The Under £200ish Watch and occasional Opera Thread! Vol2

[Bubbas Grill]

Barchettaman said:

I know I’ve said it before, but although nobody buys a mechanical watch for its accuracy it isn’t half gratifying when a cheap automatic watch outperforms expectations!

My €60 Citizen Promaster has been on my wrist for about a week now and is keeping rock solid time. I mean, the movement doesn’t hack so ultimately its accuracy is pretty pointless but after 7 days it’s bang on. Minus 20 last weekend, minus 20 today.

Remarkable really.

The scratches and scuffs on the mineral crystal are 95% removed with Polywatch. I would recommend the stuff.

I love my Promaster. Nice and weighty little thing. Built to last.

[Macneil]

Delurking to ask about this...looks fantastic, anyone got one? £175 on San Martin website

https://www.sanmartin.watch/products/watchdives-x-...

[21st Century Man]

San Martin are really good, see the various comparison videos on YouTube, not only versus their native competitors, but Swiss stuff at several thousands. Not much originality though, mainly premium homages.

[Barchettaman]

Loads of YT reviews on that Watchdive/Pelagos collaboration.

It looks really really good, if it’s your kind of thing. Buy one and report back?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Macneil said:

Delurking to ask about this...looks fantastic, anyone got one? £175 on San Martin website

https://www.sanmartin.watch/products/watchdives-x-...

I confess, I wouldn't mind giving that a go.

[RSTurboPaul]

That homage looks better than the original - the Tudor two-liner has a terrible font that looks cheap, and the four-liner looks like they got verbal diarrhoea and couldn't stop filling the dial with text.... whereas this just looks 'clean'.

I have more bills than money this month (again... lol) but I might have to order this, as I've fancied the Pelagos for ages.

[RSTurboPaul]

Looks like that watch is also available on the other partner's website:

https://watchdives.com/en-gb/products/san-martin-a...

and I think this is a good review video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eps-6nYry0w

[RSTurboPaul]

The rubber strap for it looks good too!

https://watchdives.com/en-gb/products/san-martin-c...

[21st Century Man]

Some of the comparison videos where the cheap Chinese tat is compared to brands such as Rolex are a real surprise at the macro level. Paint bleed, scuff marks on indices, surface imperfections, then there's things like wobbly bezels. It's incredible that a £300 San Martin can trump a Submariner or Pepsi on finish. Obviously the movement is the elephant in the room, but there's not much wrong with the Seiko NH35 or Hangzhou 6460.

Edited by 21st Century Man on Saturday 3rd June 10:32

[The_Nugget]

Macneil said:

Delurking to ask about this...looks fantastic, anyone got one? £175 on San Martin website

https://www.sanmartin.watch/products/watchdives-x-...

Arghhhh, I knew it was a bad idea coming here this morning.
Saw a Blue Tudor Pelegos in the flesh a few months ago and really liked it.
Obviously wasn’t going to drop £4k on one….but £175 seems much more reasonable!
So I’ve just bought it - will report back when it turns up!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

The_Nugget said:

Arghhhh, I knew it was a bad idea coming here this morning.
Saw a Blue Tudor Pelegos in the flesh a few months ago and really liked it.
Obviously wasn’t going to drop £4k on one….but £175 seems much more reasonable!
So I’ve just bought it - will report back when it turns up!

Good man. Think I'll do the same, on a blue rubber strap.

[Barchettaman]

You’re shining examples to the rest of us. Congratulations chaps.

[21st Century Man]

I too have made a San Martin purchase, but I'm too ashamed to say what? It's one of the more blatant homages and not really any different to a full on fake/replica, and I loathe those, so I'm a hypocrite too.

[Bobberoo]

Don't worry 21stCenturyman, we won't take the micky too much.............

[21st Century Man]

If you think I'm going to post it in here and reveal the full horror of my shame, you can think again!

[RSTurboPaul]

No-one who matters in the real world cares if you have 'dodgy' watches and those who do care, don't matter

Post away!!

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Saturday 3rd June 14:51

[Bobberoo]

21st Century Man said:

If you think I'm going to post it in here and reveal the full horror of my shame, you can think again!

CHICKEN!!!!!

[Kes Arevo]

21st Century Man said:

If you think I'm going to post it in here and reveal the full horror of my shame, you can think again!

Do it.

I bought a Skmei.

[Drooles]

I’ve been away camping for a week and wearing a bulky watch. This one seems very small, in comparison, but I think it sits well on the wrist. Great watch for the money - they seem to be a bit over now but I bought this in budget a few years ago

[jamgy]

I've had my eye on that San Martin Pelagos, went to buy one a couple of days ago and they don't have any in stock in black (I like the blue but already got an all blue diver)

Apparently more stock in July, so bought one of these to tide me over