San Martin's Vintage 1968 MM300! Not as good as you'd hope! | Full Review | The Watcher

[@valtraone]

Nice watch and pretty good value, but I purchased the Proxima with green dial and gold bezel markings, and it's a belter. Enjoyed your review, as ever.

[@scottlewis2372]

Another great review! Once again you managed to point out things others didn't, and I really appreciate it. I think you're right in that it would be a winner on a strap. It would be nice of SM would offer that as an option to save few dollars and save the hassle of sourcing a 19mm strap.

[@TheWatcherReviews]

Yeah the strap is quite bespoke, i think uncle seiko do a strap to fit

[@AlexanderB.]

Finally someone points it out: San Martin need to get the font of the dial inscriptions out, it would be such an easy fix to make their watches look so much more classy!

[@dirk954]

Wow! Thank for the good review. I also like the MM300 Style, and I got my San Martin's Vintage 1968 yesterday. I fully agree with you comments. Thank you and keep up the good work! 😀👍

[@hcastel]

Great review as always. I bought this one in the last sale and I really like it. None of those issues bother me and as far as sizing the bracelet it’s very easy the pins come out in any direction and the collars are long and fit in the center of the link, they are not those small ones that are difficult to work with. Very nice watch.

[@BCallum]

Thanks for the review. Was hoping SM would have hit this one out of the park. Perhaps V2 is around the corner. Cheers from Atlantic Canada!!!

[@felo6035]

Great review Zee, appreciate your insight. I'm sure SM will close the pointed gaps and come up with an even better version. Be well my friend.

[@PocketUau]

I wish they would release this in 37mm, undercutting Seiko and their almost exclusively oversized selection. The fact that most Seiko dive watches will only fit 7.5+ inch wrists properly is exactly why I believe San Martin, Sugess, Rdunae and the like should release more midsize watches. Just look at Tandorio and their 37mm quartz SKX. Meanwhile, Seiko has just released 38mm 5 Sport models which are inferior in nearly every metric including unisex adaptability. 38.5mm isn't nearly what I'd call midsize, especially after seeing Tudor go 37mm now and Omega discontinuing their 36mm Seamaster, which at 300m of WR proves there's no reason why popular models are forced to be 42+mm and virtually unwearable for people with wrists of 6.5 inches and under.

[@turradi1126]

Very cool review. I'm waiting for mine to arrive. It has a customized dial and that's why it's late. Having few Seikos, I got used to the sharp edge that you can feel between lugs and end links. The SM uses smaller tolerances than Seiko, and that's a plus. I think this watch is going after the SLA025 from 2018 and it does a great job at it. It's so great, it comes with a bracelet, something Seiko never bothered to do, ha

[@fredericktennant9151]

Great video, the MM300 was the watch that got me into homarge watches (3 faulty or missaligned returned) I picked up the Steeldive version with the idea of moding it but changed my mind as back then Seiko left a bad taste in my mouth. My MM300 has been a work horse and looking at this I suspect that its clearly a version 1 watch, mistake have been made that will be sorted in the next version.

[@jazzman5598]

Excellent review Mr. Zee, thanks

[@mr.eswatchreviews]

How did these three homages compare price wise to the original

[@TheWatcherReviews]

Price wise? Well the OG is around 2.5k and the proxima is very well built and close in dimensions. Ofcourse none really come up to the OG.

[@mr.eswatchreviews]

@@TheWatcherReviews understood I figured they were cheaper I just wasn't sure exactly by how much and it would seem by at least 10% of the original

[@harryhar8273]

90% off price of the original 200$ homage to 4000$ watch

[@mohnnadmercedes8246]

The original one that this watch inspired by is not MM300 but the earliest 1968 300m diver with low beat movements The original cost in good condition 12000-14000usd and you must have a big luck to find good one as there are no supply parts nor anyone can work on these things anymore

[@tonyd223]

Another great review Zee. Do we expect more from San Martin? Well, yes, £200 for a NH35 diver needs to be perfect

[@TheWatcherReviews]

Maybe not perfect but still a bit of room. Those sharp protruding lugs is a huge no no

[@karlsenula9495]

@@TheWatcherReviews... the good news is that San Martin has a decent basis/quality to start with and seems to be one of those Aliexpress brands that listens to criticism and makes adjustments.

[@tomcruz3774]

I just got the proxima mm300 and i might pick this up. Pretty much a spot on homage of the 6159-7001, right down to the lug width. I just need to find a period correct waffle strap.

[@nintendokings]

The uncle seiko 19mm waffle is basically a must for this

[@TheWatcherReviews]

Yep!

[@robertevans214]

Another great review! Love the 4 o’clock stem location. I did, by the way, get the Boderry back from China…never made it out of customs. They still offered to repair it but it’s $80.00 to ship it. Not sure if it’s worth it do do that again. Keep up the great content.

[@cedarcanoe]

The sides, bezel thickness-nuzzling and width, and sapphire size are copied from a MM2000. Not from the MM300. This execution is perfect for me bracelet width and vintage lume. I regret your endless complaining. I.e. Have you ever noticed Rolex Sub has overhanging lugs at the endlink as well?

[@TheWatcherReviews]

I regret that you regret my endless complaining. We can't always give wayches glorious reviews while issues like the ones pointed out exist Cedar. The lugs sticking out are not turned down like the submariner but stick outwards. It needed to be pointed out!

