If you had to show up with this watch in 2015 and asked a panel of experts to value it for you - the consensus would be that this is a $1 000 watch. As much as people love to hate the Ali brands, they have completely moved the goalposts.
Yeah they’re actually killing it. I remember when people were recommend Phoibos and Invicta in the $100-$300 price range (with mineral crystal lol). Pagani Design, San Martin and other watch brands have completely taken over that category
While I prefer a screw-pin bracelet, I have to admit that the pin-and-collar is probably the most secure. Moreover, other than having to be careful not to lose the tiny collars, it doesn't really take much more time to adjust a PaC bracelet vs. a split-pin. As long as you have a decent tool, neither is particularly cumbersome. And, as you said, once you adjust it the one time, you pretty much never need to pay it any mind again, whereas, with either split-pin or screw-pin, sometimes, they come out/loosen. Have never had any issues with a pin in a PaC set-up coming out.
I got the SM bronze on strap for $169, it looks really great, the faux leather strap is plastic but wears well and durable holes, good lume, good sapphire Crystal, -8 seconds per day and Jody banned me commenting for 24 hours when I pointed out that his face had the same pebbled dial as my SM for way less money 😂 I just like the bronze more as it tarnishes. I also own Omega Seamaster Railmaster so price doesn’t determine determine what I wear. They are really good! Thank you for sharing.
Might have to pick this one up on sale. I have the SM that’s an homage to the Tudor BB GMT. It was my first SM and sort of blew my mind with the quality for the price. As much as I used to hate on Chinese quality, San Martin makes a great watch.
Looks excellent. Finally, a stark white dial! I actually think San Martin should start offering their watches without bracelets to further reduce cost. I have enough watches with bracelets and if they just offered this with a simple rubber strap or a single pass, that would be great.
Very cool. Glad San Martin is offering up more budget models. I love this and the more expensive one in the white dial because Tudor doesn’t make a white dial BB Pro. Maybe Tudor will start offering it with the white dial like they do now with their GMT. Thanks for the great review. I think they may be feeling the heat from the likes of Seestern and Baltany who are offering quality watches for under $200. Thanks!
A gorgeous watch, extremely well executed. I bought the Sugess version with the navy blue dial, same quality and stand-out looks; however, I have a feeling that most of the hardware comes from the same manufacturer.......
I bought it and love it. Didn't realise it was the budget version. Don't care. The pin and collar thing was a nightmare, the pin removal tool they give you is too short and doesn't push the pins all the way out. They are in there too tight for pliers..so you can damage the collar if you are forced to use something else.
Yes, the tool they provided isn't that great. I particularly had a hard time getting the pins back in. I'd prefer split pin or to pay a little extra for screws.
yeah, I'm not really sure. P&C has a reputation for being the most fluid of the locking types, so maybe that's why...to allow the bracelet to articulate the best it can. I wouldn't think it would be cheaper than split-pins.
I bought it today for $145 all in delivered. I thought i would have to wait till the 11/11 sale to get a price that low. I think the weaker Chinese economy maybe the reason or lower prices. My buddy has the sn 0116 watch on the beads of rice bracelet and it is fantastic
it did not. though this one came in the normal packaging..that leather watch case. James' (Honest watch reviews) budget SN008 came in the old plastic case. not sure if his came with a tool or not either. but maybe they are still finalizing their packaging for these "budget models"
Thanks for the review Steve, great to see this model up close and what the changes are! Would you take this model or the Sugess S413 cost difference aside?
