Going toe-to-toe with San martin for best affordable GADA watch [Watchdives WD0005]

[@pjmq]

Watch dives pumping out original designs with cool dials is the 2024 twist ending I really needed. Will be picking one of these up.

[@srebori]

Got mine already and am super impressed. WD is offering better and better timepieces every year

[@niyicodemus]

How is it original when it copies san martin?

[@colinbeckstrand2612]

And changing there logo to something more understated was also a big value add for the brand.

[@OK-td7oe]

@@niyicodemus Its a copy of an original. hahaha

[@tngchinghwa]

original my ass, it is a homage of san martin, keep your information up to date

[@kobusvanrensburg4092]

If you treat WD as the sub brand of SM this makes perfect sense, seeing that so many people complain about SM prices going up. For V2 drop in the VH31 - slimmer case, and a peach of a movement.

[@ccooper8785]

I wish more makers would do that. The VH31 is a superb movement.

[@fianma07]

Dial game going so strong here. Excited to keep seeing Watchdives' improvement over the years. Thanks for the comprehensige review!

[@daynevickers1079]

Great review! The last two watches I bought are from Watchdives, and both of them have the Seiko VK31 sweeping quartz movement. After being an 'automatic' guy for over 4 decades, I'm gonna make a suggestion to all microbrands; offer your models with the VK-series of movements. Why? Let me count the ways; #!- Thinner, #2-much more reliable, #3-much more accurate, #4- lighter on wrist. #5- less expensive, thus allowing 'room' to either offer the watch at an even lower price (=more sales), or offer 'upgrades such as on the fly adjustable clasp, etc. If this makes sense to you, let Steve know so he can pass it onto his factory contacts. Thanks again, Steve, I always enjoy your reviews.

[@davidc3903]

Absolutely agree!

[@goofygoober3407]

This watch is fantastic! I would love a 36mm version with the quartz VH31 movement.

[@AWWA-y1g]

I agree.

[@ccooper8785]

Oh yes please

[@garethbain7477]

That case is killer. Really reminds me of the Relio Solstice (but without the cut our section on the flanks).

[@AnyoxB.D.]

Although this is not a watchdives original design, I love the direction Chinese brands are going in general. I don’t know if the sales numbers represent it, but I would personally love to see even more of a shift to original designs, even if all the other AE companies end up homaging it, like is the case here.

[@LymanPhillips]

This is a sweetie. The dial is lovely. The brushing is admirable and the hands are an excellent choice. I like the case shape - these Light Catcher inspired case designs are a welcome trend. I think SM does a better job matching the brushing on the lugs and the bracelet. Also, the lugs look out of proportion from the case - the watch looks like a compass strapped on your wrist, especially on those straps. SM gets a lot of crap for reusing the same bracelet, but if it ain't broke ... Still, this is a great offering from Watch Dives, and a great price on the sale.

[@FACTSWITHANTHONYJAMES]

They have work to fo but they are getting better

[@richardwysocki8300]

Straum makes a watch very similar to that blue Watchdives model. It is masterfully designed and executed, has a more sophisticated look and a high-end Swiss movement. It also costs about $1,700 USD and -- with a beautifully matched integrated bracelet -- no strap options. That Watchdives model is also good looking and a great value alternative to the Straum. Love that dial and prefer your tan strap option. Addendum: Just got to your comparison but I'll leave the comment as is.

[@jaer.6540]

The straum has a strap option

[@richardwysocki8300]

@@jaer.6540 Some of Straum's watches have strap options, some don't. The Jan Mayen Arctic Blue model that I prefer seems to have an integrated bracelet. Too expensive for me at the moment (and probably for many moments to come, lol), though.

[@danspanos]

They did an awesome job on this one! Did San Martin manufacture this one for them? My only gripe would be the lack of a quick adjust clasp. I just think that was a miss for their first original design. Great review as always, Steve!

[@bensynewsshoedown4999]

An in the fly clasp arrives soon. Too bad it was too late for release. I'd expect it's included once it's available.

[@Paul-yu4yo]

OMG that WD0005 🤯

[@watchalot919]

I own the green version, and have done my own KZbin review. It's far from perfect, but for the price it's hard to beat. I was particularly impressed by the longevity of the lume and case finishing. However, I would have been happy to swap the quick release spring bars for screw pins

[@astrobusa]

Another great review. Thanks for showing dial diameter. That's a dimension I use to determine how a piece is going to look. It's often more representative than case width. WatchDives really are giving San Martin a run for its money and it's making the SM pieces look pretty expensive by comparison.

[@paulandrews7622]

Really cool watch, great review as always. The Purple dial, though, on the San Martin is awesome. Gonna have to get one. I currently have no purple dial in my collection. This will HAVE to be rectified. Keep the great reviews coming. You're one of my favourite reviewers. All the best from the UK !!

[@si-81]

Great review

[@Pierluigi_Di_Lorenzo]

I wouldn't call 12.6 mm 'slim' (3:21). Are they really regulating the movements (14:48)?

