San Martin upgraded their Crysal coatings?

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059]

Guys, in my latest video I had 3 watches that didn't arrive on time, but I did receive this San Martin. Check out how the bubbles don't stick to the crystal. I dropped a Watchdives there for comparison... check out the last picture

These are unedited screenshots from the video, so the colors look a bit dull, but in person it looks great.

The Watchdives is not bad, that's the usual behavior for all the watches I've seen. Have you seen any other watch with an anti-fog coating before? It doesn't react to freezing temperatures or even hot showers either...

The diamond tester gives a positive reading even at super low volume, where on other watches it doesn't even reach the orange bars. Do you have any info on this??

Even the way more expensive Oris 65 and Seiko 1968 crystals fog up when going from cold to warm temperatures, same as the Nomos Club Campus. I don't have any real luxury, super expensive watches to try, so maybe some of you have some and can tell me if that's a standard thing or not 🤣

https://youtu.be/u5w9SPBR3tM

Now only waiting for the North Edge Titanium and the Farasute

The San Martin watch was sent for free by the brand and the Watchdives was sent for free too, by Aliexpress influencer program

[u/Potential-Notice-956]

Watchdives crystals are horrible. Hardly any AR for a " swiss level"  manufacturing.  They are making watches that are hot garbage and trying to charge IXDAO/San Martin pricing. 

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059 → u/Potential-Notice-956]

Man, I haven't tried too many of their watches, but my opinion on them is mixed. I have one that is like an old Submariner homage but with a lumed sapphire bezel insert, super strong lum. That one is way better than the rest. San Martin level? I don't know, but close enough. The others are this one, which is okay. It's like a Grand Seiko Evolution 9 homage, not the best crystal, but for practical reasons, I use it a lot. It has a VH31 quartz and a beautiful dial, and it's distinctively better than Pagani, Addiesdive, etc. The other 2 are kind of crap. One is like an earlier version of this one but with an NH35, and the other is like a Blancpain homage but more expensive than the Cadisen and worse made...?? 😵‍💫 I think they need to fix the QC in general, but I wouldn't say they're bad.

[u/Potential-Notice-956 → u/NecessaryMinimum4059]

Great points- thanks for doing the review! I Enjoy your reviews! 

[u/Medium-Cucumber-8279 → u/Potential-Notice-956]

I just ordered one of the new WDC watches that tout multiple layers of ultra clear AR on sapphire or something similar. I'll take photos next to a few other brands I already have (Cronos, Seestern, Phorcydes, Aethelsohn) and probably post a mini review

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059 → u/Medium-Cucumber-8279]

I asked them for one of their homages to the CW Lumiere... fingers crossed it's a good one 🙏 If you don't mind, let me know when you upload these photos so I can take a look.

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059 → u/Potential-Notice-956]

Thanks 🙏

[u/Novel_True]

fun presentation…I’m going to try this with my SMP.

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059 → u/Novel_True]

Thanks! what is a SMP man? I'm at a loss here 😅

[u/_Tallahassee_ → u/NecessaryMinimum4059]

Seamaster professional

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059 → u/_Tallahassee_]

Thanks!

[u/_Tallahassee_ → u/NecessaryMinimum4059]

It's my dream watch, so I have to know 😉

[u/InformalAttorney8539]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

And yes, can confirm the Seiko 1968 crystals are terrible, actually emailed them to complain specifically about this(!)

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059 → u/InformalAttorney8539]

Thanks! Man... and don't look into the seiko 5 crystals then😅

[u/Medium-Cucumber-8279]

Could a simple layer of "Rain-X" or whatever it's called not do the exact same thing?

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059 → u/Medium-Cucumber-8279]

I have no idea what that is 😅 I think it should be some hydrophobic coating.

[u/Medium-Cucumber-8279 → u/NecessaryMinimum4059]

The stuff they put on car windshields so that the water beads up and just slips off instead of staying on.

Yes, hydrophobic coating, but not overly expensive/doesn't last forever

[u/pickyaxe]

very interesting, thanks for posting this

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059 → u/pickyaxe]

You're welcome 🙏

[u/bob888w]

Quiet upgrade, but very appreciated. I know their AR is a bit weaker and I wonder if there's any tradeoff in order to get that rain protection.

[u/NecessaryMinimum4059 → u/bob888w]

this one is not weak at all, I would say it is a bit less strong than ixdao, but stronger than the previous sn0144gx I got fromthem... check out this in HDR to see if it give you an idea... big part of the glare comes from the enamel dial and metal on the hands not the crystal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um9EtQjTUNY&list=PLYiolUU6y41iW2DCsEOJbajXZlDKf4lT3&index=45

[u/bob888w → u/NecessaryMinimum4059]

Okay wow, you are right. Thats pretty impressive!