I have to say that after buying watches in Ali for around 2 years, at last I bought the steeldive in the last 11/11 sale. I have been blown away by the level of care and quality, it is very comfortable to wear. In the sale, with codes, coins and coupons, I bought it for $47 usd, a total steal! One thing to mention (since your 1970 is an earlier model) is that my new 2023 example has clear AR, and it works surprisingly well. Great comparison! Best regards
Yes. I agree on the new ar coating. I also have a new version that has a more sculpted crown well. It’s noticeably larger than the older steel dive version to the point where it looks to be shaped like your San Martin, lovely watch by the way. The only San Martin watch that I own is SN0123. To me it is flawless in every way and I am very interested in that blue one and as beautiful as it is, if I had to get another Willard, it has to be black. Also I was always interested in the Rdunae Willard. I have seen where it is even more true to the original than either of these two watches.. it’s price just a bit under the San Martin currently, when you can find the regular color pattern Willard. Looking at it it’s a show stopper they have it in black they have it in gold black they have in gold silver to name a few.
For me, when buying a homage, its all about the look to the original. Steeldive has nailed it, and it is the watch I prefer. San Martin might have better QC. But on the wrist and no macro lens, Steeldive produces a quality timepiece at a very consumer friendly price. "Bang for the buck" that's how I shop.
I recently got a Seiko Willard limited, blacked out edition on sale.., because I loved the Steeldive so much. So comfy. Steel dive has a better bezel action and more heft, feels wider on the wrist (which I like)...and the bezel aligns, but the quality of the Seiko is just phenomenal. I am happy with the steeldive, as a real beater day to day watch. I love it on the bracelet. These people deserve to exist. . San Martin has many many great watches..let Steeldive have this.
I also bought the Steeldive in an Aliexpress sale and paid £63 for it. Mine too has the updated bracelet with milled clasp and six holes for micro adjust as well as clear anti-reflective coating. The cushion case is super comfortable and the NH35 movement constistantly running at plus 4 seconds per day. Needless to say I can highly recommend this watch and it is my preference for daily wear.
Hi, hope you are well. A great comparison vid. I bought my Steeldive last year. I can’t fault it. I don’t need a San Martin, as they are pretty much the same watch, apart from the emblem…and the hiked up price. All the best👍🏾🇬🇧
I fairly recently got the Steeledive on the bracelet and ordered a waffle strap at the same time from their official Ali store… both together cost me $80US including taxes and shipping after a few dollars off with my Ali coins discount! Looks AWESOME on the waffle strap!!
I bought the addiesdive Captain Willard as a gift for someone. The one with the unique white dial. It's a pretty good value for around $50. Its amazing what you can get online vs in a store these days.
I bought my Willard just as Steeldive released the watch,which meant that I paid the current San Martin price (Steeldive wasn't always cheap).It has more wrist time than anything in my large collection of watches and I can say it is a very robust timepiece........................................................
I purchased my Black Sterile Dial Steeldive SD1970 in March 04, 2021 and I have little or no complaints. I have it on Fuerman Rubber Waffle Strap and you are right the rubber does make the watch come alive. When getting a homage watch to knock around, I find it hard to justify the higher price point of the San Martin and the crown is not my style.
I have this San Martin in bronze with green sunburst dial. It’s had a lot of wrist time, very comfy and interesting to look at with the ever changing patina.
I still have the same bronze San Martin in my collection! Brilliant watch! I did a review sometime ago: th-cam.com/video/SGi_BVaxL4E/w-d-xo.htmlsi=laHhmiNR0G4vtaGT
I own a San Martin blue dial turtle, a bronze and green dial too. Steeldive turtle black dial NH35, black PT5000 and green PT5000. I prefer the SD overall hands down. The glass is double dome and clearer and hands are chamfered. Both these aspects are better on the SM. In every other category SD wins hands down. I Cap'n Willard were buying a watch it would be a Steeldive.
I think you got a dud Steeldive. On mine, the lume glows like a torch! I can read a book with it in pitch blackness. Buy an updated version and you'll see it's much better. Also they got rid of the blue hue to the crystal. You really need to compare a late 2023 Steeldive Willard to that San Martin, for a much more accurate comparison.
