That is a Kraken little watch there... Ha! I can't be the only one to come up with that little pun there. In all seriousness this has got to be one of the best Explorer homages I've seen. Excellent review!
I will be keeping my fingers crossed that they eventually produce a VH31 quartz version for those of us who don't want a mechanical watch. This is probably the best homage so far imho.
WatchDives does an Explorer 1 just like these except it has the Seiko meca quartz you said you preferred. AddiesDive also offers one with a Seiko meca quartz too. I prefer the WatchDives version!! Also great value at 70-100$
@@MikePlantus Thanks for a hint on AD. VH31 is a nice one. Even tho' I think meca-quartz is a different beast, a movement having quartz mvmt for hour and minute hands, and mechanical mvmt for seconds and chronograph, if hosting one.
The Baltany is sort of its own thing with the beige coloring, whereas this Octopus looks more like the original Rolex. Both are nice. I think I prefer the Baltany branding, but the logo looks cool on the Octopus.
I had no experience with octopus watch quality and couldn’t find any videos on this particular explorer and decided to risk it. It arrived a couple days ago and I have to say I’m very happy with the watch. Phenomenal quality. Usually I’m not a big fan of Chinese watch logos but I’m very happy with this one. It’s the best one that I have seen so far on a explorer
@@johnswatchjoint 😉 it really is. I wonder if the movement holder is out of plastic or metal. Any chance you will open the case to regulate the movement? I would open it myself but I don’t have the tools. Metal movement holder is a small detail but it gives the watch the premium feeling in my opinion.
Good review and nice to see it beside the Baltany. I agree the bezel looks better proportioned on the Octopus. I have been very tempted by the Octopus Oris Big Crown homages several times, but never pulled the trigger.
Hey John my watch arrived today, I am absolutely amazed at how close this looks and feels to an actual 114270 !! This is by far the most accurate homage I've seen in this model. Mine seems to be running -2 seconds slow at this point, I can live with that. I purchased this to see if I wanted to invest in an authentic 114270 and honestly I like this watch so much I don't really see the need too now. Thanks for the review introducing me to this watch. I just love it. Be Blessed, Parker
This watch is almost perfect for what I'm looking for. If they added the logo to the screw-down crown and added a glidelock to the clasp - I'd buy it in an instant!
The thinner bezel in combination with the reduced thickness, as opposed to the Baltany, is why I would opt for the Octopus Kraken. It makes the watch look bigger, which is not a bad thing at all for a 36mm watch. The Baltany looks a bit 'chubby' imo. Apart from that, because of the logo the printing fits the contours of the dial better as does the printing at the bottom of the dial. It's a real pity I don't like Mercedes hands, otherwise I'd have ordered it right now. Overall it looks very well balanced. I also prefer the white indices over the fauxtina on the Baltany, it provides a cleaner look against the black of the dial. Really nicely executed watch. Thanks for yet another great review, John!
i agree with you, baltany looks good but that wider bezel doesnt look really good compared to octopus's bezel. and the white indices does really have great contrast with octopus black dial. too bad octopus didnt engrave their crown. what i dont really like about the octopus's only the logo , if they use only logo and no written octopus it would be great ( to me at least ), and engrave the logo on the crown.
Excellent comparison video! I had an old Explorer, but the fussiness of Rolexes (combined with the astronomical cost of maintenance) was a real turn off. I sold it, and never looked back.
My blue enamel dial version just arrived today. Great explorer homage. The dark blue basically looks black in dimmer lighting but has a beautiful color outside in the sun. The 36mm is a perfect size on my 6.75" wrist. I gotta be honest though. I don't think they put any anti-reflective coating on this watch. This thing is basically a mirror when it comes to reflections. I have several watches with flat sapphire crystals and this one is *by far* the most reflective, which is really the only disappointing thing I can see other than the unsigned crown. Even sitting here at my computer, I can see with perfect clarity everything I'm typing in this comment on my screen when I angle my wrist a certain way lol.
Lovely & clean looking watch. I’m a sucker for a blue dial watch,but I think the black dial, does this watch justice. The Baltany is very nice. I think the Octopus Kraken trumps it by a little. Great review.
The kraken is delightful, I just wish they had opted to sign the claps with their logo and added an applied logo to the dial. I wish more brands would do that, just elevates the perceived brand presence in my eyes
If they do add an applied logo to the dial, it had better not be that stupid, thick, white letter "O". That just absolutely ruins the watch! It just hits you in the face being on an otherwise beautiful watch. What were they thinking? Having that on there is going to cost them thousands of sales. See the Smiths watches from England. They have a crown design of their own which looks good. If Kraken used something like that, the watch would sell better. A crown does not violate trademark law, unless it is a copy of the Rolex crown, e.g. I have just been looking at another watch that is made of Damascus steel, and they have a symbol that looks like a sea god of some sort would carry. Nice, big sharp tangs. It's a weapon, not a crown. Like a pitchfork with sharp points. There's a name for such a thing. So see, other symbols can represent the sea and not get you in trouble with trademark law. But a thick, loud, stupid white "O" just ruins this watch. Ironic that they do so much right and then screw this up with that logo. I wonder if there are any modders who could paint over that with glossy black paint. Bet there are. What a shame!! That is a make or break feature for me here.
I have the Baltany and it's really grown on me. The watch head looks deep, lustrous and the AR coating on the top hat sapphire crystal exudes class. It stands up to all sorts of tough use too.
Bringing the bezel in a tiny bit on the case to make it thinner does wonders to make this look more premium. Wish I'd caught this review before the sale!
