Tudor BB58 vs San Martin SN0121- Battle of the luxury watch and the affordable watch
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- After seeing how incredible that San Martin watch is you are probably thinking about buying one for your self. If that is the case then I will leave an affiliate link below:
San Martin SN0121G (The best San Martin Watch)
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Baltany 1921 (incredibly well made and a percent part of my collection)
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I was considering a Tudor BB36 but wasn't sure about the snowflake hand so I ordered the San Martin PT5000 powered lookalike to check out the look. I decided it's good enough for me and that I can't justify getting the Tudor. The accuracy is well within COSC criteria.
That’s great to hear. I’ve done that with homages before too
Thanks for the video 🙂 The San Martin is so good for its price 🤌 I have personally no need for a luxury watch when I can have such a good watch in this price range. The precision of an NH35/38 is way more than enough for 24/48/72 hours on my wrist, because I often change my watch during the week 😄 And it is way more affordable to service as you said 👍 Of course if I was a rich business man, maybe I would buy luxury watches 🥸 But I prefer to spend that much money in other things like cars 🙃
Hahahaha exactly
The San Martin is a luxury watch! Just not at a silly luxury price!
@@DFlemming it’s not 😀 A luxury watch have a luxury movement inside. Most of San Martin watches are very well made and finished but, most of the time, the movement are basic (Seiko NH34/35…). They are good and reliable movements, but still entry level.
A very nice side by side and a sensible take away for all who are interested in budget and a mid tier watch. Nice one James :)
It is great to have so many choices
Whoa now John. Just how well are you doing that a $6,000 AUD watch is a mid tier?! Ha! Kidding mate. I guess with $40,000, $100,000 watches being regularly purchased, some would consider Tudor an entry level luxury watch. Crazy.
As an owner of two Tudors, I prefer entry level luxury, not mid-tier. A mid-tier watch for me would be a Seiko SPB143, a $1,200 watch. @@adk7962
@@adk7962 yeah ikr what does he mean by "mid tier" at least tudor are available its not like i have to play cat and mouse with a rolex ad to be even be graced the opportunity to own one.
This was a video that I was really looking good forward to making.
I've joined your channel James and have changed my user name from Chris Newman to this , I wrote a comment about hoping to win the swiss watch as it was out of my price range and good luck to everyone else who entered so I'm going back to the video to leave another comment thanks Andrew
I prefer the look of the San Martin, the white markers and the way the hands seem to float. Lets be honest, when you buy high end Swiss, 20% of the cost is the watch and 80% is the name on the dial. I have the San Martin Grand Seiko look a like, the case finishing is fantastic and the bracelet still looks and feels like new after 3 years
That's a massive oversimplification which I suppose is to be expected in this day and age of keyboard experts/warriors. Large companies have much higher overhead and offer much more value to consumers with better warranties and easier access service centers so if you need warranty work done you don't have to send your watch to another country. They have more points of sale which requires more employees. There are hundreds of reasons why they can't sell watches as cheaply as Chinese factory watches. Sure, some brands do add a "brand name tax" as well but this "analysis" is quite tiring and is more reflective of people's lack of understanding of business and/or their unwillingness to actually stop and think a bit before reaching a conclusion.
SM makes some incredible watches
Can you please give me the reference of your Grand Seiko lookalike from San Martin?
@@mariog7213 A lot of the cost of the luxury Swiss brand is attributable to their huge marketing budgets and a lot is mark up from the ADs, neither of which are things that I particularly want to pay for.
When you buy the SanMartin, you are buying the manufacturer’s costs plus the business markup.
When you but the Tudor you are buying the manufacturers costs plus the markup. Then the other costs start. Probably several tiers of retail markup. Marketing costs. Commissions, retail store costs. Etc. so the Tudor is better so costs more to manufacture. The other costs are not born by San Martin because you are basically buying factory direct wholesale.
As long as you don’t mind paying it, it doesn’t matter. The most you can loose on a SanMartin is $300.
On the Tudor you could potentially loose thousands.
So this comparison is not really about the watch and the sum of its parts, it’s more about brand recognition and status.
I am really impressed by both watches.
I agree 🙏
Welcome to the wonderful world of marketing!
Nice one James, a fair and balanced side by side that really shows, movements aside, budget watches out of China really have made strides in the market
It really does. They seem to be getting better and better. It will be interesting to see how they evolve over the next few years.
Everyone loves the finesse of a Swiss watch , but most do not love the price tag attached. San Martin for me !
Definitely
This is a great idea James. A comparison of the San Martin with the Tudor Pelagos would be even better to see. Both can be worn and enjoyed. For me, the Tudor is not worth the extra money.
