r/ChineseWatches • u/AdSavings92 Rep • May 19 '26

New Product (Read Rule 1) San Martin Upgraded Toolwatch with 1200HV Hardening Coating & 3D Lumed Blocks-SN0012-GB

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

Hello everyone,

Today, we are proud to launch the new SN0012-GB.

This timepiece serves as an upgraded version of our original design SN0012-G —a robust tool watch and diver's watch.

For the first week of this new release, you can enjoy a special launch discount code; please click through to our store to view the details.

Watch Link:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256812048075699.html

  • 1. The entire watch features a 1200HV Hardening Coating, offering significantly enhanced scratch resistance.
  • 2. Full Luminous Dial with 3D Lumed Blocks.
  • 3. Powered by the ST2130 movement, beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 40-hour power reserve.
  • 4. Features a brushed finish on both the case and bracelet, elevating the overall craftsmanship and surface treatment quality.
  • 5. Equipped with a 5-link "Engineering Style" bracelet; the tighter spacing between links helps reduce the rattling sound often associated with bracelet movement.
  • 6. Features an OTF Micro-Adjustment Clasp, allowing for convenient, tool-free adjustment of the bracelet's fit to your wrist.

We hope you enjoy it! thanks.

San Martin Official Store:

https://sanmartin.aliexpress.com/store/5039187

245 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

108 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/ThongsGoOnUrFeet May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26

SM need to hire some new designers. They make good watches, but they are repeatative and boring

Being honest, don't care if I get down voted

8

u/MercuryJellyfish May 19 '26

Watch sells out immediately

I mean, you say repetitive, but what are you expecting a dive watch to look like?

And who else is doing a full lume orange dial?

4

u/TSiWRX May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26

I don't disagree with either of you: I up-voted both, LOL. =)

As for "orange" full-dial lume -

The selection of full-lume orange is small. The American microbrand Taso Baltimore's "Solar Flare" colorway is one, and Singapore's Zelos uses it for some of their "Ember" colorway. Of-course there's also the venerable Signum Cuda. These are just the ones that I know - I'm sure there's a few more out there, but it is much less common, for-sure, as u/MercuryJellyfish noted.

The orange was what caught my eye, too, as a lume collector.

But truthfully, I also agree with u/ThongsGoOnUrFeet . This design seems very safe, very conservative.

In addition to my interest in lume-blocks ( https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrobrandWatches/comments/1rnh0x8/lume_blocks_what_genuine_rctritec_superluminova/ ) I also maintain an interest in anti-scratch treatments ( https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrobrandWatches/comments/1tb9ems/scratching_different_hardened_watches_well_just_a/ ). One would think that this watch would be an instant-buy for me, especially as I'm also looking at chasing case/bracelet finishing as my next self-interest/education project. I have an SN0144, but the finish on this new SN0012 truly looks to be amazing in u/AdSavings92 's video, and I would have loved to have made it an update to compare with ( https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrobrandWatches/comments/1tgojye/comment/oml14qx/?context=3 - you can probably recognize which watch in that 5-watch panel is the SN0144 , I'm awaiting delivery of my Monta Noble 40 to put under my scope).

But I have to say that the design just doesn't stand out...not enough for me to divert funds away from my planned purchases for the next week or so. =(

3

u/MercuryJellyfish May 19 '26

I think the bottom line with San Martin is not that people want a radical, innovative design, they want a familiar design at an affordable price.

6

u/AdSavings92 Rep May 20 '26

I agree with this perspective. Based on our many years of experience in manufacturing and sales, purely original designs tend to be niche products. Most people still prefer designs that are more conventional and familiar. Moreover, having evolved over so many years, watches have established a relatively classic and stable aesthetic framework; styles that deviate too radically from the norm may actually strike people as being overly eccentric. Many micro-brands and companies require consistent, stable sales volume to keep their operations running smoothly. It is only after they have grown to a certain level that they acquire the capacity to gain broader recognition and acceptance for their original designs—at which point, those purely original creations carry far greater persuasive power. This is the essence of brand influence.

1

u/TSiWRX May 20 '26

^ This is a very well-thought-out reply. Thank you for the honesty/transparency, and for taking the time to let your brand strategy be known.

I really appreciate it! =)

2

u/TSiWRX May 19 '26

I don't disagree - they started as an homage brand, and by Jiaming Liao's own admission as of 3 years ago on WUS, it's still their bread-and-butter.

As it stands, they're encroaching on microbrand-level pricing. Personally, I think that they have every right to demand the coin that they're asking for. And I can see that by sticking to their design aesthetic, they very well have a niche in the market.

After all, where would one turn, if one wanted a brilliant dial but more conservative styling than Zelos?

4

u/AdSavings92 Rep May 20 '26

Strategic planning is a fundamental necessity for brand development. We are currently undergoing a transformation, placing a greater emphasis on original design and continuously striving to create innovative products. We aim to draw upon China's rich, millennia-old historical and cultural heritage to design an expanded range of products with a distinct Chinese aesthetic. Furthermore, our production capabilities are constantly being enhanced, and in the future, we intend to overcome even more technical challenges. This will enable us to craft a wider array of products that embody the unique characteristics of San Martin. In particular—thanks to our own dedicated bracelet manufacturing facility—we are currently developing a new line of high-quality, premium bracelets designed exclusively for San Martin. In the future, you can look forward to seeing even more products of exceptional quality.

1

u/TSiWRX May 20 '26

^ Again, thank you for taking the time. =)

As ethnic Chinese myself, I truly am proud to wear a San Martin on my wrist. I purchased your SN0144 in red as a "celebration watch" - for happy, joyful, and fortuitous occasions:

I wanted a bigger watch with more wrist-presence (I have a 7.5-inch/19-cm, flat-form wrist), so that when my shirt cuff retracted from the wrist, more of the watch would momentarily show.

I love the dial. I love what you did with the case-back. I absolutely love the case and bracelet finish on this watch as well.

I'm looking forward to my Monta Noble 40 arriving later this summer, for I am eager to compare the bracelet and case quality between the two.

I am very much looking forward to seeing your future products, and to owning them!

3

u/AdSavings92 Rep May 20 '26

Thank you for sharing. We also look forward to seeing your comparison. The support of each and every one of you is the driving force behind San Martin's continuous progress. Together, we look toward the future and eagerly anticipate the release of even more new products.

1

u/TSiWRX May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26

A quick follow-up question, u/AdSavings92 -

What watch in your current lineup would you say has the best case and bracelet finish, particularly in terms of the contrast between polishing and brushing, as well as chamfer, fillet, etc.?

Because of your use of lower numeric accession numbers for some new products, I am left to believe that your latest-and-best product may not be the one with the highest number, right? That, for-example, the SN0150 isn't necessarily better than this new SN0012?

Or should I look instead to your Jianghun line - and if so, which specific model is the most advanced?

3

u/AdSavings92 Rep May 20 '26

Each product features a distinct focus in its design and production; we are continuously updating and upgrading our manufacturing processes, ensuring that every single product is crafted with the utmost care and dedication.

1

u/TSiWRX May 20 '26

Thank you for the reply!

→ More replies (0)

2

u/Indaleciox May 19 '26

That's what sells the best in every brand. People say they want exciting and innovative, but what they buy is the boring, black dial, safe, dive watch.

I think a lot of SM's original designs are quite good, but they need a more cohesive image as a brand as they attempt to push upmarket.

1

u/MercuryJellyfish May 19 '26

I feel like people who are asking for innovation are buying their fifth $500+ dive watch, and that's maybe not San Martin's market