. i am excited about the sugess mercedes hands and emailed them to ask if they would change the bezel for the rollie style one and change the seconds hand. they reply " not before next year as the model has just been produced '. but if ' next year' is January i can wait.
as do I. but it's about $75 more. and the only thing I really like more on the sugess is the hands and indices and the on the fly clasp. it's hard to argue with the $150 price for this one, though
Pin and collar is so simple to use and infinitely better than split pins. What tf are you guys doing wrong? Place the collar into the centre link, realign the bracelet, push the pin in, tap it to securely fix. What is so difficult about that??
the tools they provide don't push the pins out enough. i still couldn't remove the pin even with pliers. I had to get a longer push tool and hammer that I thankfully had laying around. it's all very simple, until it isn't...lol
@@EscapeWheel I do know what you mean. Even my Bergeon tools are not long enough so I got myself a 1mm carpenters bradle that is just perfect. Even more useful on split pins as I really struggle with those.
If you had to show up with this watch in 2015 and asked a panel of experts to value it for you - the consensus would be that this is a $1 000 watch. As much as people love to hate the Ali brands, they have completely moved the goalposts.
I wish we had all these in 2015 or earlier, then I wouldn't have spent so much on expensive 'big brand' watches.
so true. it's amazing what they are doing these days.
Yeah they’re actually killing it. I remember when people were recommend Phoibos and Invicta in the $100-$300 price range (with mineral crystal lol). Pagani Design, San Martin and other watch brands have completely taken over that category
It's amazing what corporations can do with a little thing called: violation of human rights and forced factory labor😭
While I prefer a screw-pin bracelet, I have to admit that the pin-and-collar is probably the most secure. Moreover, other than having to be careful not to lose the tiny collars, it doesn't really take much more time to adjust a PaC bracelet vs. a split-pin. As long as you have a decent tool, neither is particularly cumbersome. And, as you said, once you adjust it the one time, you pretty much never need to pay it any mind again, whereas, with either split-pin or screw-pin, sometimes, they come out/loosen. Have never had any issues with a pin in a PaC set-up coming out.
I got the SM bronze on strap for $169, it looks really great, the faux leather strap is plastic but wears well and durable holes, good lume, good sapphire Crystal, -8 seconds per day and Jody banned me commenting for 24 hours when I pointed out that his face had the same pebbled dial as my SM for way less money 😂 I just like the bronze more as it tarnishes. I also own Omega Seamaster Railmaster so price doesn’t determine determine what I wear. They are really good! Thank you for sharing.
Might have to pick this one up on sale. I have the SM that’s an homage to the Tudor BB GMT. It was my first SM and sort of blew my mind with the quality for the price. As much as I used to hate on Chinese quality, San Martin makes a great watch.
they really do. so impressive for the cost.
Can’t wait to get this in the mail tomorrow!!! I got applied indices, but they both look amazing anyhow. 😊
This is the best video of this watch. I've just ordered it so I've seen this video a few times!!! Thanks. 😊
@@DFlemming thank you! Glad my work is being appreciated.
Enjoy the watch!
Looks excellent. Finally, a stark white dial! I actually think San Martin should start offering their watches without bracelets to further reduce cost. I have enough watches with bracelets and if they just offered this with a simple rubber strap or a single pass, that would be great.
I think so too
Very cool. Glad San Martin is offering up more budget models. I love this and the more expensive one in the white dial because Tudor doesn’t make a white dial BB Pro. Maybe Tudor will start offering it with the white dial like they do now with their GMT. Thanks for the great review. I think they may be feeling the heat from the likes of Seestern and Baltany who are offering quality watches for under $200. Thanks!
A gorgeous watch, extremely well executed. I bought the Sugess version with the navy blue dial, same quality and stand-out looks; however, I have a feeling that most of the hardware comes from the same manufacturer.......
Who really knows. HBing both side by side it's pretty easy to say they don't use the same case or bracelet or clasp, or dial. 🤷
Sheeesh!! picked up an applied version for $157, quite a value.
That's the one I would have gone for, too. Enjoy it!
Did you go for rubberstrap or bracelet? Are you happy with the watch?
@@Pal-us9uvBracelet. Am I happy with it? Something about it just didn't feel comfy to me. Still a great piece.
@@eugenevedensky6071 allright. Tnx. Im waiting for it to arrive in the mail soon. I went for applied version and rubberstrap.