I think it's the opposite, the lume on the older ones is better. The newer, even cheaper ones are cutting cost by having lesser quality in the lume and bezel. Bought one years ago when they were hyped up, and recently picked one up because of how affordable they were. I noticed a quality difference. They're still decent for the price. However, once you start to feel the quality difference between the higher end company's like cronos, San martin, and proxima. You'll want to upgrade all the steeldives to the other brands' version. Dials and bracelets is where a lot of the extra cost goes, and it makes a ton of difference, and justify the bump in price, but try and get them during sales, where you can get them for well under 200.
This seems a fair outcome 👍 . That's the beauty of AliExpress, there are watches to suit any budget. When looking for a turtle style diver, I went for the middle option, Heimdallr, they do a nicer dial (and better logo) than Steeldive still with excellent lume, but are about twice the price.
Excellent video ! I don't care much for this model, but i own 2 SM and 2 SD , and the comparissions , the pluses and the minuses were presented in a very professional manner .
If higher quality and smaller collection you will wear everyday is what you are after then San Martin is the way to go but if you're after wider selection to choose from then Steeldive is the way to go
thank you for this excellent review. i have bought thé steeldive during the black friday AT 53€ even i like san Martin IS a good quality brand i think thé steeldive has a better value for money, from far! and the calibration of thé nh35a on mine IS just excellent less than +10s a day...
In the end, they are both homage watches. Both are outstanding. I think the Steeldive is a clear winner of the three. "Three" including the Seiko reissue. The Seiko is an insanely overpriced cash grab and inferior to both of these watches. The San Martin is a Chinese copy. The Steeldive is a Chinese copy. For 1/3 the price of the San Martin, the newest gen Steeldive is the obvious winner. Why? A domed crystal on a dive watch is not at all necessary. The strange crown on the San Martin might feel better might feel better in your fingers, but it betrays the aesthetic of the vintage design. It looks like something on an Invicta. The BGW9 lume on the Steeldive bezel is a class above the San Martin, though the C3 dial lume doesn't last quite as long as on the San MArtin. The Steeldive dial lume is still quite good. The new version Steeldive bracelet has been upgraded and bears a slightly more masculine taper profile. +1 to Steeldive. After much deliberation, I chose the Steeldive on the waffle for $63 during the 11/11 sale. I chose wisely.
Personally, I think San Martin messed up the dial by transferring the minute markers to the rehaut. Due to this, the dial doesn't look as symmetrical as the Steeldive.
I just got Steeldive on a sale for 52 USD. King of budget auto watches. San Martin in green could be interesting, maybe they managed to get the right color. I had green Steeldive with PT5000. Watch in general was good, but shade of green was very ugly in person. Got black now and it looks much better.
Su questo modello specifico non spenderei i soldi in più per San Martin neanche con una pistola puntata alla tempia. Faccio una critica oppure una domanda: Perché dovrei preferire il bracciale eccessivamente rastremato che soprattutto su un diver ne pregiudica la stabilità? Nelle vendite 11/11 ho acquistato un San Martin che ancora non arriva in Italia dopo 27 giorni e la giustificazione è l' aumento di vendita 😢. Ho acquistato 5 giorni dopo il San Martin un' orologio Steeldive ricevuto nelle mani dopo 11 giorni e considerando che i volumi di vendita sono quadrupli si può affermare che il vostro amato Da Martin di pane deve mangiarne ancora molto, perché non si può giudicare soltanto da una spazzolatura fatta bene... anche perché non è gratis.
I have to say that after buying watches in Ali for around 2 years, at last I bought the steeldive in the last 11/11 sale. I have been blown away by the level of care and quality, it is very comfortable to wear. In the sale, with codes, coins and coupons, I bought it for $47 usd, a total steal!
One thing to mention (since your 1970 is an earlier model) is that my new 2023 example has clear AR, and it works surprisingly well.
Great comparison! Best regards
Yes. I agree on the new ar coating. I also have a new version that has a more sculpted crown well. It’s noticeably larger than the older steel dive version to the point where it looks to be shaped like your San Martin, lovely watch by the way. The only San Martin watch that I own is SN0123. To me it is flawless in every way and I am very interested in that blue one and as beautiful as it is, if I had to get another Willard, it has to be black. Also I was always interested in the Rdunae Willard. I have seen where it is even more true to the original than either of these two watches.. it’s price just a bit under the San Martin currently, when you can find the regular color pattern Willard. Looking at it it’s a show stopper they have it in black they have it in gold black they have in gold silver to name a few.
