Matic Explorer Homage Watch Review + 3 WAY COMPARISON

[@sweetcorn1968]

What a lovely clean dial. No fuss, no clutter and no date. Really sweet watch. Another great video

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I completely agree. Thanks mate 👍

[@GeorgeVisekruna-ym1yt]

Hi James. I bought this watch but not with the 369 dial, but the other matt black dial which it comes in. I went and bought it from Aliexpress and it arrived today. Love it. You're right too, Aliexpress isn't bad at all. Arrived within a week.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@GeorgeVisekruna-ym1yt I'm glad you're happy with it and that you had a good experience with AliExpress.

[@MyAffordableWatchCollection]

Not a bad option for half the price of the San Martin. It looks really nice and I prefer the C3 superluminova over BGW9. If only it was a bit thinner and had female end links it would be great. Great review James, loved the comparison!

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Yeah a solid caseback would help with that I think. Female end links would make a massive difference though. Cheers mate 👍

[@igorR061]

Oh yes, if the Matic was a bit thinner would be an easy choice, dial/hans/lume area it looks better, but case measurements SM a bit better, huge price difference.

[@watch-box]

If cost isnt taken into account then the San Martins quality wins out. Best value for me is the Matic - the printed dial actually gives the watch more of a vintage look which I like, and I quite like the typeset used on the Matic logo. Add to that the better lume and its a very strong offering. If all you can afford is the Bliger, you are still getting a very similar watch, and the look of the explorer without sacrificing too much. 3 great offerings for three pricepoints and people with different priorities. Great video - I'd love to see more comparisons like this.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

The build quality of the Matic is actually pretty much on par with the San Martin. I'm glad you liked the comparison. I actually have a playlist for the other ones I've done here. kzbin.info/aero/PLAvzyytvyE2dDx6G0XDV1vZMMXV7f7kUY I've got another one coming up soon too. So, make sure you've got notifications turned on so you don't miss it.

[@angelherrera6820]

I'm not an Rolex fan but no denying this is a nice looking watch. Don't know how this compares to a San Martin but it looks of quality to me. If I had to choose. I'd go for the Matic. Wear what you love. Nice review. Cheers!

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

They build quality is pretty much on par with San Martin. Thanks mate 👍

[@waris3732]

If I'm not wrong, the Bliger does have gaskets and screw down crowns and casebacks so it should be 100m wr. They just do a similar thing Parnis do with their water resistance. I'm not mad about lume and for the price, I could have 3 bligers for 1 San Martin

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

That's s good point actually.

[@joostkiefte7683]

Dimensions are okay, I guess. Bezels of all three are a touch on the biggish side (the newest San Martin in black and tiffany blue with the applied indexes has a narrower bezel). What puts me off the Matic / Phylida homages is their very big rehaut.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Perhaps I'll have to check out one of them at some point too then.

[@Valvey789]

Yeah those are the common problems with these homages, except for the new San Martins. Also, the lack of a tophat crystal.

[@bartlebob]

Nice review ! The comparison was really appreciated. Any decent bracelets on Ali express you would recommend?

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I've bought bracelets from this store before, which are pretty good. s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DnPn731

[@WristWatching]

Great review and comparison mate! Love how there are some great Explorer homages for us to choose from now, it's always been my favourite watch.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Thanks mate. There's a nice selection at different price points isn't there?

[@WristWatching]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR Definitely, I remember the days when our only option was the Alpha. These look to be a level or two above that.

[@ramy8700]

Could you try measuring the dial only measurement? I wonder if it's 28.5 mm?

[@hakanustun4708]

There are new Phylida Rolex and Tudor 37mm homages with the same measurements and specifications with Matic. Do you also recommend Phylida ones?

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I haven't tried out those specific watches, but I do have other Phylidas and they are also well made. In case you are unaware, Matic is actually a sub brand of Phylida.

[@tob855]

Great review, thanks!

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Cheers 👍

[@scollyutube]

There is a phylida 37mm homage too but nobody has reviewed it yet?

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I'll see if I can get hold of one of them at some point.

[@dalegamble1173]

I bought the matic and put it on an ostrich strap. Lovely watch, and very accurate.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

That sounds like a nice combo.

[@garethmccausland5834]

What does in Ostrich strap ? And where could I find one?

