From Every Angle: San Martin Desert Dial Watch Review
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- Welcome to this engaging CZcams video where we review the new San Martin watch with a captivating desert/sand dune dial texture. In this watch review video, we provide an in-depth examination of this San Martin watch model number SN0129-G-GMT. Prepare to explore the watch from every possible angle up close, allowing you to marvel at the dial design! We even take a closer look under the microscope at the watch dial and movement to asses the overall build quality.
But this watch review goes beyond aesthetics. We put the watch's performance and accuracy to the test, ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. Lastly, we'll discuss the price and determine whether this timepiece is truly worth buying. Join us on this journey as we uncover the secrets of the San Martin Desert watch and help you make your next watch purchasing decision.
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I am a passionate about watches and I am a self taught watch repairer and restorer mainly working on vintage watches. I have another channel My Retro Watches which shows my work with the aim of inspiring others into this wonderful hobby. I started this watch review channel to give my opinion and broaden my horizons on new watches from established and microbrands alike.
I enjoy producing watch review videos and think I offer a different perspective to other reviewers as I am not afraid to remove watches from cases and inspect everything under a microscope.
If you are a watch brand and want me to appraise and review your watch then please get in contact with me via my email mikeswatchreviews@gmail.com
#watchreview #sanmartinwatch #watch - Jak na to + styl
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Your camera work is getting really good with these. And I appreciate your unique review feature of uncasing movements and dials for inspection.
Thank you so much. Really appreciate a comment like this. Helps me know I am doing something right and a little different to other reviewers.
I purchased this watch about one month ago. It’s advertised as a 39mm, but it is 40.5mm. The dial is amazing as well as the fit and finish. I’m very satisfied with my purchase
The bezel is 39mm.
Is it a screw in crown or just push pull?
@@jamied931 the crown is a screw down
Hello Mike, what a fantastic review! Take my respect!
That light blue dial would be the perfect summer vacation watch
awesome vid thinking of this for the 11 11 sale
Incredible specs and QC for the price. It's kinda sad that brands like Seiko charge many times more for a watch and can't even align a chapter ring properly.
Just discovered your channel. Fantastic review and camera work. I'm delighted to have become a subscriber. Looking forward to more of your videos 👍
Awesome, thank you! (apologies for the delay in reply- been busy with a restoration on my main channel)
@@mywatchreviews👍🙌
I really like that watch! Thanks for another great review!
I have this idea that a tan NATO strap would look good on this watch and tone down the flashiness.
Thanks. You could be right but for me despite thinking the polished centre links are too much its just the overall colour that makes it shine and no amount of strap changes will change that. However its still an amazing watch and visual delight
Excellent thorough review 👍. San Martin have had a good year, I like this one, but it is a little too Grand Seiko for me. I bought the blue dial GMT SN0116 and couldn't be happier, I got lucky with the movement, +5 and 0.mS with decent amplitude.
Thank you pleased you liked the review. I do like the SN0116 and that one sold really well. Hopefully its a sign of things to come with the brand now.
I love the hands on this one. Like elongated coffin shape. I see what you mean about the reflection though - maybe a couple of layers of AR coating would have helped.
I definitely think this is dressy enough to go on a nice strap without losing visual impact. Great review as always, and stellar camera work!
Endy!! this has AR coating although I did not mention it in the video... its just that its so shiny. I can bring it to the fair in a few weeks if you like. As always thanks for your support.
Nice review Mike.
Thanks.
Thanks Simon.
Great review!
Thank you for helping me to make a buying decision:)
... as for the one flaw you mention regarding the high tone/readability ... it's been my experience that while a disadvantage in direct sunlight put the dial in low or indoor evening light and those shiny surfaces catch that low light and make it much more readable thus balancing out the disadvantage. What do you think?
Good looking watch and great review.
Thank you kindly
Great review Mike, very nice looking watch 😎
Glad you enjoyed it
Great review. I love my San Martin but it does suffer from the glare. In the Spanish sunshine (two-week holiday) it was difficult to tell the hands apart. Love it though.
This is hands down my current favorite San Martin. Yes a strong nod to Grand Seiko, but definitely not a 1:1 homage. If I didn’t just purchase another watch, this would be for sure on its way to me during the 11.11 Sale. Thanks for the great review as always.
Thank you and I am pleased you enjoyed my appraisal. I would agree its a nod to GS but not a copy and that is what I like. Can only see this one selling really well.
I've got mine ordered, can't wait.
Great review and video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Beautiful watch, great review, and a good price point. Thanks Mike keep safe
Thanks, you too!
Beautiful watch
What does the bracelet taper down to at the clasp?
