How ON EARTH Are These Incredible Watches SO Cheap?! 🤯
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มี.ค. 2024
- 🛒 WATCHES FEATURED (Affiliate)
AD2030 on AliExpress ➡ s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DD6...
AD2030 on Addiesdive website ➡ sovrn.co/ttwsy4f
AD2030 on Amazon ➡ geni.us/addiesdivead2030
AD2118 on AliExpress ➡ s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCk...
AD2118 on Addiesdive website ➡ sovrn.co/kn136hc
AD2118 on Amazon ➡ geni.us/addiesdivead2118
Desert Dial SN0129 on AliExpress ➡ s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCX...
Desert Dial SN0129 on Amazon ➡ geni.us/sanmartinsn0129
Aventurine Dial SN0129 on AliExpress ➡ s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Ddx...
Aventurine Dial SN0129 on Amazon ➡ geni.us/smsn0129aventurine
The Addiesdive watches were purchased with my own money. The San Martin review samples were provided by the San Martin Official Store on AliExpress.
In this desert dial watch review video, I look at some of the best cheap watches I've ever encountered. I begin with an Addiesdive AD2030 review, followed by an Addiesdive AD2118 review and a San Martin SN0129 review towards the end. I take a look at the first watch in the sand or coffee, blue and white colors. Are these the best budget watches of all time?
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🛒 WATCHES FEATURED (Affiliate)
AD2030 on AliExpress ➡ tidd.ly/3uCwb0W
AD2030 on Addiesdive website ➡ sovrn.co/ttwsy4f
AD2030 on Amazon ➡ geni.us/addiesdivead2030
AD2118 on AliExpress ➡ tidd.ly/3uuk1Y1
AD2118 on Addiesdive website ➡ sovrn.co/kn136hc
AD2118 on Amazon ➡ geni.us/addiesdivead2118
Desert Dial SN0129 on AliExpress ➡ tidd.ly/3VjyGAe
Desert Dial SN0129 on Amazon ➡ geni.us/sanmartinsn0129
Aventurine Dial SN0129 on AliExpress ➡ tidd.ly/43eWsPH
Aventurine Dial SN0129 on Amazon ➡ geni.us/smsn0129aventurine
Hi Ben..I cannot find this San Martin under 300euros is there also some low price like for adieesdive?
@@drazenstefanovic6122 only during the sales is this san martin on sale for under $300, but I think the choice day sale is active right now.
Just FYI, the "Aventurine" isn't the mineral, it's aventurine glass, basically just sparkly glitter in glass, similar to something like goldstone.
I'm honestly super happy that a lot of the Chinese homage brands have decided to start moving into making their own unique designs. Now it's not just the strong specs that carry the brands, but also interesting designs. I'm really looking forwards to where they're going to go.
Japan and even Switzerland followed this same trajectory, so I’m looking forward to seeing what China comes up with in the future!
A shame that SM GMT is still basically a ripoff of a Grand Seiko GMT Spring Drive.
"own unique designs" 😂 like copying Grand Seiko! 🤡
@@SampleTracks2224only the case looks like a grand seiko. all the rest is different
I saw a response to the unique design. This is a homage to the GS evo spring drive so not their own design but I own two San Martin watches and I love them. The quality and value for money is unbeatable in the watch world and love to wear them Instead of my expensive pieces as I’m scared to scratch them. I suggest everyone looks into San Martin. They are great
A few years ago I had a conversation with a watchmaker for a major Australian retailer. He told me about visiting watch factories in China and seeing all the *genuine* 'Swiss Made' watches being made. They are then sent to Switzerland to have the movement fitted. 'Swiss Made' is a deceptive legal definition that refers to the value of labour in the movement. It does NOT mean a watch is made in Switzerland.
Thailand is also a place where Swiss made watches are born. I discovered Citizen Promaster series Radio controled Sky Pilot. Have model CB5000-50L for 5 years on my hand. No need for battery change and it is being syncronised every evening at 1:30 trough Radio signal. Finish is actually good quality. I am not sure if they are 100% Japan made but the quality is there.