First of all thanks for your great review, there aren’t, many for some reason on this watch. I’ve watched it probably 5 times! I just got mine delivered an hour ago, sized it easily with the screw pins, and bam I’m wearing it. I am soooo happy with this watch! I love everything about it. Great finishing, super legible for the smallest watch I own. And the lume is WOW. Not sure how accurate yet but will monitor it. The only niggle I have is the crown is quite small and my fingers have a harder time getting it screwed down. Love it and fwiw I have a 7” wrist and not too small whatsoever
Good to hear it fits you well. I have a 7” wrist and it’s good to hear it doesn’t look to small. I think that’s why when 11/11 comes around I’ll get the octopus, since it has more dial than cronos or baltany, it’ll look bigger
That's a beauty. How hard is it to set up that movable clasp? You said a tool is needed there. ONE huge suggestion: I would delete that round logo just above the word Octopus. Just get that out. I'd be tempted to see if my watch maker could paint over it with some good glossy black paint. Also, they could come up with a different logo. Some sort of crown maybe. .It's not illegal to have a crown of some sort there. A British watch does that. Smith? But that thick little white ring just screams "It's not a Rollie and treat the wearer accordingly". Shame that they make that little mistake.
You convinced me to pull the trigger on the Kraken. I recently sold my smiths Everest and started other buying other explorer homages. The tisell 36, san nartin sn021 and now this one. I like the vintage vibes of the san martin, but this octopus kraken looks better than the tisell.
Hey man, loving your reviews and comparisons. It would be very interesting to see your review of the new Explorer homage from Milifortic (I believe, the model is AD36S093). I really like this design, but still can’t decide which homage I like best and which brand to trust.
I have reviewed the Explorers from Baltany which the Milifortic are trying to emulate. Both the Baltany and the Octopus versions are stunning. I have not handled the Milifortic. From my experience Milifortic are slightly more budget watches. You get good value for money but Baltany and Octopus Kraken are well established and which you choose between them depends on personal preference especially on movements used 😉
Personally I have an issue with these homages beeing just rebranded replicas of the real thing. Much more prefer the homages that takes inspiration and then spice things with their own ideas. Oh, lastly great chanel my friend. You are doing a fantastic job!
I understand your point of view however there are many who would love the real thing and want something as close to the original as possible...without being a fake. I must admit this watch ticks that box for me and is better than the Steinhart version I owned a few years back. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Looks rather nice! Hands have excellent proportions, just compare it with the Baltany, which hands are too narrow. I wouldn’t have thought that the bezel being slimmer would make such an impact, apparently I was wrong! But Baltany definitely wins in the crystal department. But I’ll say Octopus Kraken should’ve went for the toolless clasp, like Proxima. I like the wider midlinks on the Kraken! The font used reminds me of the "goldeneye" lettering. Maybe that’s enhanced by the Kraken logo looking like a bullyseye.
I happen to own an Octopus Kraken watch, an Oris homage, and I am nothing but happy with it. This Explorer homage is a good one, too. AliExpress Explorer homages often look a bit weird because their bezels are too massive. I believe it's down to the fact that they try to work existing dive watch cases into fixed bezel Explorer homages. This one looks to be designed as an Explorer homage from the get-go. Sure, the brand name is a bit odd.
Have Octopus done any finishing between the lugs on this one? On my Octopus p39 they skipped that and I like to switch straps, but it looks horrible with that rough surface between lugs on Nato or leather 😢
Nice review, nice watch, but personally I prefer BALTANY's homage explorer 36mm mostly for the bellow two major reasons. Baltany explorer has true no ghost date caliber NH38 and Octopus a caliber that has date function which means that has ghost position in the crown. Furthermore, Seiko NH38 is more proper movement for a tool watch like the explorer, because it is very reliable with good accuracy and it is compliant with the minimum antimagnetic resistance ISO764 standard. Last but not least Baltany explorer has more personality, it is not a direct clonage of the Rolex explorer.
I just ordered this 36mm explorer homage this morning. It's great way to decide if I want to purchase the 114270. And to see if it gets the wrist time over my SMP300 Polar. Additionally, I wanted a daily tool watch that I wont mind if it gets beat up or scratched up. I was honestly going to pull the trigger on the 114270 just to find this out, but this seems much more logical to my brain.
Great review as always. From the reviews I see, they make some excellent watches. And I’ve always like the name from the beginning because I thought it was a bit silly. I also thought “San Martin” was a ridiculous name for a watch when I first got into watches so…🤔 Thanks as always!
John and anyone, what can you say about Octopus as such? They have Stelpilot OCT011 model, their take on a field watch, although not so plain as cheaper ones. Gradient dial, cathedral hands, fluted? bezel, 40mm dia - it's on a half way between field and retro styled casual watch. Hope it'd come with VH31 mvmt. Is it bad for mechanical movement to be wound only for weekend?
The OCT011 is a great watch. Most watch enthusiasts have multiple watches and were them in rotation which means they lie idle for long periods of time. No your watch will not be damaged only wearing it occasionally. The PT5000 should just be given a gentle shake or the Seiko Shuffle to start it. Then set the time and date and wear it. It will charge during the day. I have owned and worn many PT5000 watches and wound them this way with zero issues 😊
Thanks a lot! I've grown a bit suspicious of Auto even if NH35 is a workhorse mvmt, but nice to learn and move on. Changing batteries also isn't either free or fun, if there are many watches lying around.
I'm not too sure about the PT5000 movement, I've had two out of the four watches I have with them fail. They both started great and I've been careful not to handwind them but i guess I've just been unlucky. I'll stick with the Seiko movements on these less expensive watches as they've been trouble free.