For me, when buying a homage, its all about the look to the original. Steeldive has nailed it, and it is the watch I prefer. San Martin might have better QC. But on the wrist and no macro lens, Steeldive produces a quality timepiece at a very consumer friendly price. "Bang for the buck" that's how I shop.
I recently got a Seiko Willard limited, blacked out edition on sale.., because I loved the Steeldive so much. So comfy. Steel dive has a better bezel action and more heft, feels wider on the wrist (which I like)...and the bezel aligns, but the quality of the Seiko is just phenomenal.
I am happy with the steeldive, as a real beater day to day watch. I love it on the bracelet.
These people deserve to exist.
.
San Martin has many many great watches..let Steeldive have this.
Steeldive looks way more like the Seiko, and for a Homage that's what you are after
I haven’t seen the San Martin in person, but I prefer the looks of the STEELDIVE better, and the value.
I also bought the Steeldive in an Aliexpress sale and paid £63 for it. Mine too has the updated bracelet with milled clasp and six holes for micro adjust as well as clear anti-reflective coating. The cushion case is super comfortable and the NH35 movement constistantly running at plus 4 seconds per day. Needless to say I can highly recommend this watch and it is my preference for daily wear.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi, hope you are well. A great comparison vid.
I bought my Steeldive last year. I can’t fault it. I don’t need a San Martin, as they are pretty much the same watch, apart from the emblem…and the hiked up price.
All the best👍🏾🇬🇧
Thank you for sharing!
I fairly recently got the Steeledive on the bracelet and ordered a waffle strap at the same time from their official Ali store… both together cost me $80US including taxes and shipping after a few dollars off with my Ali coins discount! Looks AWESOME on the waffle strap!!
I bought the addiesdive Captain Willard as a gift for someone. The one with the unique white dial. It's a pretty good value for around $50. Its amazing what you can get online vs in a store these days.
I bought my Willard just as Steeldive released the watch,which meant that I paid the current San Martin price (Steeldive wasn't always cheap).It has more wrist time than anything in my large collection of watches and I can say it is a very robust timepiece........................................................
I prefer my Steeldive and have many of the various watches of this brand including the Captain Willard.
My preference is Steeldive. Price in my shopping cart in the last sale was less than $43, I almost bought another. I bought a SD1975 instead for $55.
I purchased my Black Sterile Dial Steeldive SD1970 in March 04, 2021 and I have little or no complaints. I have it on Fuerman Rubber Waffle Strap and you are right the rubber does make the watch come alive.
When getting a homage watch to knock around, I find it hard to justify the higher price point of the San Martin and the crown is not my style.
I have this San Martin in bronze with green sunburst dial.
It’s had a lot of wrist time, very comfy and interesting to look at with the ever changing patina.
I still have the same bronze San Martin in my collection! Brilliant watch! I did a review sometime ago: th-cam.com/video/SGi_BVaxL4E/w-d-xo.htmlsi=laHhmiNR0G4vtaGT
I went with Heimdallr if nothing else their branding is really great!!! 😊😊😊😊
I own a San Martin blue dial turtle, a bronze and green dial too. Steeldive turtle black dial NH35, black PT5000 and green PT5000. I prefer the SD overall hands down. The glass is double dome and clearer and hands are chamfered. Both these aspects are better on the SM. In every other category SD wins hands down. I Cap'n Willard were buying a watch it would be a Steeldive.
I think you got a dud Steeldive. On mine, the lume glows like a torch! I can read a book with it in pitch blackness. Buy an updated version and you'll see it's much better. Also they got rid of the blue hue to the crystal. You really need to compare a late 2023 Steeldive Willard to that San Martin, for a much more accurate comparison.