Great review i just ordered this on the 11 11 sale got for 230 euro so very happy and the glare isn't such a big problem for me because i live in Ireland😂
haha! The green might reflect. Hope you enjoy your watch.
Super recenzja👍. Jestem zdecydowany aby zakupić ten zegarek👍. THX
Professionally presented as ever Mike (when do you start reading news at 10 on BBC?).
2 years ago omega introduced a wave effect on their dials, and I hated it. This however works very nicely with one comment. I don't like the silver dial. It's supposed to be sand, therefore it would work so much better if it were sand coloured. That would help with the contrast between hands and dial, especially if hands were matt black.
Shocked by the movement accuracy, the beat error doesn't bother me but the rate is all over the place not to mention below borderline amplitude.
Bezel reminds me a lot of the Rolex explorer which imho is a good thing.
A fair price if they sort out accuracy, and a thumbs up from me.
Thanks Darren. This is the news at 10 (Dong! )
Yes with all NH it seems they are so hit and miss. SM have told me they regulate but I seriously question this. Some movements are spot on and some not. All though, even this one, are within Seikos very floppy tolerances.
For the likes of you and me Darren, regulating this one is easy but for most of the general public they would never know. With the shock spring being so out of position its either taken a knock somewhere or just poorly assembled at Seiko. As much as the NH series are really boring I will surmise they will still be running 40 years from now with not much maintenance. I jusr wish the GMT craze will fade out. There are too many of them and most owners, myself included will never use that functionality in anger.
Excellent review! The macro shots are stunning! Though, i see everyone keeps saying "sand dune" dial. To me, it looks like snow. Snow dune dial should be more accurate 🙂And i think this review made up my mind, im getting one!
Snow drift! could also look like a calm sea. Either way is really nice. Thanks for watching and hopefully you will pick one up (remembemr my link below ;-) ) thanks
Well detailed review. Did you manage to measure the dial size? 😊
Lovely watch
Waited for it to vome down in price
Paid £155 in the March sale
Abdolute Bargain!
Subbed!!!
Thank you for the video! I just ordered SM SN0129GB Black Aventurine colour from watchdives for 249£, I just can't resist when I saw that dial, maybe it's expensive and on aliexpress special sales day's it's possible to get cheaper, but I can't wait. The bracelet in that one doesn't look polished in the middle so probably people who works for San Martin watching your videos. :)
You won’t be disappointed. I’ve seen one of those sparky dials and they are amazing. Hoping to have one on the channel soon.
@@mywatchreviews I've changed my mind, and I ask them to send me Blue Lapis Lazuli, because I already have 2 watches with black dial in my collection and that blue one makes more sense for me, I'm more exited for that watch than I was for my Longines, Oris and Baume et Mercier, because this one I'll not gonna be afraid to wear in London even at night. ))
That’s the good thing with SM. For one they are just getting better and better, I have 3 coming up on the channel soon and two of them I am totally in love with .
Yes you can buy for £200 and have all that look but not be scared to wear in places.
That’s said if I was in London I still would not wear my San Martin Sub through fear it would be mistaken !
@@mywatchreviews In 2024 London , is dangerous to leave the house even at day with or without any watch or phone, I wear for 1.5 years one Quartz Tissot ~200£ and for around 10 months a VictorInox Maverick Quartz ~350£ and until now everything was fine, but Sony WH-1000xM3 ~300£ earphones one fella can steal right from my head in a underground station 2 seconds before metro doors closed.
This watch isn't really my style, but I am looking forward to the review on that next watch. Another commenter mentioned trying the next watches bracelet on this watch. I'd love to see that, and on any other San Martin watches you have around. That beveled beads of rice bracelet looks neat. Thanks!
Thanks Bristol I will try to make that happen. It will all depend on the case design though as the lug holes may be in different positions.
Nice!
Thank you my friend
Absolutely great review and excellent points Mike, as always! I'm currently looking for a watch for my wife during the 11.11 sale. Unfortunately you can hardly find any model from "top tier" Ali microbrands what could be considered also for a woman. Any suggestions?
With ladies watches no one really makes them in the microbrand world. Phoibos made one last year that I reviewed over on my other channel.
Are the numerals in silver Bezel with the 24h-markings stamped out or just printed?
Sorry for such a late reply they are stamped into the bezel and filled with black paint.
San martin is great!
They are shaped by an Egyptian :) Those hands. Sunshine? I think I remember sunshine, that's when there are no clouds?
Thanks for the review Mike, got to say that is one very fine watch, I really rate San Martin as a brand and can see me getting my hand in my pocket to buy one very soon.
Thank you. Pleased you enjoyed my review. For what this brand offers it really can't be beat. I think this watch will eventually be close to sub £200 and for that is a hell of a bargain compared to more established brands out there.