Nice review!! Have you removed the bracelet on the Octopus? Does it have the same protrusion on the inside as the Baltany has? I’m evaluating buying it and cannibalizing the bracelet for a Tudor Date+Day I have.
That looks a beauty, i think it looks better than the original with all that messy text. Looks a nice plain and simple watch which is really what the explorer is all about.
The biggest and most important difference is price. Personally I would opt for the PT5000 as if and when you decide to sell a piece you won't be staring a big loss in the face. Otherwise both movements perform well though the SW200 is certainly smoother
@@johnswatchjointthanks for your answer! I have small wrist just i am afraid little if its looks small the watch....i wish made it 39mm but i will try it... lugs to lugs how is? You think its better from Steinhart adventure?
@apostolosgalimanas8274 sorry buddy but you really need to watch the video in full. I always give a detailed description including finishes and specifications and cannot constantly keep answering questions that have answers in the video? No it's not as good as a Steinhsrt but the Steinhsrt is double the price at least
How much does the bracelet taper? On the signed crown, i don’t mind. Ditto the clasp. I think there is something to be said for minimal branding. For the finishing, i don’t care about “hand finishing”. I just want it to be *good* finishing.
@@johnswatchjoint Thank you. Also i wanted to add that i have a Rolex-style clasp on a Rolex copy i have and it is one of the most comfortable clasps that i own. I know people like to give them grief, but man do they design a very wearable watch down to the smallest detail.
If one were to buy one of these watches and want to upgrade the bracelet clasp, would you have any recommendations? Sometimes i hear about people talking about upgrading clasps. Sorry if it is a boring topic, but I would like to know if one can buy a clasp upgrade. Maybe others would also be interested too.
On this watch the bracelet and clasp are excellent. I know that SM and Proxima have upgraded their clasps and I had both in hand. The screws used by each brand differed in diameter so we're not able to be used cross brand in that case.
My Octopus Explorer just arrived yesterday. It's every bit as good as I'd hoped it would be; substantial and incredibly well-finished. And who could possibly resist the butthole logo? I plan to enjoy this watch for years to come. You ought to review Octopus Kraken's new offerings. Also, fantastic review!
? Glossy as stated in the video and 36mm is the size of the watch being homaged. 36mm is classed as smaller these days but the trend has been changing back to smaller watches for the last few years.
@@johnswatchjoint great review really! And i see its not wears so small..i have san martin explorer but i don't like the dial! Really i must try this octopus explorer!
Speaking of Explorer homages, have you seen a Terami Explorer homage? Never heard of the brand, but the dimensions look very appealing with 42 lug to lug and the logo on the dial is inoffensive, but there hasn't been any reviews of it as of yet.
I remember seeing some info on them on Reddit a few months back. It seems they started out on Temu and the feedback was pretty poor so I left it at that. Thx for the heads up 🤗
@@johnswatchjoint thanx for the reply! Yeah, did a bit more digging, apparently quality isn’t too great, at least on other models. Seen some complaints and that people send theirs back.
I prefer the Octopus Kraken to my Addiesdive equivalent which I bought last year, mainly because of the bracelet.Decision’s decision’s I may have to open a bottle of Kraken to help me decide.
Just FYI: Something off with that AliX link for the Octopus. I find the watch alright when I click the link, but it tells me that they can't/won't ship the item to my address in Germany. When I then click on "Products" or on "Store Home", I get an empty page. Also: When I add the watch to my cart, AliX tells me they auto-removed it because the seller doesn't provide shipping to my address.
As I said they are a new seller and are not part of the conventional commission system as yet. It means I dont get paid any commission on future sales. They may have certain country restrictions as a result. I will find another store and give an alternate link for you :) Keep an eye on the description below the video for an update :)
@@johnswatchjoint Thanks for the quick answer, John. Might be just an oversight on their part, I guess ... I don't see a reason why they wouldn't ship to the EU. While I have you here: Did you ever own the San Martin 36mm Explorer-homage, and if so: How do the two compare?
best explorer homage for sure, look so similar to the actual thing. I would buy one in a heart beat if not for that ***hole logo. Just the Octopus - Kraken text would have been so much better
If I do not have same watch from lil brand called Rolex I will definitely buy this one... As I see it is 1 to 1 with original... nice watch for sure and with pt5000 and enamel dial from one meter it is same ...😅
I think it is be likely to be real. And for the price it makes sense. Selita is * the * Eta alternative and is very willing to sell to people. Basically anyone can order from Selita.
Hhhmmm! Got the San Martin SN021-G in the cart, just waiting for the black leather strap to come back into stock but it's 335€ + 49€ for the strap, now I'm not so sure, how do you think it compares to the San Martin quality wise?
@@johnswatchjoint hi, thanks for the reply, I own a few SM's but not even seen a Kraken in person, for the price difference I might give it a try, looks almost identical to the San Martin, thanks for the review 👍🏻
@@johnswatchjoint worth a punt then, probably made in the same factory or at least from the same components anyway, thanks for the heads up, have a great day 👍🏻
I have had the Chronos version and wasn't particularly impressed. The Logo was a real put off for me but ultimately it was a watch that didn't even make it to review as the movement was faulty.
I have a couple of Kraken watches, and they both exhibit the same rough crown action when screwing down. There's no doubt in my mind that, over time, this will lead to severe damage.