A friend of mine owns the Rital chain of watch stores in Bulgaria - they have things manufactured in China by the thousands per design and you just specify the quality you want. You want Patek Philip quality they will do it - it will be 100% by automated machine, but it will be that quality for $300 to $500 a unit.
Even if the watch is made in Switzerland the question is - how much is now automated...??? And the answer is - almost everything. Only the top models now have ansy significant hand work in them.
Also, water wet.
@@piccalillipit9211Hi , thanks for the info ….is your friend contactable , say through email ?
Can you give some examples of brands and the parts of the watch, because this just sounds like one of those things people tell them selfs so they feel better about not being able to afford a genuine watch. All of the “Swiss made” watches I own have movements made in house along with the rest of the watch.
A: because making quality watches these days is fairly cheap, people have just been brainwashed into thinking they have to be expensive to be high quality because of the insane markups that some brands add.
The reality is that swiss manufacturers pay their people better. Cheap watch brands then charge similar prices to appear high quality without improving working conditions of the factories supplying them. The more money you spend on a quality watch, the more likely the worker is treated fairly. This isn’t always the case and that is where research is important. Seiko outsources production and yet demands such high asking prices for pieces like the willard without upping QC
@@ailestriker9888most swiss made watches also source most their parts from chinese factories. they are just assembled in switerland, especially the affordable brands like tissot and swatch
I recently built a watch for myself. £100 delivered with my own logo. Same watch in a shop window? £9k. Do the math
image can be sent
and still brainwashed $5k+ watch 'connoisseur' will tell you their 'assembled in Switzerland' shitter is better because it has 'heritage' and a 'noble movement' lmao
I love the fact that big youtubers are noticing the existence of good chinese watches (other than "Time for another watch", that has been doing it for a while). Everytime I see a video about "the most affordable watches out there" I can't help but think "yeah, it might be for americans/europeans, but in Brazil those are still expensive af", and chinese watches has always been our way of using nice watches for a price we can actually pay.
I have the white San Martin, it's shockingly high quality for the price. In fact, some aspects of it are better than I have on any of my watches and I have watches that are multiples of tens of times more expensive. For example, the butter-smooth screw-down crown, I have a Doxa and a couple of ORIS divers that can't come even close to the smoothness of this San Martin... And then, there's the dial, it's stunning!
I'd ask the thumbnail's question the other way. How on Earth are luxury watches (which are mostly made in China and assembled in Switzerland with a Swiss movement) so expensive? The answer of course is the brand. The point though is that in terms of everything else physical/ tangible about the product, the gap between these and entry luxury is now tiny.
I remember when this SM came out last year; I bought it straight away. Even for SM it was a game changer.
when I bought my first Rolex - a sub in 1992 - the gap between that at £1850 and a £100 watch as a vast GULF. NOW the gap between a £10,000 Rolex and a £100 watch is negligible.
Im kinda at the point of thinking its simply NOT in any way justifiable cos we all know they are made by the same machines - you can buy a Chinese "rolex" or a Swiss "Rolex" one is $300 one id $30,000 and they are made on the SAME machine from the same materials.
@@piccalillipit9211can you show me the proof of it? That they are the same material and the same movement.
No, not a fan of Rolex. I consider its design ugly. So, no, i don't buy Chinese Rolex (that use the same design) either.
Just curious with the statement.
@@victorutomo7244 I dont watch them - But there are videos of watch collectors / sellers comparing "Chinese clones" in microscopic detail.
China is starting to make high quality watches under their own name now, like the ones in this video. They will start of dirt cheap - like Japanese cars did - and as they get a reputation they wil increase in price, then they will launch the luxury brands etc. So the days of the Chinese fakes is - I believe - drawing to a close.
How the hell did San Martin manage to come up with an Omega looking dial? That's pretty impressive.
Reverse fakineering.
The same way the pyramids were constructed. Sweatshops and child labor.
By not charging a thousand percent markup lol
If that San Martin had an Omega logo on it (and an Omega movement tbf) it would be $7,000 and people would love it
Which omega?