I know. But just working with what I have 😁
Sold my GMT for £8.5k during house purchase. No need to worry about being robbed any more as all the looks with the San Martin without the worry of getting my hand chopped off. Bought the titanium version to wear for work with a rubber strap and have kept it for best and replaced for work with a Ghost GShock. 🙂
Great review thanks.
Thanks for WATCHing
The video I was looking for! Thanks James
I hope it was helpful
James, great job! I think highlights both watches and shows why they are both values in their own categories
I am really impressed by both watches.
For me I'll take the homage watches ninety percent of the time it just makes alot more sense unless the homage watch companies start sponsoring big sporting events and movie stars everyone should be content with what they like and most of all afford I know I'm happy as hell Thanks for sharing as always my friend Be well
Thanks Michael. I’ve been so impressed by both of these watches.
I’m just happy we have so many options available to us.
I’m not a BB fanboy, but even on film ,it does look a classy piece. Great , well balanced review.
I was not either until I got hands on with it.
What a good review ! not the normal watch snobbery , just realistic information :) +1 sub
Thank you. I appreciate your support
Hi james great video I'm lucky enough to own some high end watches including Tudor but it's really good to see the comparison with san Martin and see what a really good watch you can buy at the more affordable side of watch collecting.and to be honest some of the design features I preferred like crown guards and square hour markers. definitely would buy this watch on its looks thanks John.
It really is a nice watch. Even with “nicer” watches in my collection I still enjoy this one and it can have a place in a lot of collections
This was the video we were eagerly anticipating, BB58 Vs San Martin, thanks James for the review 👍🏼
Thank you. It was a fun video to make.
Excellent video. I like both watches. But I ended up purchasing the Christopher Ward Aquitaine C65. Definitely worth it.
A great choice. I am a big fan of the CW
Very interesting analysis. From a simple perspective of materials and performance, I don't believe, on average, that you get a positive linear return on investment when you spend an additional 10, 15, 20+ times over what a fantastic homage offers. What you do get for spending all that extra money is originality (to some degree), heritage, value in terms of value retention, exclusivity, prestige, and social status. If these things, in different degrees, are important, and you have the money, then by all means buy the luxury pieces. If not, then it's hard to beat a very good homage or even harder to beat some top-tier microbrands.
I am just happy that we have so many options to choose from.
Thanks for WATCHing
@@WATCHingJames Agreed 👍
Excellent comparison, James. Fair take on both watches. The Tudor BB58 is an amazing watch. But for those who can’t afford it, or simply don’t want to, the San Martin is an absolute joy to own.
I am really impressed by both watches.
It's great to see a side by side comparison, yes of course the tudor wins, but movement aside the San martin gives it a good run for its money. Great video, thanks James.
I am really impressed by both watches.
Nice side by side. I've noticed the end link fit (or lack thereof) on a number of swiss watches. I seem to recall the Oris Divers 65 I saw in the metal, had a bracelet end link which was both recessed and about half a mm short of the lug end. Deliberate or not it just looks sloppy to my eyes on a watch a this price point. I'll take 10 decent microbrands instead, and although I cant personally get on with homages, having had time with a San martin water ghost, I can vouch for the quality. Nice video again James.
Thanks you. It was interesting to make this one.
The format of this video was really good! 😊
Thank you. It was a fun video to make.
Thanks for the great comparison. I think there is a place in the world for both watches. I know some can’t stand one or the other, but I for one am glad for both. My SM 121 is still one of my best finished watches. Thanks!
I am really happy that they both exist too. It is fantastic to have so many options available to us
A great review James. Thank you.
Thank you
5:30 it was deliberate. It's paying homage to submariners of old that has sunken in endlinks, or tucked in as some people say. I had one guy critiquing me for comparing and contrasting a Tudor and San Martin lol. I'm not surprised you felt compelled to do the same. San Martin makes amazing watches, and I never needed to go out and buy two Tudors. My San Martin could have served me well until I pass.
That’s great to know. Thank you
James! Once again my friend, great video! Love the comparison between both watches! I appreciate your honesty and opinions on this great review!
I personally love Tudor, I’ve yet to own one though! But I just purchased the SN0008C BB58 homage. Don’t have it yet, and it will be my first San Martin! Very excited!
Good attention to detail in this video and I really appreciate the content you’re putting out!
Oh PS. - I’m looking for a beautiful Glycine watch! I literally just heard of that brand about 2 days before I saw your previous video and can’t stop researching about them lol.
Keep up the good work! ❤👍
I really like Glycine. My combat moonphase was one of my favourites in my collection.
And they can be found at incredible prices.
Love the minimalist dial of San Martin. I wish they even removed the text at the bottom. San Martin simply looks better.