@@johnswatchjoint The thing is - one of those is a SW-200. Seems more like a machining issue with regards to the threads to me. I've had several SW-200s before, and I don't remember ever having cringed while screwing in the crown. I've also stumbled on a Reddit post where a Kraken failed for this reason. I'm getting another PT5000 watch from a different brand soon, so I'll be able to compare. /r/watchrepair/comments/vx8uqt/octopus_kraken_nttd_crown_threads/
@@johnswatchjoint I agree they're accurate, but that crown action makes me cringe. One of them is a SW-200, but I hear they have similar characteristics with regard to crown action, so who knows. Thanks your your input either way 👍
I can't be asked to go through the process; I'll rather repair it myself. What I do find curious is that you didn't think to mention this fact throghout the video. Just because a watch is accurate doesn't mean it can't have crown stem threading issues, or any other issues for that matter, especially if it's "Made in China". But I understand the infatuation - don't look a gift horse in the mouth, am I right?
They are both quality watches and I would be happy with either. The question you have to ask is which aesthetic do you like and what movement do you feel comfortable with:)
What if it said "Octopussy" They should do that AND DELETE THAT THICK, WHITE CIRCLE ABOVE THE WORD OCOTPUS. Christ, how jarring that is!!!!! It tells the world that it is not a Rollie. God, how stupid. I wonder if some modder could paint over that with black enamel paint.
The SW200 is a superior movement but really I would not opt for that as you are buying a Chinese watch. If you know you will keep the watch long term then fine but flipping it down the line would be more costly when buying with that movement :)
Beauty of a watch. Would like to see it in a 40mm, 39mm at the very least. 36 is just too dainty for my taste. Well done review on such a nice looking timepiece.
That is a Kraken little watch there... Ha! I can't be the only one to come up with that little pun there. In all seriousness this has got to be one of the best Explorer homages I've seen. Excellent review!
Thank you :)
Clown 🤡
I will be keeping my fingers crossed that they eventually produce a VH31 quartz version for those of us who don't want a mechanical watch. This is probably the best homage so far imho.
WatchDives does an Explorer 1 just like these except it has the Seiko meca quartz you said you preferred. AddiesDive also offers one with a Seiko meca quartz too. I prefer the WatchDives version!! Also great value at 70-100$
@@MikePlantus Thanks for a hint on AD. VH31 is a nice one.
Even tho' I think meca-quartz is a different beast, a movement having quartz mvmt for hour and minute hands, and mechanical mvmt for seconds and chronograph, if hosting one.
The Baltany is sort of its own thing with the beige coloring, whereas this Octopus looks more like the original Rolex. Both are nice. I think I prefer the Baltany branding, but the logo looks cool on the Octopus.
I had no experience with octopus watch quality and couldn’t find any videos on this particular explorer and decided to risk it. It arrived a couple days ago and I have to say I’m very happy with the watch. Phenomenal quality. Usually I’m not a big fan of Chinese watch logos but I’m very happy with this one. It’s the best one that I have seen so far on a explorer
Glad you like it. It's a lot of watch for the money :)
@@johnswatchjoint 😉 it really is.
I wonder if the movement holder is out of plastic or metal. Any chance you will open the case to regulate the movement? I would open it myself but I don’t have the tools. Metal movement holder is a small detail but it gives the watch the premium feeling in my opinion.
I do not have the tools either and as you have seen mine is running very sweetly so not necessary :)
Got it. Thanks 🙏
Leaning towards the Baltany. The sapphire crystal on my baltany chrono is spectacular. I am hooked now
Looks great. A very true homage to the latest edition explorer. I personally prefer the San Martin version though. It has a more vintage feel.
Good review and nice to see it beside the Baltany. I agree the bezel looks better proportioned on the Octopus. I have been very tempted by the Octopus Oris Big Crown homages several times, but never pulled the trigger.
Aye it's a gud un'
I love all 4 of my Octopus watches, and this one looks like a winner too! Great review, John!
Nice one Dan. Take it easy buddy 😉
Hey John my watch arrived today, I am absolutely amazed at how close this looks and feels to an actual 114270 !! This is by far the most accurate homage I've seen in this model. Mine seems to be running -2 seconds slow at this point, I can live with that. I purchased this to see if I wanted to invest in an authentic 114270 and honestly I like this watch so much I don't really see the need too now. Thanks for the review introducing me to this watch. I just love it. Be Blessed, Parker
Hi Parker. I'm really glad you like it. Wear it in good health.
This watch is almost perfect for what I'm looking for. If they added the logo to the screw-down crown and added a glidelock to the clasp - I'd buy it in an instant!
Loved this video. Especially the comparison with the Baltany! I have been trying to decide on both.
The thinner bezel in combination with the reduced thickness, as opposed to the Baltany, is why I would opt for the Octopus Kraken. It makes the watch look bigger, which is not a bad thing at all for a 36mm watch. The Baltany looks a bit 'chubby' imo. Apart from that, because of the logo the printing fits the contours of the dial better as does the printing at the bottom of the dial. It's a real pity I don't like Mercedes hands, otherwise I'd have ordered it right now.
Overall it looks very well balanced. I also prefer the white indices over the fauxtina on the Baltany, it provides a cleaner look against the black of the dial. Really nicely executed watch.
Thanks for yet another great review, John!
Thanks for your thoughts :)
i agree with you, baltany looks good but that wider bezel doesnt look really good compared to octopus's bezel. and the white indices does really have great contrast with octopus black dial.
too bad octopus didnt engrave their crown.
what i dont really like about the octopus's only the logo , if they use only logo and no written octopus it would be great ( to me at least ), and engrave the logo on the crown.
Excellent comparison video! I had an old Explorer, but the fussiness of Rolexes (combined with the astronomical cost of maintenance) was a real turn off. I sold it, and never looked back.
thats a really good looking watch even if its an homage the quality looks excellent
I’ve had my eye on a few from the brand. They all look very good.