[@dalegamble1173]

@@garethmccausland5834 off the cuff

[@igorR061]

Nice comparison, I hope those newer versions with applied markers have a better lume, actually I´m waiting for some new markers/colour variation on those Matic and San Martin, both seems very good.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Cheers. I think they do the Matic in white as well.

[@richardlachcik5446]

Hi, nice review, you should see if you can get a Tisell which is an upgrade on all of these

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I'll see what I can do.

[@chi1057]

Nice comparison video - just wondered if it would have been better to have had set categories and scored them individually so the viewer had a clearer idea?

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

That's an interesting idea. What kind of thing did you have in mind?

[@chi1057]

It was something I saw on another KZbin channel in which they did a comparison- Just One More Watch. He compared bracelet, dial, case finish etc then scored each area and added up a total at the end. Also allows the comparison to be a bit more cohesive. Have a look. Keep up the good work.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@chi1057 Oh yeah I know what you mean now. I might try something similar next time.

[@alanpark3533]

Another good comparison would be the Alpha Explorer 36mm homage. For a small wrist (mine is 7in) it's 1mm smaller than the 3 in the video, so the fit is excellent. The indices are raised and not painted which makes for a better looking face. The only thing that could be better is the clasp, which could be changed. Overall I'm extremely happy with my Alpha.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Thanks. That sounds good. How much are they?

[@alanpark3533]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I bought mine a couple of years ago for around $100, but I'm sure the price has risen.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@alanpark3533 Yeah probably.

[@jwags24]

I like the logo much better on the Matic than the San Martin. I feel like the San Martin logo is something I've seen on my toys as a child. I wish I could get over it because it's a beautiful watch. Maybe having it printed would make it better for me. Thanks for the comparison!

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.

[@tonyrome655]

The San Martin logo reminds me of Scooby-Doo’s dog tag. Not sure why, but I just can’t unsee it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@tonyrome655 😆

[@corsinivideos]

I completely agree. So frustrating as San Martin make great watches but I can't get past their logo. I'm actually a graphic and brand designer, I even sent them a branding proposal. They didn't take me up on it though.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

You could always buy one and make your own custom logo. They offer that service.

[@davidcoleman2796]

I have a Bliger on a San Martin vintage diver bracelet with the female end links . Its perfect. The watch runs great . It looks great . I may buy the new San Martin . It's the best but for now, I'm happy .

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Nice. I didn't even think of trying the bracelet on that. So, it's good to know that it fits.

[@davidcoleman2796]

@Honest Watch Reviews yes . I ordered the female end links . With the rivets on the bracelet, it looks really good . It does fit . Both are 20 mm . I don't care about the bad lume but I wanted this to be one of my travel watches . ( if I lose it no big deal ) Now, I don't know because of the low water resistance. So do I spend so much more on the new San Martin ? It's $400 ca. Not cheap .

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@davidcoleman2796 That's why I think the Matic is a good middle ground between the two.

[@shahremhassan2841]

Interesting and informative review

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.

[@chrisr8112]

The value comparison is really hard, clearly San Martin is a different kettle of fish, the WR issue is odd as the bliger has a screw down caseback and crown so unless the sapphire leaks not sure why the WR rating is only 3 atm. The clasp on the bliger is also better.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I think they just state it as 30m, just to cover themselves, incase people have issues if they do go swimming with them.

[@paulandrews7622]

Nice, very nice..... But, I like the San Martin just a little more. Their quality control is (usually) excellent. At least it is on the couple of Subby homages I own !!??

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Based on the few Matic watches I've tried, I'd say their about in par with San Martin. But that is a small sample size though.

[@jims4539]

If you were pick one to wear on a leather strap based on size, lume and price, which would it be?

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

If it's on a leather strap, I'd probably go for the Matic.

[@fr0d0scious]

An easy win for the Matic for me. Only drawback for me is the sloped rehaut.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

So it is the Goldilocks Explorer homage for you then?

[@WesWatchRoom]

Great job on the review and comp mate, the matic does strike a nice balance between the bliger and san martin and is probably the one I'd go for. I would consider swapping out the bracelet though to make it a bit more wearable for me.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Cheers mate. Yeah it is. With a couple of little tweaks I think it could be on par with the San Martin too.

[@robertsoper7993]

So many great choices.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

It's nice to have options isn't it?