@@eugenevedensky6071what’s not comfy about it? Too big?
This costs the same as pagani v4. Its a no brainer. I got it on a strap, since the bracelet pins are useless.
I bought it and love it. Didn't realise it was the budget version. Don't care. The pin and collar thing was a nightmare, the pin removal tool they give you is too short and doesn't push the pins all the way out. They are in there too tight for pliers..so you can damage the collar if you are forced to use something else.
Glad they at least provided a tool...lol. I had to use a longer pin and the hammer and block method to finally push it all the way out.
Yes, the tool they provided isn't that great. I particularly had a hard time getting the pins back in. I'd prefer split pin or to pay a little extra for screws.
Anyone know of a rubber strap with curved ends that fits the lugs? If so please post a link.
Do you know if they made the black dial a darker black as well, or is it still that greyish color they had on the original version? Thanks Steve!
That I'm not sure about. If I had to guess, I'd say it's the same
We're going to be knee deep in Aliexpress NH34 GMTs soon
Haha, we already are! And I LOVE it!
Wonder why they went with pin and collar over split pins. Aside from that, seems like a good move from SM.
yeah, I'm not really sure. P&C has a reputation for being the most fluid of the locking types, so maybe that's why...to allow the bracelet to articulate the best it can.
I wouldn't think it would be cheaper than split-pins.
Cost savings I’d imagine
I bought it today for $145 all in delivered. I thought i would have to wait till the 11/11 sale to get a price that low. I think the weaker Chinese economy maybe the reason or lower prices. My buddy has the sn 0116 watch on the beads of rice bracelet and it is fantastic
nice pickup. enjoy it!!
I love it but i was hoping they’d put the list price at 150. I gotta save some money man. This offer is gonna end soon for sure :/
Good review as always 👍 Does it come with any tools to size the bracelet?
it did not. though this one came in the normal packaging..that leather watch case. James' (Honest watch reviews) budget SN008 came in the old plastic case. not sure if his came with a tool or not either. but maybe they are still finalizing their packaging for these "budget models"
Buy this for $195.00 or the $3k USD Tudor?
Both. Use the Tudor as a beater. Keep the SM for best!
@@DFlemming it's the other way around Lad.
Thanks for the review Steve, great to see this model up close and what the changes are! Would you take this model or the Sugess S413 cost difference aside?
I think I'd still take the Sugess. I really like that they used Matte black Hands and Indices. not a huge fan of these "shadow chrome" hands.
Split between these too! And Sugess has also released a mercedes hand set version. Choices, choices... 😊
@@user-bb6yg1yr4n what a great time to be alive 😂
Very good point! I prefer applied indices for the strong lume, but on this model I guess it was just make the legibility even worse!
. i am excited about the sugess mercedes hands and emailed them to ask if they would change the bezel for the rollie style one and change the seconds hand. they reply " not before next year as the model has just been produced '. but if ' next year' is January i can wait.
I missed it if you mentioned, but does it have a sapphire crystal?
Yes it does. Same crystal as before as far as I can tell 👍
Decent anti-reflective coating
I Prefer the Sugess version.
as do I. but it's about $75 more. and the only thing I really like more on the sugess is the hands and indices and the on the fly clasp. it's hard to argue with the $150 price for this one, though
Pin and collar is so simple to use and infinitely better than split pins. What tf are you guys doing wrong?
Place the collar into the centre link, realign the bracelet, push the pin in, tap it to securely fix. What is so difficult about that??
the tools they provide don't push the pins out enough. i still couldn't remove the pin even with pliers. I had to get a longer push tool and hammer that I thankfully had laying around. it's all very simple, until it isn't...lol
@@EscapeWheel I do know what you mean. Even my Bergeon tools are not long enough so I got myself a 1mm carpenters bradle that is just perfect. Even more useful on split pins as I really struggle with those.
The bracelet looks terrible in comparison to other models of sm.
lol, how so? I have it side by side and they are identical other than the sizing.