My blue enamel dial version just arrived today. Great explorer homage. The dark blue basically looks black in dimmer lighting but has a beautiful color outside in the sun. The 36mm is a perfect size on my 6.75" wrist.
I gotta be honest though. I don't think they put any anti-reflective coating on this watch. This thing is basically a mirror when it comes to reflections. I have several watches with flat sapphire crystals and this one is *by far* the most reflective, which is really the only disappointing thing I can see other than the unsigned crown. Even sitting here at my computer, I can see with perfect clarity everything I'm typing in this comment on my screen when I angle my wrist a certain way lol.
I think flat crystals suffer from reflections more than domed crystals. I am only buying domed crystals going forward
@@bigdreams5554 Thanks. I was just going to ask if domed crystals are better in this regard.
I'm glad you are enjoying it. Remember the o.g. watch doesn't have any either just like Hamilton field watches.😊
Lovely & clean looking watch. I’m a sucker for a blue dial watch,but I think the black dial, does this watch justice. The Baltany is very nice. I think the Octopus Kraken trumps it by a little.
Great review.
Thanks Paul. I really appreciate it 😊
The kraken is delightful, I just wish they had opted to sign the claps with their logo and added an applied logo to the dial. I wish more brands would do that, just elevates the perceived brand presence in my eyes
If they do add an applied logo to the dial, it had better not be that stupid, thick, white letter "O". That just absolutely ruins the watch! It just hits you in the face being on an otherwise beautiful watch. What were they thinking? Having that on there is going to cost them thousands of sales. See the Smiths watches from England. They have a crown design of their own which looks good. If Kraken used something like that, the watch would sell better. A crown does not violate trademark law, unless it is a copy of the Rolex crown, e.g. I have just been looking at another watch that is made of Damascus steel, and they have a symbol that looks like a sea god of some sort would carry. Nice, big sharp tangs. It's a weapon, not a crown. Like a pitchfork with sharp points. There's a name for such a thing. So see, other symbols can represent the sea and not get you in trouble with trademark law. But a thick, loud, stupid white "O" just ruins this watch. Ironic that they do so much right and then screw this up with that logo. I wonder if there are any modders who could paint over that with glossy black paint. Bet there are. What a shame!! That is a make or break feature for me here.
I have the Baltany and it's really grown on me. The watch head looks deep, lustrous and the AR coating on the top hat sapphire crystal exudes class. It stands up to all sorts of tough use too.
Bringing the bezel in a tiny bit on the case to make it thinner does wonders to make this look more premium. Wish I'd caught this review before the sale!
First of all thanks for your great review, there aren’t, many for some reason on this watch. I’ve watched it probably 5 times! I just got mine delivered an hour ago, sized it easily with the screw pins, and bam I’m wearing it. I am soooo happy with this watch! I love everything about it. Great finishing, super legible for the smallest watch I own. And the lume is WOW. Not sure how accurate yet but will monitor it. The only niggle I have is the crown is quite small and my fingers have a harder time getting it screwed down. Love it and fwiw I have a 7” wrist and not too small whatsoever
Btw I got the PT5000 movement in mine
Well done. Wear it in good health and thanks for sharing 🤗
Good to hear it fits you well. I have a 7” wrist and it’s good to hear it doesn’t look to small. I think that’s why when 11/11 comes around I’ll get the octopus, since it has more dial than cronos or baltany, it’ll look bigger
I've also seen the oris big crown homage from octopus.
Also if you could, check out the baltany dirty dozen mechanical in beige dial.
Yeah I've seen that big crown homage. Looks well done. I have done a couple of Dirty Dozen reviews with one from Baltany but not the mechanical one.
Welcome to the 🐙 fan club, John. They make cracking watches, and this Explorer looks the business!
Hi Harvind. It's a beauty.
Did you see my msg on WhatsApp?
Beautiful watch. I paid £450 in September for a very similar version by Steinhart. The Octopus sadly wasn’t an option at the time!
That's a beauty. How hard is it to set up that movable clasp? You said a tool is needed there. ONE huge suggestion: I would delete that round logo just above the word Octopus. Just get that out. I'd be tempted to see if my watch maker could paint over it with some good glossy black paint. Also, they could come up with a different logo. Some sort of crown maybe. .It's not illegal to have a crown of some sort there. A British watch does that. Smith? But that thick little white ring just screams "It's not a Rollie and treat the wearer accordingly". Shame that they make that little mistake.
Beautiful watch! One of the best do it ALL watches IMHO! Love it!!!!!!
Couldn't agree more!
I swapped in the adjustable clasp from san Martin into the baltany and now it’s excellent
Are you still enjoying the clasp ? I was debating doing the same combo, but does the size of the clasp bother you ? Thanks for your insight!
@@jwags24 to be honest I enjoyed it for quite a bit, but I did swap it back recently because I used the adjustable clasp on another watch
So great to see this classic in two subtly different homages. Hope you can keep doing these Explorer comparisons!
Thx 😊
Bought on cuz of this review. Hopefully you can check out Cronos' version of the explorer next.
Also what tool do you use to adjust the microadjust on that clasp?
Just a small screwdriver or a spring bar removal.tool 🤗
You convinced me to pull the trigger on the Kraken. I recently sold my smiths Everest and started other buying other explorer homages. The tisell 36, san nartin sn021 and now this one. I like the vintage vibes of the san martin, but this octopus kraken looks better than the tisell.
Nice 🙂
Thanks for another great review. Experience says this will be too small for my 7.3" wrist. Be good to see it in 40mm.. .
Hey man, loving your reviews and comparisons. It would be very interesting to see your review of the new Explorer homage from Milifortic (I believe, the model is AD36S093). I really like this design, but still can’t decide which homage I like best and which brand to trust.