I think it's the opposite, the lume on the older ones is better. The newer, even cheaper ones are cutting cost by having lesser quality in the lume and bezel. Bought one years ago when they were hyped up, and recently picked one up because of how affordable they were. I noticed a quality difference. They're still decent for the price. However, once you start to feel the quality difference between the higher end company's like cronos, San martin, and proxima. You'll want to upgrade all the steeldives to the other brands' version. Dials and bracelets is where a lot of the extra cost goes, and it makes a ton of difference, and justify the bump in price, but try and get them during sales, where you can get them for well under 200.
This seems a fair outcome 👍 . That's the beauty of AliExpress, there are watches to suit any budget. When looking for a turtle style diver, I went for the middle option, Heimdallr, they do a nicer dial (and better logo) than Steeldive still with excellent lume, but are about twice the price.
Excellent video ! I don't care much for this model, but i own 2 SM and 2 SD , and the comparissions , the pluses and the minuses were presented in a very professional manner .
Great review
I have a Steeldive on my way for as low as 30$. Can't argue that value.
My Steeldive has a fully lumed bezel, but which one is closer to the original?
If higher quality and smaller collection you will wear everyday is what you are after then San Martin is the way to go but if you're after wider selection to choose from then Steeldive is the way to go
thank you for this excellent review. i have bought thé steeldive during the black friday AT 53€ even i like san Martin IS a good quality brand i think thé steeldive has a better value for money, from far! and the calibration of thé nh35a on mine IS just excellent less than +10s a day...
steel dive all the way for me ,,, very happy with watch ..i got the green faced one love it
In the end, they are both homage watches. Both are outstanding. I think the Steeldive is a clear winner of the three. "Three" including the Seiko reissue. The Seiko is an insanely overpriced cash grab and inferior to both of these watches. The San Martin is a Chinese copy. The Steeldive is a Chinese copy. For 1/3 the price of the San Martin, the newest gen Steeldive is the obvious winner. Why?
A domed crystal on a dive watch is not at all necessary. The strange crown on the San Martin might feel better might feel better in your fingers, but it betrays the aesthetic of the vintage design. It looks like something on an Invicta. The BGW9 lume on the Steeldive bezel is a class above the San Martin, though the C3 dial lume doesn't last quite as long as on the San MArtin. The Steeldive dial lume is still quite good. The new version Steeldive bracelet has been upgraded and bears a slightly more masculine taper profile. +1 to Steeldive.
After much deliberation, I chose the Steeldive on the waffle for $63 during the 11/11 sale. I chose wisely.
Personally, I think San Martin messed up the dial by transferring the minute markers to the rehaut. Due to this, the dial doesn't look as symmetrical as the Steeldive.
The second markers on the chapter ring are more true to traditional Seiko divers, but I really like what Steeldive did by putting them on the dial.
Ironically people, including myself prefer the printed San Martin logo opposed to the applied.
I just got Steeldive on a sale for 52 USD. King of budget auto watches.
San Martin in green could be interesting, maybe they managed to get the right color. I had green Steeldive with PT5000. Watch in general was good, but shade of green was very ugly in person. Got black now and it looks much better.
Steeldive may be a good choice as far as value for money goes, but the Rdunae is still the best CW homage/clomage, hands down.
I would prefer the Steeldive as I don't like San Martin logo and the chunky crown.
SM also has capped top hand stack but the male end link ruins the whole design.
Fairly!
I’ll take 3 Steeldives for $200 please, Alex!
Lol 😁
Su questo modello specifico non spenderei i soldi in più per San Martin neanche con una pistola puntata alla tempia.
Faccio una critica oppure una domanda: Perché dovrei preferire il bracciale eccessivamente rastremato che soprattutto su un diver ne pregiudica la stabilità?
Nelle vendite 11/11 ho acquistato un San Martin che ancora non arriva in Italia dopo 27 giorni e la giustificazione è l' aumento di vendita 😢.
Ho acquistato 5 giorni dopo il San Martin un' orologio Steeldive ricevuto nelle mani dopo 11 giorni e considerando che i volumi di vendita sono quadrupli si può affermare che il vostro amato Da Martin di pane deve mangiarne ancora molto, perché non si può giudicare soltanto da una spazzolatura fatta bene... anche perché non è gratis.
Steeldive all day!!!
Steeldive for the win!
🙂
I loke the steeldives look better.
San martin had a terrible logo...