and a few other subtle changes on the v2 think they're on v3 or maybe even 4 now.
she look's good ! thank you .
Thanks for watching.
I own a Lausanne with the typical 1969 diver dial, and lusted for th eGlashutte Original SeaQ since it was released. That price though :-(
Now that San Martin (37mm so not for me) and Seestern (39mm) have come to market it feels that I will be deciding soon. Wolbrook is not really for me, they don't seem like quality to me.
Nice watch the Lausanne. Over £10,000 dollars is a heck of a stretch for the SeaQ.
Everything is great except for the crystal; it's a slight domed saphire; instead of the dramatic boxed bubble saphire Glashutte has
Question: any idea if the Wolbrook dial is also so far from the glass? Why do cheaper watches have that quality in general?
For a reason that I do not know, just from the images on screen, the Wolbrook looks more fitting to 2024.
It's the pinion of the Seiko NH35 it's taller than other movements, so nessatates a larger gap between the dial and the crystal to accommodate the pinion, especially if double domed is being used.
Oh, I am delighted to learn this. Per my observation, there are some watch enthusiasts, particularly those in the retail, re-sale or vintage business, who start with the dollar price of a watch and from there decide on its value or quality. So I learned from them this week that the gap from dial to glass was an indicator of a cheap watch. I heard this in a review of Invicta divers. I am not at all an Invicta-stan or detractor; I have never touched one. Nor am I a watch expert at all. But I had a sense that the reviewer was grasping for reasons to hate it when what he detests is its price. (Many may also dislike the company's garish watches, sales tactics, & the owners' use of their wealth but that is something else.) And then I started looking around at watches like Marathon's and saw quite a gap from dial to crystal. And I saw the same reviewer praise a watch from a cool micro-brand (probably another that uses the Seiko NH35) that also has such depth. Being from Los Angeles, I know how hard it can be to assess value when price and social class taste are pushing in the other direction, so I can't be too critical of the reviewer. But I am so happy to have this bit of info. The movement seems to rule so much else in watch design. @@thewristwatchnewschannel
You'll find a lot of inconsistencies with reviews, especially if the reviewer is being paid. The NH35 made it possible for a lot of these chinese brands to get going. Back in the day, a Loreo was considered good quality as a chinese brand. Now, the likes of San Martin are knocking on the door of the Swiss entry-level brands and in many technical ways, surpassing quite a few. Invicta is not for me more because of the designs rather than anything else.
Oh, I want to add that after your review I was curious about Wolbrook's ownership. It seems like it is Clinton Watch Co. So I fell into that rabbit hole and tried to learn something about them. I did not really succeed. Clinton was once a very well-known brand in the US. The watch-assembling founders had emigrated from Kiev to Chicago after the Russian Revolution and there started the company; their relatives started Marathon. At one point they owned Belrus. Now some finance guys are teaming with Bulova people to try to revive Belrus and they seem to have some nice designs.... Looking at Invicta & some other names on Jomashop site, all based in Hollywood, Florida (Florida and Utah are states known to be home to many scurrilous firms) and looking at the many watch brands of a company called Resultsco, I am wondering if there is something about the watch business that lends itself to dark operators. Do you know if anyone is vlogging or writing about this subject?
Once you get over the badge, get over the “homage”… this is actually a well made and ok watch for the money. Im ok with this watch.
Ps
Of course heritage matters, and worth 200 sMucks or Squids or Neuro 😎😎😎...
And thx for talking about old Fears! Soooo uncommon! 🔝
I don't think the heritage of dead watch brands that have been reanimated like the monster Frankenstein are valid. Same goes for Blancpain, Vulcain, Nivada Grenchen and a slew other other revived brands. They are all homage makers but at least can claim to be the "true homage" if that makes sense. Doesn't mean they aren't good watches though. Let's not forget that Rolex is built on "fake it till you make it" (aided by very clever marketing), so I'm sure if these brands get enough new history under the bridge then the glaring gaps in their continuity as a brand will become less important over time.
Justify it however you want but you know that these are knockoffs of the real thing. No different than wearing a Rolex homage or a Chinese lookalike iPhone.
very good and through review. But I don't think superimposing yourself on this WNC news thingy does you any favors.
Cheers for comment. Unfortunately, I can only film in a small box room or the kitchen, which is why I started with the WNC background. I'd appreciate any suggestions that could be better, though.