I have reviewed the Explorers from Baltany which the Milifortic are trying to emulate. Both the Baltany and the Octopus versions are stunning. I have not handled the Milifortic. From my experience Milifortic are slightly more budget watches. You get good value for money but Baltany and Octopus Kraken are well established and which you choose between them depends on personal preference especially on movements used 😉
It would be cool to compare this one with the baltany explorer.
i take that back... should have watched the video all the way.
I was gonna say...!
LOL
I have the Octopus Seamaster homage and the lume is off the charts!
Personally I have an issue with these homages beeing just rebranded replicas of the real thing. Much more prefer the homages that takes inspiration and then spice things with their own ideas. Oh, lastly great chanel my friend. You are doing a fantastic job!
I understand your point of view however there are many who would love the real thing and want something as close to the original as possible...without being a fake. I must admit this watch ticks that box for me and is better than the Steinhart version I owned a few years back. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Looks rather nice!
Hands have excellent proportions, just compare it with the Baltany, which hands are too narrow.
I wouldn’t have thought that the bezel being slimmer would make such an impact, apparently I was wrong!
But Baltany definitely wins in the crystal department.
But I’ll say Octopus Kraken should’ve went for the toolless clasp, like Proxima.
I like the wider midlinks on the Kraken!
The font used reminds me of the "goldeneye" lettering.
Maybe that’s enhanced by the Kraken logo looking like a bullyseye.
it definitely has something going on. Its a Kraker!
I happen to own an Octopus Kraken watch, an Oris homage, and I am nothing but happy with it. This Explorer homage is a good one, too. AliExpress Explorer homages often look a bit weird because their bezels are too massive. I believe it's down to the fact that they try to work existing dive watch cases into fixed bezel Explorer homages. This one looks to be designed as an Explorer homage from the get-go. Sure, the brand name is a bit odd.
Nice one Alex. Haven't heard from you in a while. I really like this watch a lot. Fantastic catch for those of us afflicted with smaller wrists :)
Have Octopus done any finishing between the lugs on this one? On my Octopus p39 they skipped that and I like to switch straps, but it looks horrible with that rough surface between lugs on Nato or leather 😢
Looks as well finished as the Baltany between the lugs :)
Thank you for the review. Do you find the longer lug to lug on the octopus makes it wear bigger?
No. It is a smaller watch 😊
Nice review, nice watch, but personally I prefer BALTANY's homage explorer 36mm mostly for the bellow two major reasons. Baltany explorer has true no ghost date caliber NH38 and Octopus a caliber that has date function which means that has ghost position in the crown. Furthermore, Seiko NH38 is more proper movement for a tool watch like the explorer, because it is very reliable with good accuracy and it is compliant with the minimum antimagnetic resistance ISO764 standard. Last but not least Baltany explorer has more personality, it is not a direct clonage of the Rolex explorer.
Thanks for your take :)
Definitely prefer the thinner bezel on the octopus. 🐙😂
I just ordered this 36mm explorer homage this morning. It's great way to decide if I want to purchase the 114270. And to see if it gets the wrist time over my SMP300 Polar. Additionally, I wanted a daily tool watch that I wont mind if it gets beat up or scratched up. I was honestly going to pull the trigger on the 114270 just to find this out, but this seems much more logical to my brain.
Very Sensible!
Looks good John I’m looking at either a Tudor ranger or explorer homage as next watch but they both bit dressy for my liking at the moment
This one is certainly more tool like :)
Thanks for the review John. I do like both of them but must admit, great lume is far more important than a signed crown for me.
Ordered it from Watchdives, I love this little watch 😍
Nice one 🤗
@@johnswatchjoint thanks for the review and putting this on my radar John!
No probs Allan
Great review as always. From the reviews I see, they make some excellent watches. And I’ve always like the name from the beginning because I thought it was a bit silly. I also thought “San Martin” was a ridiculous name for a watch when I first got into watches so…🤔 Thanks as always!
Cheers Albert. They are a brand that I have known about but I have always had some other watch on my radar. Glad I didn't pass on this :)
John and anyone, what can you say about Octopus as such? They have Stelpilot OCT011 model, their take on a field watch, although not so plain as cheaper ones. Gradient dial, cathedral hands, fluted? bezel, 40mm dia - it's on a half way between field and retro styled casual watch. Hope it'd come with VH31 mvmt. Is it bad for mechanical movement to be wound only for weekend?
The OCT011 is a great watch. Most watch enthusiasts have multiple watches and were them in rotation which means they lie idle for long periods of time. No your watch will not be damaged only wearing it occasionally.
The PT5000 should just be given a gentle shake or the Seiko Shuffle to start it. Then set the time and date and wear it. It will charge during the day.
I have owned and worn many PT5000 watches and wound them this way with zero issues 😊
Thanks a lot! I've grown a bit suspicious of Auto even if NH35 is a workhorse mvmt, but nice to learn and move on. Changing batteries also isn't either free or fun, if there are many watches lying around.
I'm not too sure about the PT5000 movement, I've had two out of the four watches I have with them fail. They both started great and I've been careful not to handwind them but i guess I've just been unlucky. I'll stick with the Seiko movements on these less expensive watches as they've been trouble free.
Sorry to hear that. You will be fine with the bigger manufacturers. I have had more troubles with Seiko movements tbh
I have one of the bronze Oris(h) pilot in green they did one run of and I love it but I really want them to bring this model back, I need a red one!
Nice review!!
Have you removed the bracelet on the Octopus? Does it have the same protrusion on the inside as the Baltany has?
I’m evaluating buying it and cannibalizing the bracelet for a Tudor Date+Day I have.