Great video. Is it a true or office gmt ?
Is the V2 just a brushed bracelet only or is there more physical change on the watch??
As far as I know SM we’re making an all brushed one. They have also released other dial varieties now.
Did the timing improve when you fixed the shock spring?
A little, in hindsight I would have shown that in the video...
Will the bracelet from the upcoming review, fit the sand dial watch? It might work if it does..
This is a good point so I will try to remember this and see if I can change them in that video so we can all see. Thanks.
This beautiful dial plays with light and I do not mind the poor legibility outdoors. The polished center links pushes the bling over the top for me, a fully polished bracelet should fit better. The competition are the Avocado, Pepsi white dial, Mil-sub, and Pelagos. I cannot buy them all, it is so difficult to decide
This would be a good dial for integrated bracelet design
Do you think the Bd0128 jubilee bracelet fit this model?
No idea. It’s all about the end links and how they line up with the spring bar holes.
It's very impressive. I only buy black or dark dials because my vision isn't great and dark dials have better contrast and readability. I can appreciate this one on video though.
Thanks for tuning in. I like a white dial but with contrasting hands and index. Its all about the look on this one rather than the functionality. Thats my opinion anyway.
It even has the micro-adjust clasp that the Grand Seiko model lacks.... a real winner 😅
I love that sand dune dial, looks really good, still not liking that big visually striking logo though.
Thats fair enough. I personally really like the logo at least SM are now consitant as it does not seem long ago that there was a different logo on the dial to the crown and clasp.
wow
In green and copper I think it was sell well
Thanks for a very thorough and excellent review. I appreciate your openness about getting paid which is not something all YTIs do.
I’ve been reading about and watching reviews of San Martin watches for several months now, and while I was definitely a skeptic at first, I wouldn’t have considered buying one, I have definitely changed my opinion. This watch in particular will probably be the one to push me over the edge and give them a try come the 11th. It’s just a gorgeous watch, not an homage, which I like just about every aspect of. I particularly like excellent polishing, and I’m a sucker for beveled lugs. I’ve never seen a watch with such incredible polishing, especially at this price.
Thank you. I am not paid by San Martin monetary but I am allowed to keep the watch which you can perceive as payment. For me to produce a video like this will take 5-6 hours with all the planning, filming and editing.
I hear some reviewers get paid but I feel they must be asking for money to review because in all the watches I have reviewed here or on my main channel not one brand has ever asked what me fee is (I don’t have one) some want the watch back which is fine but equally a small channel like this will only get £2 per 1000 views so on this video alone I’d be lucky to make £10 and for that there is no point if you are in it for the money .
As for the watch it’s lovely but the reflective dial can be a let down at times. They are working now on an all brushed bracelet and some other dial colours and dial materials. These I doubt will be out for the sale.
I’ve reviewed I think 25+ San Martin and they are good value for money. Much better than you will expect.
I don’t think you will be disappointed at all.
Good luck with your purchase and feel free to use my link 🤞
@@mywatchreviewsdid San Martin themselves say they are working on a brushed bracelet for this model? It's the it thing holding me back. Great video.
For me, 3 things are essential in any watch, a date window, a long reaching minute hand, and legibility. Any watch without any of those three things is worthless. .. Thank you Sir for a very good review though. Moreover, I'm liking and subscribing cause you seem like a nice chap.
Fair enough! thanks for subscribing and apologies for a late reply.
Am I been a snob?
I've been saving up to buy a nice watch for my 40th. Decided seiko, short listed some I like with the aim to spend £500 on one in January. I've never considered a san martin until seeing this video. Any advice out there for me?
Hi. Its hard to advise where to put your money nowadays. £500 in seiko world gets you a nice watch like a Presage or a sport watch. Thing is when I have held new Seikos I just find the braclets tinny. They are usually folded steel rather than solid links and other parts to Seiko can disappoint. I am a huge Seiko fan with over 100 vintage Seikos in my collection (or there abouts) but the modern stuff does not grab me as much despite recently buying a limited edition model.
San Martin make increadible quality for the money and you do feel like you have a solid watch. I have reviews many on this channel and many more on my main repair channel (My Retro Watches) and have been pleased with them despite many designs being copied from the likes of Tudor. I cant speak for their warrenty but know its very difficult to return stuff to China. If you bought a SM you would not be disappointed and you would also save your self quite a bit of that £500
Definitely some interesting points Mike. Really appreciate the reply.
Maybe new is not the way forward but the second hand vintage market is so scary. Any reputable sellers that people recommend
Interesting design and great review as always. I would be disappointed with the performance of that movement though.
