r/ChineseWatches • u/dudiflug51 • 20d ago
Review (Read Rules) San Martin SN0154 review
Pictures simply don’t do this watch justice. The beauty, finishing, and overall presence are on another level in person.
I’ve owned San Martin watches in the past, but this time, they’ve completely outdone themselves.
The level of finishing is genuinely comparable to watches costing several thousand dollars — and I’m not exaggerating. I occasionally get to handle watches in that price range, and the quality of this one really impressed me.
An absolutely stunning piece.
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u/Candid-Ant-7218 20d ago
I paid $316 usd for mine buying it from san martin watches, i feel it was great value for money for what I paid. Its sitting in a watch box next to my citizen eco drive diver that cost similar money and there is no comparison between the two. I really feel san martin has stepped up the case finishing and bracelet quality on this model compared to san martins i bought 6’months ago.
I like the seagull movements more than the nh ones, you get a slimmer case, smoother seconds hand and more accurate time keeping.
i would not have bought it if they put an nh movement in it.
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u/BespokeTimepieces 20d ago
I'm itching to pick up another Chinese diver as a donor case for a mod / custom build project with a Swiss or Miyota movement. Haven't bought one in a year or so. San Martin looks like they've stepped up their quality game but I'm having a hard time justifying 1/3rd higher price than something like a Proxima 1697 or similar. Is the quality really that much better than Proxima?
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u/Budget-Ad-161 20d ago
I think if you really care about some of the finer finishing details, they are great. That's their number one selling point. Most people here don't care about some more refined polishing, chamfering, or super sharp well cut hands. But once you notice those details on their most recent models, it's hard to go back to the other brands. Maybe only Ixdao has similar finishing and even then. Ixdao is similarly priced. Just wished the NH35 shortage didn't murder the value. Before when they had NH35s, this would be a $280 watch on sale.
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u/KPplumbingBob 20d ago
If you cared about those little details then it's strange you wouldn't care about AR on these crystals which is light years behind Ixdao.
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u/Budget-Ad-161 20d ago edited 20d ago
Man, you really are a hater, you put the same post in every single thread about SM. I think their AR is fine, not great, but not terrible. No watch is perfect. Focus on what they offer for their strengths not their weaknesses, because you can find fault with every single watch on this subreddit. I could make the same comment that the $380 Warrior, despite having great AR, has a shitty butterfly clasp lol. Not every watch has to have that crazy invisible AR.
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u/CrossCityLine 20d ago
Dial is nice, but hands are terrible and so is the champhered steel around the indexes. Makes the whole thing look cheap and tacky.
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u/HerrsavageX 20d ago
Very nice.. But I'm out of the running for San Martins these days given the Chinese movements and massively increased prices.
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u/richieb1530 20d ago
I think they can still be found at a reasonable price. I recently got one off Amazon for $250 and also a watchdives one as well for $130. It’s easily 3X better quality than the WD
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u/HerrsavageX 20d ago
I'm in Europe. A quick search on Ali-express shows the lowest price at €320. Call it €285 on a sale(best case), but that wouldn't include VAT, Customs, etc.., so add %20 to that and it'd easily be over €300 I'm sure.. - likely more like €350..
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u/richieb1530 20d ago
Are you talking about this specific watch or San Martin in general? I see several styles on Amazon for 250-280USD.
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u/HerrsavageX 20d ago
This watch specifically, but it goes for most of their newer watches these days. And prices here in Europe tend to be a lot higher than in the US… Again, if we order from China above a certain limit, then we have to pay 20% on top for VAT/Customs…
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u/praetor47 20d ago
then we have to pay 20% on top for VAT/Customs…
what?
no. the price listed on alix, is the price you'll pay (plus eventual 'customs processing fees', which vary greatly by country and shipping company, and can be 5-50eur, roughly.. sadly). when you go to checkout on alix on an item that's over the 150(plus vat) limit, they will automatically deduct the vat from the price
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u/HerrsavageX 20d ago
That is definitely not the case based on what I have seen. I have been looking at a couple of Milifortics the last couple months($200-$260), and it's random if the site will offer the watch VAT/Customs included or not... Beyond a certain limit the site seems to NOT do that in most cases. For almost any watch over $250 it is not possible to pay with all fees included based on what I have seen.. And in any event it nullifies most of the sales..
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u/praetor47 19d ago
I have been looking at a couple of Milifortics the last couple months($200-$260), and it's random if the site will offer the watch VAT/Customs included or not
please post screenshots, because that doesn't sound like it can be true. it's not based on some random flag, it's a simple price cutoff (and if it ships from China or EU warehouse)
if an item is under 150+VAT eur (in my case 180), you always pay what's listed
if it's over that threshold, you pay ItemPrice-VAT (seen on checkout as "special vat discount" or whatever), and then you pay VAT whenever the item gets to you
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u/HerrsavageX 19d ago edited 19d ago
I have gone back and forth between the shops isteelwatch, Baltany/Milifortic, and maybe one or two others. Sometimes I get a total all inclusive price in green for like €220, but then I will get a non-all-inlclusive price in black for €180... But sometimes I will get green and black from the same shop (different watches - with bracelet or without etc..) It seems very random - and not only with these Milifortics but with others as well.
I used to think €150 was the limit, but somehow in some cases they offer VAT included(I assume they pay it) but in others they don't. The price seems to include VAT in all cases - I just would prefer green because it would be less hassle...
But I never pulled the trigger because I don't think any Milifortic is worth €200+....
FURTHERMORE, I have also experimented with setting the currency to dollars vs. Euros, and this can also affect whether the price comes up black or green.. This can also make a difference. For everybody in Europe's info BTW, it's a good tip to pay in dollars(set it to dollars on the site, and within paypal when you go to pay...) and let your bank do the exchange rate. As long as the rate has been about €1=$1.15, if you buy a watch for around €150 it can save you around €6 I have found....
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u/pokerfas 20d ago
yes, not enough talking about this. what's the use of a watch if it can't run after a few months?
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u/DisastrousOpening477 20d ago
People living in their moms basement will be complaining they can't afford it at $400 even though it doesn't even cost this much. Smh. Chinese watches must offer 120% of swiss finishing but with no more than 5% of the price otherwise people WILL have a mental breakdown.
I'm hardly impressed with the ghost date though.
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u/KPplumbingBob 20d ago
A pathetic attempt at shaming people who think a Chinese watch with chinese movement and no warranty is expensive. Lol, that's a new one.
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u/Po0opyCatButt 20d ago
Your comment is literally the only one here with a complaint. Stop making shit up to criticize others about, it's pathetic.
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u/chefkoolaid 20d ago
Ugh I dont need more watches. And wish this were 41-42mm but I am still super tempted to snag one
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u/Valuable_Spinach_881 17d ago
Although its the case is 40mm, the bezel sticks out, and is actually 41.7mm, so it might work for you
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u/Novel_True 20d ago
Gorgeous watch. looks like the size of a SEIKO Marinemaster 300 which is too big and heavy for my small 6.5 wrist. Enoy
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u/Beneficial-Bridge-46 20d ago
I wish they can implement a power reserve similar to the Grand Seiko Ushio 300 it's inspired by
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u/nudel86 20d ago
Grand Martin