[@alexprendido2023]

Love the hand set

[@alixrza3107]

Gorgeous peice, but them endlinks are a big deal breaker. Would look great on a rubber stap tho. Keep up the excellent content mate👍👍

[@stevemoon2136]

Nicely done. I too am disappointed with this one. If it was more like the Seiko 1968 limited edition: 42mm, had 20mm lugs & didn't have faux patina it would have had much greater appeal. Hopefully SM do an update.

[@dunderhay9169]

A very thorough review 👍. One other thing that worries me is that very large flat case back may cause sweating in summer use. I have a Citizen with a similar flat back and there is no air circulation in use making it a lot hotter to wear than other similar sized watches with protruding case back.

[@sandipbhattacharjee3304]

Thanks a lot for this great review.

[@mohnnadmercedes8246]

Please can we mod this watch ? Cant find details about compatible inserts ( i want aluminum not crapy ceramic) + compatible dials and hands. If you still have this watch i will be happy to know the information

[@XjohnjohnX88]

GREAT review!!! Thanks Zee 🙏

[@brianmsahin]

Appreciate you covering all the aspects, good and bad. I do like this one, it probably will fit better on my bigger wrist. As you said I'd also love to see a logo etched on the caseback. A rubber strap will look good on it. I was just thinking I'd love to see a GMT version of this with a 24 hour bi directional bezel on a leather strap, it could be a real beauty. Thanks again for the review!

[@willmarshall4685]

I’ve been waiting for this one.

[@michaelj8793]

Hey Thanks for sharing another killer review and its good to see they haven't overpriced this one Anyways Thanks as always my friend and Stay Frosty 👍

[@borisstepanyan9611]

Not bad. But I have mixed feelings. There are aspects that I like and some that I don’t like .Thanks for the review.

[@Sizzle_Bear]

If they perfect the end links and sort out the mismatched lume then this is a killer watch for under £200

[@ragnarone5409]

V2

[@kobusvanrensburg4092]

Thanks for the upload. Love the monobloc cases, but Jeezis they are terrible to work on. They do look beautiful though.

[@alexprendido2023]

Tha one is a beautiful watch

[@ulig12]

Excellent review as always! I would not buy this with that bulky side profile and 19 mm lugs which seem inappropriate for such a big watch (and impractical too).

[@PINKFL0YD-s2h]

I own two SM and I think that they are overrated to be honest. I'm looking for a MM homage and the Proxima is the best in My opinion. One of My SMs had a gash in the back and I found the customer service to be non existent - Proxima is excellent customer service also

[@TheWatcherReviews]

I agree with your comment, they are slightly over rated and thats down to reviewers. Special regard to the mm300, Proxima has the best sbdx version.

[@fredcrook8228]

Nice looking watch. I'd probably put it on a rubber strap though.

[@stevenmccarthy112]

Great water resistance for all the desk divers watching this.

[@yashinisuki]

I don't get why people keep thinking that recessed end links in cheaper watches are "unfinished". Many luxury brands do that, yet no one complains about them. I love seeing brands incorporating this style of end links in cheap watches - they definitely elevate the look and make the piece look more expensive than it is. It's almost like they give you a good looking and finished watch for a steal and then the "reviewers" are like nah, make it feel cheaper 🤦🏻

[@TheWatcherReviews]

There's a difference in recessed end links made properly to the point where they don't affect the watch. As a reviewer and watch owner/collector. The lugs on this do not fit or feel right, they stick outwards. A submariner and lugs which turn downwards, negating any impact of the points. These lugs stick out a bit, you can see from the video it gives the case a fanged look.

[@yashinisuki]

@@TheWatcherReviews I get what you are saying, I actually own a SN006 which has even more pronounced and sharp ends of lugs, but here's the thing - for the first few months of daily wearing the watch I have not even noticed that since they are facing your wrist and not gonna scratch you or do any damage to your clothes. You have mentioned that you are surprised that no one at San Martin has picked this up. Personally I think that this was a design choice and it does make the case look more refined and well finished. I get that different people have different opinions and clearly you do not like it and that is okay. However, in my opinion, as someone who calls himself a reviewer, maybe you should have said that you do not like the design direction they went with instead of talking about it like it is a flaw, which is clearly not. They have incorporated the same type of sharp, pointy lugs in other models and as a reviewer/collector/etc. who have handled many of their watches you definitely came across that before. Hope that clarifies my previous comment.

[@TheWatcherReviews]

It clarifies it a little bit. i still disagree, dude. I've looked at plenty of watches, and i hold my opinion. Lugs should not protrude to that point where you can actually feel them sticking out. Its an oversight in design due to them trying to offer recessed lugs. It doesn't make sense to me in this situation, my guy. You don't find this from a lot of mainstream brands. If someone doesn't mind it, that's a different thing, isn't it.

[@govindadiscodancer6652]

The watcher do you watch me eating my Samosas, while sitting in my mankini while rubbing lolo on the beach? 👀

[@TheWatcherReviews]

What?

[@clorox1972]

🤮

[@doguk34c]

Unboxing?you?

[@doguk34c]

?

[@TheWatcherReviews]

@@doguk34c ?

[@doguk34c]

@@TheWatcherReviews you!🫵unboxing?sanmatin!

[@TheWatcherReviews]

What do you mean man? Obviously, its a review

[@andrewquick1609]

I think what I'm hearing here is... it's Spud Time 🥔🥔🪒

[@TheWatcherReviews]

🤣🤣🤣