No. Not as far as I can recall.
@ gotcha, thanks John! Regards.
That looks a beauty, i think it looks better than the original with all that messy text. Looks a nice plain and simple watch which is really what the explorer is all about.
It does!
Today is it always your favourite Aliexpress watch 2024 ? Excellent review John, stay in good health.
Great Video. Is there a big difference between the two movements?
The biggest and most important difference is price. Personally I would opt for the PT5000 as if and when you decide to sell a piece you won't be staring a big loss in the face. Otherwise both movements perform well though the SW200 is certainly smoother
@@johnswatchjoint
Thank You your answer really helped me.
great review!2 questions please...the dial its enamel glossy black?or matte?and the 36mm its good size for my wrist?looks big?
It is glossy black and this watch is certainly not big if you view the specs in the video. A great size for all 🤗
@@johnswatchjointthanks for your answer! I have small wrist just i am afraid little if its looks small the watch....i wish made it 39mm but i will try it... lugs to lugs how is? You think its better from Steinhart adventure?
@apostolosgalimanas8274 sorry buddy but you really need to watch the video in full. I always give a detailed description including finishes and specifications and cannot constantly keep answering questions that have answers in the video? No it's not as good as a Steinhsrt but the Steinhsrt is double the price at least
@@johnswatchjoint you have try Steinhart explorer? They use matt dial?
Haha, thinking of getting one with the Selitta movement
If it had a domed crystal I’d be sold for that reason I went with batany
Would be great if you could review the tandorio explorer homage 36mm with nh35 movement
How much does the bracelet taper?
On the signed crown, i don’t mind. Ditto the clasp. I think there is something to be said for minimal branding. For the finishing, i don’t care about “hand finishing”. I just want it to be *good* finishing.
To just under 16mm
@@johnswatchjoint Thank you. Also i wanted to add that i have a Rolex-style clasp on a Rolex copy i have and it is one of the most comfortable clasps that i own. I know people like to give them grief, but man do they design a very wearable watch down to the smallest detail.
Does the circle logo line up with the point of the 12 o clock marker?
Yes....as per the vid :)
Looks awesome. Kinda sick of everyone making enamel dials,but it is what it is i guess
If one were to buy one of these watches and want to upgrade the bracelet clasp, would you have any recommendations? Sometimes i hear about people talking about upgrading clasps.
Sorry if it is a boring topic, but I would like to know if one can buy a clasp upgrade. Maybe others would also be interested too.
On this watch the bracelet and clasp are excellent. I know that SM and Proxima have upgraded their clasps and I had both in hand. The screws used by each brand differed in diameter so we're not able to be used cross brand in that case.
@@johnswatchjoint Thanks
My Octopus Explorer just arrived yesterday. It's every bit as good as I'd hoped it would be; substantial and incredibly well-finished. And who could possibly resist the butthole logo? I plan to enjoy this watch for years to come. You ought to review Octopus Kraken's new offerings. Also, fantastic review!
Thank you. I'm glad you agree with my findings :)
What's your opinion of the welly merck dunhuang watch?
Unfortunately I cannot give an opinion as I have not had the watch in hand.
Canadian price puts it over $300 now so outside my skint budget
It seems you guys get a rough deal over there! :(
The dial is glossy black or Matt? The 36mm size is small?
? Glossy as stated in the video and 36mm is the size of the watch being homaged. 36mm is classed as smaller these days but the trend has been changing back to smaller watches for the last few years.
@@johnswatchjoint great review really! And i see its not wears so small..i have san martin explorer but i don't like the dial! Really i must try this octopus explorer!
Speaking of Explorer homages, have you seen a Terami Explorer homage? Never heard of the brand, but the dimensions look very appealing with 42 lug to lug and the logo on the dial is inoffensive, but there hasn't been any reviews of it as of yet.
I remember seeing some info on them on Reddit a few months back. It seems they started out on Temu and the feedback was pretty poor so I left it at that. Thx for the heads up 🤗
@@johnswatchjoint thanx for the reply! Yeah, did a bit more digging, apparently quality isn’t too great, at least on other models. Seen some complaints and that people send theirs back.
I prefer the Octopus Kraken to my Addiesdive equivalent which I bought last year, mainly because of the bracelet.Decision’s decision’s I may have to open a bottle of Kraken to help me decide.
Haha 😂
i think that baltany just sound better than octopus might just me😊 Hard to decide really.
Both are excellent watches.
how is the clarity? i have saw now two reviewers saying it is a bit hazy
No from my experience as can clearly be seen....excuse the pun. Clarity is almost Baltany in quality.
@@johnswatchjoint alright, thanks man
No problem.
Looks like a winner.
A bit cheeky John,but if i win the competition can i have this instead!
...no chance haha...this one stays :)
Just FYI: Something off with that AliX link for the Octopus. I find the watch alright when I click the link, but it tells me that they can't/won't ship the item to my address in Germany. When I then click on "Products" or on "Store Home", I get an empty page. Also: When I add the watch to my cart, AliX tells me they auto-removed it because the seller doesn't provide shipping to my address.
As I said they are a new seller and are not part of the conventional commission system as yet. It means I dont get paid any commission on future sales. They may have certain country restrictions as a result. I will find another store and give an alternate link for you :) Keep an eye on the description below the video for an update :)
@@johnswatchjoint Thanks for the quick answer, John. Might be just an oversight on their part, I guess ... I don't see a reason why they wouldn't ship to the EU. While I have you here: Did you ever own the San Martin 36mm Explorer-homage, and if so: How do the two compare?