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I know one thing is for sure…the Tudor costs 20x as much as the San Martin but it is nowhere near 20x better than it. MAYBE 4x better
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Nice video. I thought the San Martin was an homage of the Tudor Pelagos 39. Was I wrong about that?
It is but the sizing of the BB58. Plus I don’t own the pelegos.
Just working with what I have.
Thanks for the video. Great comparison video. I think the video shows that SM has a better bracelet fit. Cheers!!
I am really impressed by both watches.
At least SM has a date complication. Sold my BB58 as annoyed me not having it.
The SM can be titanium in that model too even.
It is good to have that option.
An excellent video and an interesting side by side comparison. The Tudor oozes class whereas the San Martin looks good, but. However, that is not how people see or respond to a watch and on wrist the San Martin both looks impressive and will more than do the job for most of us.
I think so too
Great video as always,I think the main difference is what the two watches are worth in 10-15 years, and as nice as the San Martin is I think it is possible that the Chinese are missing some of the subtleties like the coin edge bezel ,the clasp, & the movement in the Tudor compared to the nh35 like comparing a Porsche to a dodge neon. I have both of these watches and I enjoy wearing them both but I don’t have any expectations about the San Martin lasting for more than a decade..
For example, my Seiko 7S26 is 18 years old without any service and it is still perfectly fine with 258 degrees of amplitude and a nice precision of +/-5sec a day after an adjustment last year 😊 Of course I rarely wear this watch, this is not a daily. But these Seiko NHxx movements are very reliable and affordable 💪 I can easily replace it by a modern NH36 for less money than a service.
You make a fair argument on the 10-15 year value idea. But, how many watch buyers actually take that into consideration? I certainly can’t see any budget brand buyers having that thought.
The price of the SM is less than the hit you’ll take on the Tudor as soon as you walk out the AD, especially when you consider that secondhand Tudor prices have fallen 10% in the last 12 months (according to watchcharts). With the SM it’s impossible to lose more than a couple of hundred $. Right now Chrono24 asking prices for unworn blue BB58s are $700 below the SRP, selling prices will be even lower. And all that’s before servicing costs.
Of course, if you’re never going to sell your watch none of that matters. But never is a long time.
That is a very interesting thing to consider. Good point
@@borassictime918 really good point. I had noticed the price of used BB’s falling, which isn’t a surprise because of the quantity sold & now being moved on because they are now ‘yesterday’s darling’.
both are very handsome looking
I am really impressed by both watches.
Excellent comparison. For that endlink lip, I disagree. I love that "Rolex" drop, where all my swiss made have flush endlinks, and it feels cheaper to me. Interesting how people feels about such a small detail 😉
Very interesting. One of my favourite parts of this watch world is hearing everyone’s different opinions.
If San Martin doubled their price and copied that Tudor clasp and used the SW200 movement it would be almost as "good" as the tudor and still a lot cheaper.
It certainly would
Great video James,keep up the good work sir 🏴👍😁
Thank you. I appreciate your support
I have nothing against homage and San Martin look great for the money, but I could never wear any watch with snowflake hands if it wasn't a Tudor.
That’s understandable
Excellent video James. The SM is definitely a good option. Just thinking, if San Martin were to put an ETA or SW movement in there as they're known to do, how would that affect the comparison? The price might only be 10 times less, but that's still a huge gap.
I’ve thought about that too but I think the Seiko is the right movement for it.
How exactly does the nh movement get the "less accurate" claim?
After painstaking regulation....most nh series are at or very close to cosc spec
I’m a big fan of the Seiko movements.
Thanks for WATCHing
You gotta check out the San Martin sn0008-G it’s the TudorBB58 homage
Awesome review!
They have some amazing watches. I have my eye on another from them
Have the Tudor and the SM Both are excellent. Many Tudor models are, as Rolex is, on “ allocation.” Very pleased with SM. Much easier to obtain. Not a no-name replica but an “ homage”which is fine.
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Why would anyone compare a real BB58 with a Pelagos homage ?
I already recently got a San Martin black BB58 (SN0008C) - and about to get the blue San Martin pelagos (SN0121GB plain dial in steel of course) - both look just as good, if movement or watch breaks I can just buy another, or replace movement instead of hundreds to service a Tudor..
The similarities in size and they are the ones I have on hand.
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I know you're working with the watches you have in hand but another more direct comparison would be to the San Martin SN004 6200 BB58 V2. It is slightly smaller at 38mm but has no crown guards and similar round applied indices to the Tudor you have.
That would be good to see too
Move San Martin's address to Europe, as some microbrands do - still Chinese made, put in another $300US labor in finish and movement - so $550US. That's the equation of $6,000 vs $300.