I'd be interested in putting that on my grail list for the summer.
Have the smaller addiesdive, and it's great. I was hesitant about the small dial / strap but glad I went for it, because as a dress watch it totally works. It looks neat, rather than small.
which color did you get?
@@gskyflakesi have the brown color and it really looks like sand dunes. both the color and texture are really good.
Same here -- sand colour
How is their reliability? How long do you think they will last ?
@@ArvindBiztaiwanthey have seiko movements so they will last just as long as seikos with those movements. the movements are known to be reliable
Huge fan of the Seiko sweep second meca quartz movements. I have so many automatics, it's nice to have a grab and go that doesn't tick an ugly once per second
just received the watch. It looks great! However im not sure how to use the micro adjustments on the bracelet to make it fit. Any help?
I’m pretty certain this addiesdive and wave style dial has been around for a few years. When San Martin introduced theirs it seemed budget focused watch channels had either ignored or weren’t aware of other way cheaper watches with this feature. JOMW for example mentioned that Chinese brands are now starting to work on dial designs when less popular channels and sales numbers on this addiesdive and suggess would tell you it started happening earlier than now.
In a similar way when CW released their new aventurine moonphase, the hype train jumped on aventurine/moonphase combos with the CW being heralded as a rare gem. Sugess and other Chinese brands have had aventurine and moonphase for a few years - yeah the cw design is cool, but what’s being offered isn’t rare or expensive to implement at all.
All that said, I wish budget channels would do a better job of finding these “hidden gems” earlier or at least exposing the fact that some of the “rare” design features have been done cheaply for a good while.
my favorite budget watch channel is Escape Wheel watch Reviews, he has hundreds of aliexpres watch reviews, clear and simple tells and shows you everything you need to know.
Fun fact: The popular Proxima 1679 (Christopher Ward homage) has a desert dial option now. That is highly tempring...
I have this exact San Martin. It is genuinely fantastic
The communist state terror!sts thank you for the economic support
I have a bunch of Addie's..Tandorios and Heimdallr. Huge bang for less than 80 bucks..ceramic bezel..sapphire..nh35 engine..stainless steel 316 case and strap. What more you want ? 😂
Addies dive and steeldive is actually insane price to quality, their willard is a spec monster
I recently bought an Addiesdive MM300 homage for €105,- and it is incredible value for money. Build quality is great, lumen is insane and it's quicky become my favorite watch, also being by far the cheapest. I don't know how they do it but there it is.
I own the same (sand waves) and buy at the same price some months ago
Very nice and the quartz movement is not bad at all .. in fact better than more expensive quartz watches (+ 6 sec/month)
Dear Ben, I'm very very very interested in the AD-2030 white dial.
I keep all me watches very well.
Is this a long time watch (durability/shine of case finish).
Need your verdict. Appreciate!
From yourself and other Utubers, I jumped on the Ali Ex wagon and grabbed a few timepieces.
Lots of nods to Addiesdive and Pagani, but I think you need to give I&W some recognition.
Just grabbed the 'Carnival' in green with day/date at 3. Lovely butterfly bracelet with markings, 3 link with center pollished, end links in matt. Crown is marked but needs to be a little larger - maybe with guards.
Thanks x
link?
I'd like to try i&w as Jody has made videos about them and the watches I've bought on his recommendations have lived up to the reviews
@@VicenzzoPaiva Ben says no to advertising. I paid under £70 for the green face
@@TH-cam_is_full_of_trolls I bought the watch b4 I saw Jody's review. But yes, a great watch even at a few £ more than other 'chinese' makers. x
@conniethunder for sure, China makes awesome quality watches. Little to no heritage, but material quality is exceptional.
I brought the brown version. I can't believe how well made it is for the money. There really are King Seiko vibes. I slung mine on a leather strap and it looks fantastic and is very thin and comfortable. It was meant to be a beater but I'm currently preferring it to watches 10x the price. I've now decided to buy the blue version. Never thought I'd buy two different colour options for the same watch. Only downside is the crystal will probably scratch if abused.