Added a new alternative link. I never had the San Martin version. I really did not like their early stuff at all 😕
best explorer homage for sure, look so similar to the actual thing. I would buy one in a heart beat if not for that ***hole logo. Just the Octopus - Kraken text would have been so much better
Clean your mind then, I’ve had my octopus p39 for 8 months now and not once I thought of the logo shaped like an anus.
I wonder if it has AR coating?
You know how to pick them JWJ!
Is the octopus slimmer than the baltany? Specs indicate it is, but they look the same side by side.
It is fractionally slimmer and wears as such
If I do not have same watch from lil brand called Rolex I will definitely buy this one... As I see it is 1 to 1 with original... nice watch for sure and with pt5000 and enamel dial from one meter it is same ...😅
Lovely little watch. Brand name not keen on.
Is the AR on the octopus not very strong?
It's a flat Sapphire, but the dial remains legible at all.rimes :)
I'm very curious about Octopus watches. I wonder if the sw200 is real or a knockoff.
I think it is be likely to be real. And for the price it makes sense. Selita is * the * Eta alternative and is very willing to sell to people. Basically anyone can order from Selita.
they should have used that octopus for their branding instead like Phoibos watches
Hhhmmm! Got the San Martin SN021-G in the cart, just waiting for the black leather strap to come back into stock but it's 335€ + 49€ for the strap, now I'm not so sure, how do you think it compares to the San Martin quality wise?
San Martin and Octopus Kraken are very close quality wise. You already know which one you want to buy so that is for you to choose 😉
@@johnswatchjoint hi, thanks for the reply, I own a few SM's but not even seen a Kraken in person, for the price difference I might give it a try, looks almost identical to the San Martin, thanks for the review 👍🏻
No worries. To put your mind at ease, I still have mine and it's a keeper! 😉
@@johnswatchjoint worth a punt then, probably made in the same factory or at least from the same components anyway, thanks for the heads up, have a great day 👍🏻
🤗
Better the 39mm Cronos?
Did you compare it to the Cronos version also?
I have had the Chronos version and wasn't particularly impressed. The Logo was a real put off for me but ultimately it was a watch that didn't even make it to review as the movement was faulty.
I have a couple of Kraken watches, and they both exhibit the same rough crown action when screwing down. There's no doubt in my mind that, over time, this will lead to severe damage.
The PT5000 has that characteristic...I own a few PT5000 watches and they are among the most accurate watches I have. I have not suffered any issues :)
@@johnswatchjoint The thing is - one of those is a SW-200. Seems more like a machining issue with regards to the threads to me. I've had several SW-200s before, and I don't remember ever having cringed while screwing in the crown. I've also stumbled on a Reddit post where a Kraken failed for this reason. I'm getting another PT5000 watch from a different brand soon, so I'll be able to compare.
/r/watchrepair/comments/vx8uqt/octopus_kraken_nttd_crown_threads/
@@johnswatchjoint I agree they're accurate, but that crown action makes me cringe. One of them is a SW-200, but I hear they have similar characteristics with regard to crown action, so who knows. Thanks your your input either way 👍
If it's such a concern, if you've just bought it, return it?
I can't be asked to go through the process; I'll rather repair it myself. What I do find curious is that you didn't think to mention this fact throghout the video. Just because a watch is accurate doesn't mean it can't have crown stem threading issues, or any other issues for that matter, especially if it's "Made in China". But I understand the infatuation - don't look a gift horse in the mouth, am I right?
Dear John, overall is this better than Baltany explorer 36mm?
They are both quality watches and I would be happy with either. The question you have to ask is which aesthetic do you like and what movement do you feel comfortable with:)
@@johnswatchjoint yes John aesthetic and movement wise which is final Best?
That is subjective. I cannot choose for you :)
I used to hate homages… now I like them a lot. Maybe I have changed…
Aye. Watches are watches and hate is a strong word 🤗
I don’t think that it is your first watch from them. I just watched your pelagi 39 comparison that also included the octopus kraken this morning.
Thank you for jogging my memory. Indeed I did have one back about a year ago...this is what age does to you...be warned! 😭
I would like to see this watch in 39mm
Lovely.
Really nice
Thank you! Cheers!
I think the Baltany looks better to me.
The other thing that i cant get around is the branding. "Octopus" is pretty uninspiring to me.
What if it said "Octopussy" They should do that AND DELETE THAT THICK, WHITE CIRCLE ABOVE THE WORD OCOTPUS. Christ, how jarring that is!!!!! It tells the world that it is not a Rollie. God, how stupid. I wonder if some modder could paint over that with black enamel paint.
Absolute beauty but I struggle to get past “OCTOPUS”…eww
steinhart explorer or Octopus explorer?
I haven't handled the Steinhart.
@@johnswatchjoint i am ready to try the Octopus explorer....i like the glossy dial.....
It's a very cool watch 😊
Hi John, you mentioned selling some watches on eBay, please tell me how to find your eBay channel
Hi Richard. My eBay store is not listed as John's Watch Joint. It's my personal account.
What's the difference between this and £90 more for the SW200?
The SW200 is a superior movement but really I would not opt for that as you are buying a Chinese watch. If you know you will keep the watch long term then fine but flipping it down the line would be more costly when buying with that movement :)
@@johnswatchjoint Thanks v much for your prompt reply. Top man.
I hope it helps 🤗
So tempered by this one, would prefer a 38mm though
There is always the Baltany but in it's 39mm size ;)
Beauty of a watch. Would like to see it in a 40mm, 39mm at the very least. 36 is just too dainty for my taste. Well done review on such a nice looking timepiece.
does this watch wear bigger than dimensions, would bigger wrists struggle with this one?
It wears like a 37mm