[@Trex100]

Excellent vid. Thank you!

[@Trex100]

I think the SM branding looks more classy. MATIC in caps is okay, but not interesting. Also that clasp with internal micro-adjust is not very appealing.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

So would you say it justifies the price difference then?

[@Trex100]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR Yes, if one was in a hurry to buy this homage. SM wants a lot for their watches, and I think that is ok. Matic could blow SM away (for the price) if they just made some small design upgrades. Love your work man.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@Trex100 If they added female end links that would make a big difference. Cheers mate I appreciate that.

[@AlexanderB.]

It's a quite succeeded take on an Explorer homage. I guess they put "mechanical" on the dial to avoid having both "Matic" and "Automatic" on the dial. "Self winding" would be a viable alternative.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I suspect so, yeah.

[@andrei-cosmin.popa85]

SN021-G-B = hot caca! Much better than the SN021G, in my humble opinion. Yes, it's rather expensive, but most people don't buy watches to sell, but to wear them.

[@joostkiefte7683]

my sentiments exactly

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Not everyone can or are willing to pay the price of the San Martin though. That's where the Matic comes into play.

[@andrei-cosmin.popa85]

I have no credit. What am I going to do now? Pliz giv praiz! 😢

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@andrei-cosmin.popa85 I'm sorry that message wasn't from me. It's a fake scam account.

[@andrei-cosmin.popa85]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR damn these soulless bots messing with my feelings, it would have been nice if I won something 😜

[@neilingram3973]

Put the Matic (with its price) in the San Martin case with the Bliger dial, excluding indices, and it would be a winner 😂

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

That would be good 😆

[@shanephillips8735]

An automatic watch is mechanical, so that wording on the dial is still correct

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Technically yeah, I know. It's just that people normally say mechanical when they are referring to handwind only.

[@gundamOPS]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR weird. I refer to hand wind only as Manual wind, or just manual.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@gundamOPS There's a lot of different variations of terms people use I think. But I've seen and heard people say is it mechanical or automatic before.

[@dannymurzea]

Mechanical differentiates between quartz...not automatic or hand wind. The watch is mechanical, just an automatic version.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

People use a lot of different terms I think. I've heard people say is a watch mechanical or automatic before. So, I just thought I'd clear that up, in case people are confused.

[@piquetuk]

The Matic has that deep plain metal rehaut that can be a bit of a giveaway on some cheaper watches, I'd rather pay the extra & get the SM. I actually have the Smiths Everest but if I didn't I'd be all over the SM. Nice comparison.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Thanks for the info and for watching.

[@stavros_katsopr]

So, three (faux) explorers come from China, but only one got in contact with "our" god, got to be a saint, thus the higher price. Why am i not surprised, wherever the church gets involved... you pay bit more at the end! 😜😁 Cheers James, thanks for the review and the comparison mate, be well. PS As you guess i'm not a fan of the explorer(s), so a bit of fun here. Nor the church! 😋

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

😆 Thanks for watching, even though you're not a fan of these. I appreciate that mate 👍

[@mattsmiley8156]

San Martin is just plain better. You pay for it though. But I can see wanting to pay as little as possible for a watch without any originality. So they’re the right choice depending on the picker.

[@jonirwin7316]

Everyone has a bias. More so if you get a free watch.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

You obviously haven't seen all of my videos then. As I've previously given not so good reviews on watches, some of which I've gotten for free as well. One of which, the seller asked me to take the video down... I didn't, but said I'd be happy to do a follow up review if they wanted to fix the issues and release a version 2.

[@jonirwin7316]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I didn't suggest you weren't honest in any way. I said more bias if a freebie is involved. There's no such thing a a perfect watch, so a review should always have a down side (s)

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@jonirwin7316 Oh ok, sorry I misunderstood. Yes of course you're right. But hopefully I try to minimise that potential bias being completely honest. For example, some reviewers don't always state whether they have received watches for free or not. I even make sure to let you guys know when I've had a discount on a watch. I also never accept payment for reviews either. Which I know again, that some channels do, but don't state that.

[@jonirwin7316]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I understand that YT rules state a disclaimer must be included on each vid. Some use a 3 second banner, & I know you actually say it.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@jonirwin7316The rules are little unclear on free products that you are reviewing, which is why I choose to state exactly what the situation is.