[@davidc3903]

The conditional phrase „slim for a NH35“. Close to 12mm is the best you can do with the NH35

[@Megatraum504]

the datewheel on the san martin is often misaligned from what i see in reviews. Smart that they offer this with no date.

[@EscapeWheel]

I notice on the nh35s that when you manually change the date it is off but after it rolls over to the next day naturally it becomes more aligned. Probably what you're seeing in the reviews

[@rekosko]

Straum vibes but more affordable :)

[@richardwysocki8300]

You summed it up my thoughts, but more succinctly :)

[@predog18]

Going red when the clasp gets otf I read one or two weeks

[@bensynewsshoedown4999]

Yeah it will very likely come with OTF clasp then.

[@M123OCT]

At this price range, I'd be happy to have a nice reliable meca-quartz, still with a bit of a sweep, but hassle-free. Could even do that and knock the price down a little more.

[@jaer.6540]

My only real complaint on this watch is the crystal...really wish it was just a flat sapphire, but otherwise its a really nice watch at a great price

[@himangshumahanta5398]

Still unable to decide between the blue and green. 😅

[@SheshankReddyS]

Something about that dial texture at 5:00 makes it look plasticky. It looks like moulded plastic, instead of a an engraved texture. Maybe they shouldn't have made it as glossy?

[@TheKhazar]

Isn't this made by San Martin with Watchdives logo on it ? I think the two partner.

[@adk7962]

It felt like Seestern filled the spot WD is in right now. I mean, the more choices we have, the better it is for the U.S. enthusiasts. Thanks for the great review and sorry for the poor movement in yours.

[@brianlam9429]

Are you sure it’s not magnetized ?

[@ChrizzLau69]

Is Watchdives and SM from the same factory?

[@EscapeWheel]

@@ChrizzLau69 no, different factory

[@ChrizzLau69]

@ appreciate it! Love your reviews man. I’m hoping to someday land a SN0111T

[@niyicodemus]

Nice lug to lug

[@Red_Fox8]

Hi, can u compare it with the san martin one and erebus ascent 🙏 approximately it's 150$ vs 300$ vs 450$ Gada Watch ✌️🤞

[@EscapeWheel]

@@Red_Fox8 I'd go with the San Martin...the Erebus has the best hands and indices, San Martin has the nicest case and bracelet.

[@aethelwulfwarlord1475]

San Martin, Cronos, Pagani and now Watchdives all doing an Evolution 9 homage. We should feel spoiled

[@EscapeWheel]

@@aethelwulfwarlord1475 lol, for sure. Amazing what you get for under $200 these days...just bonkers.

[@Black_Cat_997]

Homages to San Martin watches. The world moves quickly.

[@aethelwulfwarlord1475]

It's a Grand Seiko evolution 9 homage right down to the dial - which is a sunburst version of Suwa Lake. The hands are shared with San Martin as they basically 1 company at this point

[@cmem7604]

i like the dial, not so much the rest of it unfortunately

[@TXLogic]

Especially when you can find high-beat calibers like the PT5000 or the Miyota 9015 in watches in this price range. This is why I still don’t own a San Martin.

[@MarkoBlazevic-cx8gr]

What brands with Myota and PT5000 are you thinking of? I am in a search for a new watch and I would appreciate any assistance.

[@ArtoftheDial]

Annoying the clasp isn't better, I don't understand why they try to skimp there. Honestly it is more important than slightly better brushing/polishing.

[@johnbutler7901]

if the rumours are correct that san martin are making it for them, maybe they have been told it has to be lower quality so as to not impact on the sales of san martin watches

[@musik4u343]

Sorry but no lol. The SM is way better. Just the movement and thinness alone. The dial here is a little on the tacky side. It's a decent watch on its own but not by comparison

[@EscapeWheel]

@@musik4u343 watch the full review...there are more San martins than the SN0144...I'm talking about the SN0129. Agree the 144 is on another level.

[@05carsm]

I have a couple of chinese watches, but I'm not expending 200

[@Doty6String]

I’d rather have the SM but this doesn’t look too bad.

[@jesperscheel-bech998]

In real life... the dial looks like plastic - well done WD! The split-pin bracelet is very difficult to adjust and the quick-release springbars are impossible to refit. No, this is not my first watch. And yes, I have fittet almost any bracelet system know to man. I'll take screw pins and normal spring bars over this junk any day. The WD0005 is NOT RECOMMENDED. It is a major step back for WD and honestly not worth the 164 USD I bought it for. Went right into the bin, never buying a WD again (bought quite a few before it...).

[@EscapeWheel]

Sad to hear it, especially since I experienced none of these issues. WD would have taken care of you though with a refund/replacement.

[@OHJAJOH]

Same factory different brand name, dont be naïve

[@EscapeWheel]

@@OHJAJOH different factory, different brand name.

[@AlexDangefield]

Shame these bold textured dials aren’t unique, much like the dune texture (addies? San Mars?) they all appear to have been stamped from the same die.. that’s where the grand seiko comparisons fall very flat very fast.

[@BlackRiggerEBTWelfare]

300$ no thanks

[@himangshumahanta5398]

It's 164$ with discount. Not 300$.