San Martin is insanely good value! But it has issues too… (Brand Overview)

This video is basically an overview and brand review for San Martin.
In todays video we talk about the positives and negatives of san martin, and compare them to a handfull of timepieces/watches! In todays video we simply talk about how absolutely insane aliexpress and microbrand watches are getting in terms of quality and value for money. Formex, Maen, Christopher Ward, Monta, Mido, Farer etc all beat seiko (seiko presage, seiko 5, seiko prospex), orient (orient bambino, orient kamasu), Citizen (citizen tsuyosa), tissot (Tissot prx, Tissot gentleman, Tissot seastar), Hamilton (Hamilton field) and more large brand models! Its getting bloody worrying! Also these budget watches under $100 are getting too good lol

00:00 Positives
02:18 Negatives
06:17 vs Seiko
07:08 vs Orient
08:12 vs Glycine

(footage by Teddy Baldassarre + Watch Geek + Bens Watch Club + YoureTerrific + WristWatching)
#swiss #watch #watches #rolex #luxury #list #sanmartin #seiko

[AbnormalAspirations]

The San Martin bracelets are a revelation at their price point. If you care about bracelet quality there really isn't any brand competing with them at that price.

[Fred-nvgf]

I love that San Martin make sub 40 mm watches. Their owm designs are great. In 20 years they too will have history,

[mclovinhawaii]

You put San Martin on the radar for me, and I have to say at a first glance they are really eye-catching for their value for money. For the price of a nice Longines, you could get ~10 San Martins. But I think the question for is: Would you want the heritage and quality of a single Longines which you'd wear every day, or would you prefer a box of San Martins? My answer right now is actually somewhere a third direction...as I'm early into my watch collecting journey, I'd like to try out different styles of watches to see what I like before dropping $10k on a Rolex or something. Homages act as a cheap way to "feel out" a watch before committing to the purchase. Thank you for your content Rudi!

[ceskyler]

I have the 🥑 one and is just amazing & waiting for the full grey one SN0129 which looks stunning too.

[Ellarose]

The craziest thing is that there are still probably more Rolexes in the market than San Martins. They might become extremely expensive a few decades from now. If it doesn't turn out that way, you won't have lost much money anyway.

[johanvandersandt]

They are really hard to beat! Not just for the money but in general. I would go with "heavily inspired" or "greatly influenced by" other watches. 😁 I agree with you. I would rather have a San Martin than a Seiko. Orient has another trick up their sleeves... An in house movement. Glycine is dope too! I like the San Martin Avocado! Would make a great summer watch! Have a great one bro! 💪🏼💪🏼

[ikeman]

I think warranty considerations are also important in choosing a brand, as well as, what brands will fulfill said warranty.

[rxvengz]

San Martin is starting to price itself out of its on niche market. I only wore my SM 3 times and 2 bracelet pins fell out. Now their prices have been pushed past $250-$300 mark.

[Terion-]

I personally don't care about the heritage or history of a brand, All I care about is quality, looks and price. If San Martin (Which I own a couple of watches) gives me better quality and price and a look that rivals big brands, I don't care it's Chinese or that it's homaging something else. I have some watches from brands like Longines, Mont Blanc, Tag Heuer and Frederique Constant, and honestly San Martin is always an eye catcher and a conversations starter where as those other brands go unnoticed most of the time.

[Tbone]

Speaking from experience, I absolutely agree. I have several Seiko's that came on a bracelet and none of them are still on the watches because of their poor quality. I also have several San Martin's and their bracelets are not great, but much better, and I use them. I have no problem with a "homage" because, with owning a lot of watches, it is a minor investment to wear something interesting and very "similar" to a style/look that I like. I think of the time my wife said, "Sure, let's get you a Rolex. The thing is that you will need to wear it all the time." My response: "Why would I do that? I have too many watches I enjoy to wear only one." BTW: I also have a number of Citizens, a few well-known mid-range brands, and various micro-brands. This allows me to be a watch enthusiast on a modest budget.

[danschic]

While you were talking about San Martin making mostly homages, you were showing footage of one of their original designs (the GMT watch, 3:00-4:00).

[leaningtower]

Although I love collecting brands with history and heritage like Rolex, Omega, Longines, Hamilton, Seiko etc I got a pair of San Martins as beater/daily drivers. They have got superb finishing and bracelets

[glenh]

San Martin as a brand may not have the history that the expensive brands have. But, they have a very good reputation for great quality and value for money. San Martin is for every day people. They are attainable. They are a respectable brand among many watch nerds and those that are in the know about watches. San Martin is a viable option. I recommend the brand.

[moneymikz]

I got the blue and teal GMT, should be here in nine days can’t wait to try it on. I live in Florida so the colors are great for endless summer

[orangeyellow-mepz]

Lol, I love my Invicta watches. I like thick watches up to 47 mm. I especially love the Swiss made autos. One is bead blasted, brushed, polished, sapphire, milled clasp all for $150. It beats the pants off my Seiko that cost me over double the price.

[omoniyikaye]

Homerages are not fake watches. San Martin, Pagani Design and other are great watches in their own rights I will rather buy them than by fake replicas of Rolex and other expensive watches.

[Tbone]

Yes, get watches you love to wear. It doesn't matter what others think.

[Kevinjimtheone]

Every watch is basically a homage at this point. No matter the brand, unless we are talking about something exotic. There are extremely few new pieces that are cruelly new. Also, anyone saying the Rolex is the pick of horology is either ignorant or delusional. Making everything in-house doesn't mean much if you basically made the same watches for a quarter of a century, if not more.

Chinese brands are great for what they are. Nobody who was going to buy a Rolex buys a San Martin instead of a Rolex. Giving people a fantastic watch for a very affordable price is great for the hobbyists out there. Further more, there are a couple of brands that build on the San Martin success and do their thing with real homages, like Baltany.

[adistancu]

Is a good answer to those expenses brand watches, good looking watch ⌚️ and nice quality….would be on my list …..

[Robespierres_Ghost]

I have 8 San Martin's. 3 have misaligned bezels. Their QC isn't great in this area in my experience. Still pretty good value for the money.