Yeah if they had sapphire instead, it would be even crazier!
I picked up an Addies Dive Captain Willard Homage for just over $90 canadian during one of the big sales periods. Solid watch with very good features including a bezeled sapphire crystal. You're killing me with the 304L / 316L Stainless argument though. The numbers reference composition of the metallurgy not whether one is better than the other. Nobody is making cases out of 304L it's harder to machine because it lacks the Molybdenum in its composition that 316L has (which makes it slightly softer to machine). If you wan't hard stainless that'll take pretty much anything you can throw at it, you go to the 400 series of Stainless (though it is magnetic) and if you want even better resistance to salts and acids, 319L Stainless which is a Duplex stainless used in heavy duty marine applications.
The Christopher Ward C65 "Dune Shoreline" has a very similar (but higher quality, imo) dial... limited to 100 pcs though
Shows how much luxury brands are overcharging us.
I got the San Martin GMT with a vertical brushed grey aluminum dial a real stunner.
San Martin is making more and more original designs and I certain they will become one of the best watchmakers of the future if they carry on like this
I ordered one of these AD2030 with the blue dial and it just showed up yesterday. I got lucky and picked it up for $40 USD, the prices have gone up since then. It is everything your video says it is--the only negative I've found is that the laser-etched caseback is a little rough to the touch, but you don't feel the roughness on your wrist. I've wanted a VH31 for a while, thank you for the tip!
Yep, the caseback engraving is sharp, but I took some 800 grit paper to it, very lightly, & it's just taken the sharp edges off. Perfect now.
@@wirdy1 Thanks, i may give that a shot. Since I don't feel it on my wrist, I haven't looked for solutions.
The newer models with exotic dials also have fully brushed bracelets, which I prefer over the polished center links on the original release with the sand dune dial.
The Addiesdive watches are 316l stainless steel. Stainless steel is not a luxury material. However, there are watches below $50 that will be alloy.
thanks for the review. do you have any concerns or ideas about the durability and reliability of those good looking Chinese brands? (I also have bought steeldive 1953 and 2 more different brands)
they have seiko movements so they are as reliable as a seiko with the same movements. they are known to be very reliable movements
Not as tested as your mainstream western/japanese brands, of course. But San Martin QC is genuinely decent enough. Addiesdive not too sure; I reckon for water etc they are solid and don’t lie about WR. But assembly QC might not be on par as more legit brands
The San Martin reminds me of the Grand Seiko Mistflake SBGE285
Citizen Promaster series are in my opinion the best watches for the money. I had mine Sky Pilot Chrono Radio controled for 5 years it went trough beating and it needs only needs new paint on the bezel numbers which are engraved and still visible clearly. They are absolutely beast watches.
That aventurine dial looks spectacular.
Seestern has an aventurine Sub300 homage, that's around $100 on sale. Nicest watch in my collection.
I had saved up for a new Doxa 600T but I bought a Seestern to get an idea of what it would be like…now I’ve given up on buying a Doxa because I like the Seestern so much.
@@j.k.7595 Remember, the real one has scratchable hardlex crystal instead of sapphire, and a non-lumed date wheel. It'd seem inferior compared to your Seestern.
Seestern are great, I really wanted a San Martin 62mas, but low cash flow meant I had to "settle" for the cheaper Seastern 62mas. Never looked back, the quality is top notch. I've even grown to love the starfish on the crown.
I just saw your video come up and by chance I purchased the AD2030 in white two days back. Looking forward to it arriving even more now!
Planning to get one of that San Martin dune dial,
kindly if anyone knows; (I live in Egypt, how can is avoid the overpriced 2 to 3x custom fees?)
You don't...
They declare the watch as 5-10 usd
@@link3457 I didn’t quite understood what you’re trying to say
@@spamspam6131 they will most likely report to customs that the value of the watch is very low. Something like 5usd
You won't have to pay tax.