I getcha. Its different. But I think even a small area with the right lighting would be better. Just my opinion, the content is great and better than most. Cheers! @@thewristwatchnewschannel
I find sunburst blue dials wash out very easily.
Could the problem be blue dial with blue AR?. The Octopus Kraken had a matt dial. I had an Omega AT with a blue dial and clear AR for a while. I never experienced that washout. Quality of AR/Crystal, maybe?
Where are you based?
Wales
How comes people criticize companies such as Pagani Design / San Martin etc. for copying watches when larger companies like Seiko and citizen have been "influenced" by more luxury designs for years. And this model is literally a homage of tissot prx. Seiko has been copying rolex gmts, daytona in their recent Speedtimer chrono. Every brand does it but if a chinese brand does it its bad. They're literally giving a Nh34 gmt for 50 pounds with a sapphire crystal 100m water resistant and then u look at seiko's GMT no sapphire chunky and misaligned dial for 350 pounds. People who still think that brand like seiko and citizen are bang for the buck are either blind or doesn't even know shet about watches.
I lost love for many Swiss entry-level brands as well. When I discovered the quality you can get from the Chinese manufacturers. Having 'Swiss made' on the dial doesn't mean much if the watch isn't as good.
It's the same thing with Doxa. There's no heritage there , they went out of business and someone bought the name and now produces overpriced watches no better than a 200 dollar Seestern at 10x the price
Exactly,and Doxa states they “are not a watch manufacturer”.They barely meet the requirements to be called “Swiss Made”.A Seestern Sob600T etc or the S434 are 90% of the watch they are homaging.
How comes people criticize companies such as Pagani Design / San Martin etc. for copying watches when larger companies like Seiko and citizen have been "influenced" by more luxury designs for years. And this model is literally a homage of tissot prx. Seiko has been copying rolex gmts, daytona in their recent Speedtimer chrono. Every brand does it but if a chinese brand does it its bad. They're literally giving a Nh34 gmt for 50 pounds with a sapphire crystal 100m water resistant and then u look at seiko's GMT no sapphire chunky and misaligned dial for 350 pounds. People who still think that brand like seiko and citizen are bang for the buck are either blind or doesn't even know shet about watches.
Good watch but for this price they could put better movement
What movement would you have preferred?
@@thewristwatchnewschannel PT5000 at least
Are you Welsh
Oes.
👀
Somehow I just don't like this one
..thanks for the vid
Got dizzy watching your arms
Ha, apologies.
I'd rather have a watch assembeled in China, than one assembeled in France 😂
The pronunciaton of GLASHÜTTE is more or less correct. But SEESTERN is GERMAN as well, so your anglo-pronounciation is, one more time, WRONG, sorry. 😈
SEESTERN is no SEE-STERN
but rather
S (like a Z)
E (like Egg)
E (like Egg)
S (like Shine)
TERN.
Danke vielmals und sei gut mit deutsche Sprache! 😂😇😎
Ha, thanks, Seesten, unfortunately, is the least of my pronunciation worries.
@@thewristwatchnewschannel easy to improve your skills: before shooting a video just take your time to check out the right formula in french, italian, german, russian, japanese or anything else just finding the right original sources of the maison horologère! 😎 No more BLANPAAAN, PÈNERAI, LENG AND SON etc... 🤣😇😵💫
" homage ", really ? It's a 💯% CHINESE COPY.
PS. I just checked Seestern web page. Cheapest tourbillon watches ever ( hopefully working ones ) and plenty of so called " homage ", really just plain copys of Doxa, Rolex, Tudor and even Seiko.
Why would you do a review of a copy watch ? Not enough a proper legit product around ?
I hope to review more microbrands and established brands in the future. My current financial situation dictates what I can review.
IMO, homages have their place within the watchspace ecosystem. Always have, always will. Not sure if you watched the video. One of my points made was that Glashuttes design came out after Wolbrook back in the 60s as Wolbrook released their skindiver in the early 60s where as Glashutte in 1969. Glasutte's Sea Q is based on that design from the 69, so you could say it's a homage.
No Hommage. A fake
Wouldn't a fake have a fake label on it?
just because a manufacturer puts their own logo on a fake doesn't change the fact that it remains a fake
Levi Strauss invented blue jeans. Are the thousands of other blue jean brands just fake Levis?