It probably would. They are very mice
The Tudor is not $5500 dollars better. And the more expensive movement is not always more accurate than the seiko movement.
Certainly not. I don’t think any “luxury” watch could claim to be.
good comparison - but the 'enjoyment' I get from a San Martin and other affordable watches is that I can take of the caseback and regulate it myself without too much fear and angst and knowing that I've got a PT5000 or a NH35 working well within spec.
My only real gripe is that the awful San Martin logo (= what a stoned Pink Floyd fan would come up with after buying their Relics album) and the other Chinese watches bizarre brand names. Hruodland FFS.
San Martin etc. can imitate but don't understand the subtleties: they miss on so many small issues, even simple things like the 'smiley' 6 o'clock text.
Thanks for WATCHing
Good points
I am really impressed by both watches.
I have the tudor love it
It is an incredible watch
Next, compare a Thorn Pelagos 39 with a real Pelagos 39. I find the Tudor P39 to lack any form of build quality, since there’s too much bracelet and endlink play, and they forgot to smooth out the underside of the bracelet. Dials are often too dusty.
I understand that maybe you don’t have a Pelagos 39. I was speaking hypothetically.
I know. Just working with what I have.
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Love AliX. Will take a closer look ty
There are some great options available
But they're two different watches. To comparison You should get Tudor Pelagos....
I know. But the sizing is a big part of that conversation and I’m just working with what I have.
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Wait till you try the T-fit.
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i love my SM version
It is very nice
Collecting watches is not a rational pursuit. Owning a wristwatch, whatever the price point, doesn't answer any practical purpose, and this is where the intangibles enter the equation: heritage, cachet, the feelgood factor. I have no qualms in owning AliExpress specials, in fact I have 5 or 6, but owning an actual branded watch (even a good Seiko) just feels better. Who cares about my feelings? No-one should, but it still matters to me.
It is great to get your thought. I have to agree too. I do like all watches but there is something almost intangible to a watch that’s brand has been around for a long time.
Not quite the correct watches to compare. The San Martin homages the Tudor Pelagos not the Black Bay...
It was what I had available. I also found it interesting to put them side by side.
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That San Martin costs less than the price of a single Tudor service.
I know. Hahahahahaha
interesting head-to-head
I thought so too
👍
👍
I can't fathem how expensive these are.
Give it time. If you stay in the watch collection space it will eventually not feel expensive.
Which is very concerning 😳
@@WATCHingJames just that a watch can be so expensive. Thank you. I've been playing your videos over and over 😊
no lume test!?
I completely forgot. Whoops
The Law of diminishing returns.
I am really impressed by both watches.
'In and of itself'. I like good quality homage watches, but we have to admit that they are just copies.
Thanks for WATCHing
James! Appreciate ya, but ur mic is no good.
I’ve been putting a lot of effort into the sound.
Not sure what else to do.
I have a fancy microphone, custom sound dampened studio and I’m modifying it in the edit process.
It is still a work in progress.
Was tryin to be constructive. I’m sure it takes work!
I do appreciate the feedback. I am working on the sound.
But it sounds good to me. Well. Not perfect. But good.
What are you using to listen to the videos?
I’m using my iPhone.
In china i saw the copy of the Land Rover.. is the same as a real land rover, but its just its appearance.. if you make an accident the metal is like paper and it breaks easy as carton box
The engine is chinese, they call it "LAND LAND".
So, this watch is a LAND LAND of the Tudor. It is not original but an imitation.. a chines copy that want to appear another.. a piece you'll regret to buy 2 month after you take it.
There is no glory in copies.
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It's interesting, how not one person, can identify with precise arguments why the Tudor is worth 20 times the price? That's because there is nothing in the mechanical makeup of the Tudor that is worth 20x the San Martin. You are only buying a story and a myth of some long ago brand. Swiss watches are in great danger as microbrands keep eating into their profits.
It is definitely not worth 20 times the price. No matter how good it is.
Which is why I bought mine second hand. So only 10 times the price 😁
@@WATCHingJames So the person you bought it from, threw away $3000 dollars! That’s even crazier!
These type of chinese manufacturers have the skills to make decent and unique designed watches, and the do on occasion (including San Martin).But they choose to make these replica watches because its easier to steal the designs of that companies spending millions developing and promoting their watches, and then as Fake watch manufacturers do take a slice of their popularity.
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I personally cant get past the san Martin logo , it looks hideous such an eye sore like a tacky S that ever kid used to draw on there note books in the 90s otherwise would be tempted to pick one up as a beater
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Buy the no logo version.
In house swiss movement x japanese NH35....Discussion stops here.
I honestly like both. The tudors movement is beautiful and runs perfectly.
But I’m a big fan of the seiko movements. They run well, are affordable and very reliable