I got the light blue AD2118 too. For £68 it's unbelievably good, far nicer than any Seiko 5 I've had. Solid end-links, that actually match the lug profile! Sapphire crystal (although yeah it does rather stick out a bit)! Milled clasp! Screw-down crown! I don't mind the thickness to be honest - the thin mid-case and sloping bezel and crystal edges go some way to hiding it a bit. I also quite like the dial, looks kinda like a swimming pool. I measure the case at 37.8mm.
I probably would have got one of the AD2030 but they're just a bit too small for my wrist; even the 2118 is pushing it a bit. Mind you, the more I think about it, the more I'm considering getting the sand-coloured one anyway, especially considering it's down to £32 (!) right now.
where did you get it for 68?? I'm in the UK too
@@WM-tl7zw AliExpress, but it was in the sale which has now ended, sorry.
What is Ur wrist size ?
The only difference between SM, Addiesdive, and a Seiko mod, is the name on the dial.
They are so easy and cheap to build, and can sell cheap for a decent profit.
Even though I liked my 6200 homage from San Martin, the riveted bracelet was really bad to resize. The screws got stuck and when I contacted them to get help, they beat around the bush so bad I finally gave up. I chucked it in a desk drawer somewhere.
They asked pictures and videos to prove it was stuck and then offered to send a couple spare links, but not the ones I needed. The bracelet was tapered so just sending regular 'middle links' didn't solve it for me. After going back and forward for almost 2 weeks (every reply took at least 24 hours), I gave up.
Giving good customer support also costs money, so I won't be spending multiple hundreds again on a watch that I can't easily return or get serviced in a Seiko shop for example.
I've been more lucky with addiesdive. Even though they feel a bit less well finished, I have 2 of their watches in my rotation that I wear a couple times per month. Crazy value for money and they feel really well built.
Seen that on other reviews and have thought to myself I am really paying for the "Case and the Face". I'll replace the strap with a leather one and still be happy.
What a timing, been looking at the sand dial for the last week and didn't have to courage to buy it, but this video did it for me. What a beauty it is!
I am a huge fan of San Martin.
Great watches and quality. And the best… it’s cheap comparing to the big brands.
Thanks bro!!
They look like my GS Mistflake except I got Spring Drive. That's the differentiation between GS and other brands whether you think SD is quartz or not, it's tech marvel in watchmaking.
Very nice reviews of these watches! I don't know if you'll see this comment, but here's a couple of hopefully helpful notes: the sand dune dial design seems to most closely resemble to Grand Seiko's "Lake Suwa" model, although it still seems distinct enough to be its own thing. Also, aventurine is a mineral, but what's used for watch dials is actually aventurine glass (also called goldstone). Ir's regular glass with pigment and tiny flakes of different metals added in for that glittering, dancing night sky effect.
This week I received an AD2117 - a Captain Willard inspired Addiesdive with the very same white dial as the AD2118 and NH35. I really like it overall but the bracelet was definitely an area that they saved money on! Still, not bad for the £50 that I paid.
I have four San Martin watches and they are amazing
wow this guy is just a cheap 'In the Loupe' ripoff
Boght my Steeldive SD1970 which is a Capitan willard Seiko Turtle Hommage with a NH35 movement, a Saphire glas, 120 click bezel for just 62€ an love that thing! Get‘s much more wristtime than I thought it will.
Aliexpress and san martin, etc, offer crazy value.
I'm not a "luxury" watch buyer, but I own a decent number of "swiss" watches, which at retail are all over $500 and my few aliexpress watches are finished as nice or nicer than them all.
It's pretty incredible what you can get from brands with low labor, design, and advertising costs.
I picked up that "White Sands" variant of the AD2030 last year. It's an incredible little watch for the price.
To me the San Martin (and it's amazing, especially for the money!) is homaging the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT. Specifically the SBGE285. This is not bad thing, actually it's really good because Grand Seiko have been doing amazing stuff for some time and deserve more credit!
One thing San Martin has been doing that's refreshing is taking a good homage(Like their Mistflake) and experimenting with it to sort of 'make it their own'.
@@scytherind8928 you are 100% right. I have the grey brushed dial and it's def influenced by the mistflake but not an exact copy. There are enough differences to call it it's own thing which I really like.
