Last Updated on May 18, 2023 by swisswatchreview
Because San Martin watches are made in China, a lot of serious watch lovers tend to gloss over them. It’s a shame, really. Sure. San Martin watches aren’t going to be beating Swiss-made watches from a quality perspective, but those Swiss-made watches are considerably more expensive. The San Martin range of watches barely goes over $500, with the vast majority of their products being far cheaper than that.
So, if you have your eyes on a San Martin watch, rest assured that you are going to be getting something fantastic for your money. One of the better ‘budget’ luxury watches, in fact. This page is a San Martin watch review. You will learn why people love these watches so much, as well as get a bit more information about the best San Martin watches.
San Martin Watch Review – A Complete Guide
San Martin watches are all manufactured in China, although they do use various components from around the world. It is a bit of a misnomer to call San Martin a watch brand. They aren’t. Well, at least not in the way that people traditionally think of watch brands. San Martin isn’t really creating anything unique (bar a few products), almost everything in their range has been designed to be a homage to some top-quality watches from the likes of Rolex, Seiko, and more. This means that San Martin is a company for those that want to enjoy great-looking watches, but don’t want to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on one.
As mentioned, a lot of people steer clear of San Martin watches because they are manufactured in China. However, this really shouldn’t put you off. This isn’t a typical mass-produced product in China. It is clear that a lot of thought and effort has gone into producing these watches. They always use top-quality materials and components that really wouldn’t look out of place in watches many times the price of a San Martin.
While San Martin watches are not going to be an investment opportunity like some of the big Swiss watch brands, they are still widely praised by watch lovers for being great workhorses. They look great, and they are going to last a long time. You won’t be paying a huge amount of cash for them either, which is also a major plus when picking up a luxury watch!
Do bear in mind that because San Martin has tried to craft a range based on my popular watches, their pieces vary considerably. While all their watches are great, and they always use the best components possible, the look of each watch is different. The caliber of each watch is different. Although, this does mean that people have more choices about the type of watch they pick up from the company. It makes it much easier to find a San Martin watch that really matches your personality.
Best San Martin Watches
One of the joys of picking up a San Martin watch is the fact that they have such a massive selection of watches to choose from. Most of them are homages to some of the most famous watches in history. So, San Martin is a great route to go down if you are in the market for a stylish watch that doesn’t break the bank. Their watches are so wonderfully designed that people may even swear that you are wearing an actual Rolex.
These are some of the best San Martin watches right now. Shortly, there will be a deeper review of two of the most popular San Martin watches:
San Martin Water Ghost
One of the most iconic Rolex watches is the Submariner. You can thank its inclusion in a James Bond movie for that, and now it is rocked by many celebs as they head out onto the red carpet. Being a Rolex watch, it isn’t cheap, though. The San Martin Water Ghost is a faithful homage to the Submariner. This is one of those watches you would swear is an actual Rolex, even after looking at it.
San Martin SN004
While the Submariner managed to generate big business for Rolex, they also produced a lesser-known watch called the Milsub. Only 1,200 Milsub watches were ever produced so, as you can imagine, it gets pretty pricy. San Martin has produced their own version of the Milsub with the San Martin SN004. This is a watch that will be discussed in more depth shortly.
San Martin 62MAS
Back in the 1960s, watch manufacturers were going crazy producing quality dive watches. This is likely down to the success of the Rolex Submariner. Many of those watches fell into obscurity, known by just a few people. The Seiko 62MAS was one of these watches. While it did have a bit of flair, it didn’t quite break new ground as the Rolex Submariner did. Still, it managed to garner a few lovers, and the San Martin 62MAS hits the same beats. It is a bit larger than the original, but it still has that classic Seiko flair that people love.
San Martin DATEJUST
At the tail end of World War 2, Rolex released the DATEJUST watch. It wasn’t as popular as the Submariner ended up being, but for a while, it was one of the most snapped watches in the world. It was worn by numerous celebs, with the most prominent being Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of the UK during World War II). This sleek and functional watch was the epitome of luxury at the time. People loved the stainless steel finish and the beautiful watch face.
The San Martin DATEJUST is a homage to the DATEJUST. The major difference is that you now have way more choices when it comes to how you want the watch to look.
San Martin SBBN068
The San Martin SBBN068 is one of San Martin’s own original designs, which goes to show that when the designers at San Martin are allowed to let their creativity flow, they can create something unique and stylish. This vintage-era style watch boasts one of the heaviest-duty watch cases imaginable. This is a watch designed for adventures. It is even water resistant up to 500m.
San Martin PLOPROF
This is a watch that is never going to be the most popular in the San Martin range. The look is too unique. Although, it goes to show that San Martin is trying to tap into as many markets as possible. The San Martin PLOPROF is based on the deep-sea diving watch from Omega. This is a chunky watch, boasting bright orange colors and one of the more unique watch designs imaginable. It is water-resistant up to 300 meters.
San Martin 6200 Review (Water Ghost)
The San Martin 6200 is the previously mentioned Water Ghost, perhaps one of the most popular watches under the San Martin banner. It is based on one of the most famous dive watches in the world, after all. The Water Ghost offers the following specs:
- Stainless steel case
- Seiko NH35 watch movement
- Screw-down crown
- Screw-down case back
- 38mm diameter, 46mm lug to lug
- Stainless steel case
Other than a slight difference in color (and of course, the quality of materials), the San Martin 6200 is an almost faithful recreation of the Rolex Submariner. For those buying their watches for style and functionality rather than investment value, the San Martin 6200 is a viable alternative to the Rolex Submariner.
The inclusion of the Seiko NH35 (NH35A) watch movement is a testament to how important quality is to San Martin. This is a quality watch movement. While not the most expensive caliber in the world, it has no issues keeping accurate time. It loses about 3-4 seconds per 24 hours, which is barely anything when you compare it to other watch mechanisms at this price point. This watch mechanism even has the Diashock anti-shock protection system, ensuring that even a hefty knock won’t stop your San Martin 6200 from keeping accurate time.
San Martin SN004 Review
The San Martin SN004 is a homage to the incredibly rare Rolex Milsub, of which only 1,200 units were ever made. The rarity is down to the fact that it was never really introduced on the open market. It was a special project for the British military. While most people reading this probably will never be able to own a Milsub (the units rarely go up for sale), you can get something close with the San Martin SN004.
The San Martin SN004 is very similar to the Rolex Milsub, at least the watch casing is. The colors are the same, and San Martin has chosen the best materials while keeping the price down. however, there is a major looks difference between the San Martin SN004 and the Milsub. This is the strap. The Milsub, because of the reason it was designed, uses a nylon strap. The San Martin SN004 has a stainless steel strap. The stainless steel strap adds more robustness, but it does mean that the SN004 is not a perfect replica of the Milsub.
The actual specs of the San Martin SN004 (outside of looks) are not that different from the San Martin 6200. So, you have the same size for the case and the same NH35 watch mechanism. By now, you already know that this means that the San Martin SN004 is a tremendous watch and offers great value for money.
Final Thoughts – Are San Martin Watches Good?
San Martin watches may not be the most popular watches in the world, but they offer tremendous value for money. If you are after a watch that matches the design of many of the most popular, and expensive, watches in the world but don’t want to spend the big bucks, then San Martin is where you need to look. Their watches are affordable and built to last. They are never going to have the same following as the likes of Rolex and Seiko, but they fit their niche well. In fact, many watch fans sing the praises of San Martin watches constantly. They are just that good.