You and me both. its easy to bring it back into beat and rate for me but for most thats a very difficult task. The general customer would never know though.
What watch does this pay homage to?
Great camera work as usual, and a very nice looking watch. Is it just me or the camera angle, but the 9 and 10'o clock indices look a bit out of position?
Must be the angles as I don't see any difference. I checked with the hand postion and they line up on the hour so they have to be in alignment. Thanks for watching.
How much will I have to pay for this watch?
Case and bracelet is a copy of aqua terra 150 case and bracelet. Shiny center links are a real downer. Easily polished out though....
I'm calling this colour the Arctic dial
Where else apart for the dreadful aliexpress can this watch be purchased. Great video BTW
Hard to say there are other sites that list their watches but I cant recommend one as I have had no experience. I have bought loads of stuff from Ali though with no problems what so ever.
Excellent review. I’ve had my eye on this watch for a while, but have sworn off polished center link bracelets-too much bling-and I have been having a debate with myself as to whether it’s worth buying it just to place it on a strap. I wish you had swapped out the bracelet with a strap just to show what that change would look like. Otherwise, I agree with your suggestion that San Martin offer a brushed bracelet option. Thank you for the review.
Does it wear True to size ? 39 mm ?
You see it on my wrist to make that decision. In reality a 39 can only wear as a 39
Looked at the specs on Aliexpress for this watch. The band is listed as a 7.3 inch long band, so this one is a big NO for me. I don't like buying a watch that I will have to trash the band and get a nato to get it on my 8 1/4 inch wrist.
But it is beautiful, that's for sure.
Does that exclude the watch head length? I have 7” wrists and I have to remove 2-3 links usually to get the fit.
I think that after buying six Baltany watches, this will be my first San Martin.
6 Baltany! Nice. They have so much to offer you can get spoit
BLACK BEZEL WOULD BE VERY NICE
I wish they did that Grey dial one with this desert texture. I like this one a lot. But i'd love a slightly darker version as well. Light grey or silver. How white does this look in person?
I think the outdoor shots on the wrist show the colour . It’s bright and a little sparkly.
I brushed the centre links with sandpaper 600. Looks great now
I doubt that
Don't like the engraving on the bezel, would look more expensive without
ahah moi j ai pris la couleur sable pour pas avoir trop reflets
Now where have I seen that dial? I think it's another Chinese watch brand that used this first
Not sure. Grand Seiko have similar and I think that’s the inspiration
If’s very tempting based on the build quality alone. But I’m going to enjoy this one from a far and spare my wallet further pain.
There isn't a better built or finished watch on Ali express. This is peak San Martin. Just showing off what they can do with this one.
Pretty much agree. It’s hard to find negatives with SM other than if you like the design or not. Just posted another review of a SM and I took the dial completely off to see how good it was.
It passed with flying colours
"It is supposed to be their own design". Supposed is the key word here. I,ve yet have to see something original from San Martin.
I’ve reviewed quite a few of their own designs on both channels. You can see where some of the influences come from on them but then you can say that about most watches if you scrutinise deep enough.
Thing is even the founder of San Martin has said on social media their own designs to not sell well ( some do like the recent SN0116) so equally they are running with what makes money and their customers want. I’m in a Facebook group for San Martin and I’ve just started my own group too and there are daily comments on “make a homage of this or that “
Like it or not they do appear at least to make them very well.
This one is not their own design and I didn’t say it was but it’s further away from the grand seiko it’s getting its inspiration from
Thank you for answering me. Homage's are not my thing. Even though I must admit that the quality is there in San Martin.
In 100 years time Rolex will be bringing out a San martin replica on amazon😂😂😊
Hmm looks suspiciously like they ripped off the SBGE285.
Its like I said right at the beginning its got the look of the GS but enough of its own characteristics not to be a 1 for 1 copy. Textrue is different, indicies are different, hands and case too. Its clear where the inspiration comes from.
@@mywatchreviews It is a nice watch and I have nothing against well made Chinese watches and this watch is 3% of the price of an SBGE285. Some of my favourite microbrands source watches from China, eg. Second Hour in Australia and their watches are magnificent. Oh and I have now subbed to your channel. 😀
unfortunately it is only 39mm.
39-40 I measured 40 in the video bt there is no point on the case that its totally round. 40 is a nice size. Personally dont like them much bigger.
my ideal size is 42mm.
Внешне, издалека, часы вроде красивые, но тут явно видно, что циферблат пластиковый, отлитая заготовка. Нет того "вау" эффекта, как от Гранд сейковских циферблатов или других производителей, которые действительно заморочились с изготовлением циферблатов. Здесь лишь попытка скопировать Гранд Сейко.
2 year warranty tells you its junk
How so?
Beautiful watch