I have the “coffee” sand dune addiesdive, absolute incredible watch for $50 I just wish it had lume at least on the hands
Really nice looking for the price! Probably hard to find some textures for less than $100.
Now, regarding San Martin, I bought the GMT + World Timer (grey dial), which seems to be an original design... and it is fantastic! Unbeliavably good for the price. Have you seen it or reviewed it?
I have the white AD2030 and it's one of my favorites!
I've reviewed quite a lot of San Martin watches over the years, and I've been saying for a while now that they are able to compete with some of the big boys... Especially when it comes to build quality and finishing.
As for Addiesdive, they just offer amazing value for money, as do Steeldive too. For the money they cost they're embarrassing the likes of Seiko... And they are doing it using their movements too.
You can find several VH31 powered watches on Ali's, my only gripe with that movement continues to be it's lack of a date complication. I'd be 3-4 watches heavier if Seiko ever added that to it's 3 handed Mecha-quartz.
😅 And there are many enthusiasts who dislikes date complications. Not me, I want them especially if well positioned.
The biggest gripe I have with the VH31 lacking a date complication is that it reduces the choice of mod dials, as most of them have date windows ... at least the dressier ones (there are plenty of date-less dive watch dials out there, but that's not what I'after)
I believe Proxima has a watch with the sand dune dial. The indices are different, better, IMO. I just wish they came in 39m without the bezel
Great video, Ben. San Marten has been making great quality watches for a while now.
I have been sucked into the wonderful world of Chinese watches recently. Amazing bang for your buck and now the designs are becoming more unique (or as original/unique as you can be in the watch industry), I think it is the Chinese and micro-brands making watches interesting at the moment. Thank you for your review, its hard to try before you buy with aliwatches. I have this watch with the white dial and it punches well above the price I paid.
I own an Addiesdive AD2118 as well as an MY-H2 pilot's watch (Flieger A). Both are NH35A automatics w/sapphire, that cost under $60. The SL C3 lume on the MY-H2 is weak compared to my Steeldive SD1970, but it's better than most Chinese watches. Like you, I was disappointed by the glossy finish of the blue AD2118, but other people seem impressed by the dial detail, and it's rare for anyone to notice my watches.
While Addiesdive and Steeldive can't match San Martin for overall finish quality, they seem more than equal to Seiko and Casio models costing much more, and make perfect daily watches that are just too nice to call "beaters". I have a Steeldive SD1953 coming soon, that cost me less than $56. The SD1970 "Willard" I bought a few years ago for $80 seemed like a steal, but the SD1953 w/turquoise sunburst dial, Submariner homage for $25 cheaper is just an insane value, especially since Steeldive has upgraded to milled clasps since I bought my last one.
Fell in love instantly after watching your video. I've just bought one brown and one white . I guess it can be a great watch to have my son fall in love with the watches world ( he's 13) or to have on the wrist when i don't want to wear the nicer watches from my collection. I trusted you! they'de better be great or.. 😄😄. Keep up the great work, Ben! cheers from Italy!
i have the brown AD2030, i put it on a tan suede leather strap (it has 19mm lug width) and it made the watch look way better and more premium. the dial is really amazing.
@@Ted_Kenzoku thanks for your suggestion! i am sure these watches can really be strap monsters! 19mm it's a bit of a pain, but still you can sometimes squeeze a more common 20mm in it( for example, NATO straps ;) ) cheers!
Watch is great .I AM a bit confused for the case diameter of AD 2030 .As I have 17.5 cm wrist size. which should I go inbetn ad2030 or ad 2018 interns of case size.could OU suggest me?
I have the Addiesdive AD2023, it scratched an itch for a Rolex Explorer 1, ref 1016 that you would never catch me wasting money on. It’s a banger
The sn0129b looks great, I’ve always wanted the GS GMT but can’t really add another GS to the collection due to budget. This really fits the bill 🎉
I recently bought an Addiesdive Model 2023 which seems to. be an explorer homage. I think for what I paid it is fantastic. It has the vh31 quartz movement. Just a very high quality watch. I love it. Also have a Steeldive Willard homage that is fantastic. Paid $79 and $89 respectively for them and they have been worth every penny. I have a BlancPain 50 fathoms homage on the way from Steeldive as I type this. Have also purchased extra straps from them that are of really good quality.
Crazy price. I’m suspicious that Addiesdive is made by San Martin as the case looks very similar to SM’s vintage Explorer 36mm. A great watch for about $200 mechanical. This will be very nice for $50 quartz
I've had the sand colour Addiesdive for about a month. Picked it up for about £30. As soon as I saw the dial I had to get it.
Where from? Its £100 on amazon
@lsalvage3228 AliExpress. There was a big sale recently that ended but another one should start soon. Delivery wasn't bad either. I'm in the UK and it took 5 days to get here.
I own the white dial addiesdive, and it is indeed amazing on wrist. I highly recommend it, and I love the mecaquartz movement inside it. Thanks for the review. The san martin looks great, but in my opinion, the addiesdive is better value for money.
Recently catching up with these San Martins they really do offer solid bang for buck value. Thanks for the video, these look like great watches for the money
I need that San Martin!! Great video as always 😊
It really is an amazing buy, so much watch for such little money!
Unfortunately in Canada, the San Martin watches that you described in this video are $461 on places like Amazon and Aliexpress. They are the same price as a Seiko watch so the benefits of the San Martin being cheaper than older watch brands is not true 😔. If your in Canada it might be better to just go get a seiko watch instead for the better trade in value if I ever want to get a better watch later on.
aliexpress often has sales, wait for when there's a big sale, prices drop down quite a lot. this one is also a new release so the price is higher.
and for that price you're only getting an entry seiko 5, san martins are way better quality than seiko 5 with hardlex and misaligned aluminium bezels
I love my AD2030. It's one of my favorites
Ordered brown today, looking good!
I expect to buy the San Martin Sn0129 GMT this week for 278 euros in the sale. now costs 400 euros, I think this is the best quality-price ratio on the market. you get the whole package. which is on an expensive brand watch of 1000.1500. I have the Lapiz lazul dial
I've purchased 3 San Martins now and all three have been phenomenal. I have this model the Tudor panda Chrono and the Seiko Superior homages. Each has far exceeded expectations when I opened the box. I have both luxury and budget watches in my 20 slot box and these have no trouble sitting next to my lux watches. I actually wear this model more than my Rolex OP. I was thinking about trading that for the GS mistflake. But after buying this model with the brushed grey dial I'm questioning why would I spend $7000 for the GS.
I do have a white version of the Addies quartz. Great for a little watch. I would have preferred the auto, but I wanted the smaller dimension. I have several San Martin watches but not that one. From most reviews, it is getting stellar reviews across the board. I'm not sure how original the SN0129 is. Their Pelagos homage is also not original in any way, but it's almost flawless at its price point. Obviously not everyone embraces homage watches but within that realm, some of these companies are killing it!
I believed since I saw the San Martin that it was an homage to the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT
I got the Addiesdive 36mm PT5000 bronze watch during the anniversary sale and the value is absurd. It left lots of room to mod it with a better dial, handset and a tweed strap.
Man, I've been wanting a non-GMT version of that San Martin. Maybe I'll consider the Addiesdive
I have Pagani Design watch and it is incredible. Both in price and in finishing. Second one I bought from there is rip off from rolex daytona and my god it is insanely good. Some of theirs watches are amazingly good for the price tag.
So funny, I have both of those. Both are really good. I have the brown dial AD. There are some outstanding values to be found on AE, even some original-ish designs. Let's face it, truly unique watch designs are few and far between.
For the dune San Martin watch, is it sapphire for the crystal? If so instant cop for sure
Yes it's sapphire. same for the automatic 40mm addiesdive AD2118
almost all aliexpress watches that are over 100$ have sapphire.
there's also a new version of this san martin with exotic dials, lapis lazuli and aventurine dial,, with a fully brushed bracelet. they are stunning watches for the money
Love those dials! Keep up the great work brother 👏
Bought the 2030 sand dial and the blue 2118 at the start of anniversary sale....both due within the next week
I bought both of the headliners - both great so far!
Im actually tempted by that gmt, Itried on a Longines Zulu the other day, its huge, and Ilike the Bulova and the Navi more
I just got the "SteelDive" GMT, black dial and certainly an homage to the ever popular Rolex Submariner but at $125 what a watch. I got the automatic Seiko NH 34A and man does it keep accurate time, in fact it is as of now my daily go to watch. Might be time to sell my quartz watches because this is a keeper.
Fun fact - I discovered a chinese grad seiko homage by the name Chameri with the exact same dial as the Addiesdive ad2118 for like half the price.
This chinese brands must swap parts like siblings share snacks on the holidays!
whats the model number?
@@gskyflakesTheres not model number. Just, it's the Chameri.
Homage 😂😂😂 fake. There,sorted.
@@user-te4ey8gk5c lol hahaha
I have a few Addiesdives and they have become the favoured watches in my collection.
this is despite my initial one having a ridiculously, inconsistently inaccurate NH38 movement
If they produce a version of the AD2023-1 with applied indices or the AD2112 with VH31 movement then I will be the first in the queue to buy.
The only downside imho is the terrible name (for a watch dial) 🤔
Do have both Addiesdive watches as well as there captain Willard homage. They are great Watches. I am as proud of them as I am on my Seiko Actus 6106 birth year watch or my Anker, PG or any other vintage watches. The Chinese watch makers are catching up fast and to look down on them would be a mistake. It would be the same mistake the English, German and French did as they looked down on the Swiss many moons ago, and as the Swiss did look down on the Japanese.
Ventus Field One has a dial like that, a tighter on the dunes
There are another two beautiful homages you should check out. One is called " Escapement time " and is an Homage to the King Seiko.
The other one is called "Rmalti" and is the Homage for the Grand Seiko.
I have a couple of Addiesdive watches and for the price they are amazing value watches.
I see the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT; this is hardly original and still a copy, but better than most of their usual copies because of the dial.
a clomage is still a fake. whatever people have to tell themselves lol
The San Martin is essentially a low-cost copy of the titanium Grand Seiko GMT Spring Drive. The bezel in particular is just a 1-for-1.
The best solution for the AD2030 would be a full lume dial. Literally nothing has to be changed by the manufacturer only the dial maker has to change the pigment what goes into the plastic. Cannot be more simple than that, right? And they could make a dozen of different colors as well. This watch would be awesome in yellow, orange, purple, pink/salmon, different greens and blues, red, black and whatever you could imagine. Including the full lume dial. A funky yellow and orange what I would buy instantly, and the full lume dial for any case, every case, wearing almost always. This watch has almost the perfect size (I prefer a bit smaller for my 6.3" wrist), has the GADA look, and very good maitaince free quartz movement, enough water resistance, and okay glass (yes, saphire would be better but for this price is more than acceptable for me).
I waited this watches review ❤❤ thanks man
I have an ice blue addiesdive similar to this, but with the wave like water pattern dial. Cracking watch for the money! *edit* mine is an auto though, with an NH35, rather than the VH31 mecha-quartz
Cheers Ben, great reviews, does beg the question of why do other brands charge much more for the same specs or less. I appreciate development and advertising etc as overheads but there is a limit.
Well that specific San Martin isn't original design. It's a homage to the Grand Seiko SBGE285.
But then we have their SN0116-G V4 GMT which is just insane. Beautiful 100% original design with it's quality rivaling $2k+ watches.
I suggest you try and get one of those GMTs in for review.
Ordered both the addies(sand) and the SM(Arctic) last week.
I have both colour variants of the AD2118, extraordinary value for money. Side by side with my £680 Seiko Prospex Alpinist Deep Lake there really isn't much in
it in terms of quality, and the Addiesdives are more accurate. That San Martin looks extremely temptiing, not owning a GMT I will have to perform some man
mathematics gymnastics to justify a purchase.
Love the channel, keep it up!