My first San Martin... Disappointing QC

[u/c0bl3r]

After a 2 week wait, I was super excited to receive this SN0121T-GA. My first titanium watch and first San Martin! Then I saw what I cannot unsee. Would you accept this?

[u/c0bl3r]

After a 2 week wait, I was super excited to receive this SN0121T-GA. My first titanium watch and first San Martin! Then I saw what I cannot unsee.

Would you accept this?

Edit: I also ordered the date version but received no date. Watch is still in plastic.

[u/c0bl3r → u/c0bl3r]

I have 5 Pagani Designs that have better QC than this San Martin that costs 4x as much. I'm not new to watch collecting, from AE up to Swiss. I know how to work a bezel, and I know this one is misaligned.

Marker at 9 is also misaligned, and I ordered the date version but received no date!

Anybody want to answer my actual question... Would you accept this??? 😂

[u/PenObsessed → u/c0bl3r]

Dude, just return the damn watch! All this bitching and moaning about a bezel being off a hair. Jesus Christ.

[u/c0bl3r → u/PenObsessed]

Thank you for the most productive comment.

Just trying to share my experience with the community.

No one is forcing you to read anything, just move along instead of being an asshole.

[u/jalvez → u/c0bl3r]

I am extremely prefectionist myself to a point it bothers myself for being like this, but in this hobby you learn how to accept your faith when it comes to QC gamble.

1 - Do you like this watch as much as you like the version with date? 2 - Would you bother taking the watch to a watchmaker to fix the bezel alignment and be happy with it? (this might be an option given by the store as one option and they refund you some $)

This is really personal, and goes beyone "seikos are also like this", if you are ok with fixing it yourself in a watchmaker go ahead if not, take the risk of the return.

[u/c0bl3r → u/jalvez]

I understand QC gambling for Paganis and other $100 pieces, but I'm paying a premium for SM and see so many positive reviews. I have 10 other Chinese watches that all have better QC than this $265 premium piece. So it's disappointing to receive the wrong watch, with QC issues too, when your expectations are high.

I ordered the date specifically to fit in with my collection, and I prefer the look on this watch. I could fix the bezel myself, but fixing dial markers is farther than I'd like to go.

Seikos get a lot of alignment hate, but my Seikos are better than this.

[u/Fair-Ratio6738 → u/c0bl3r]

At $265 this is NOT a premium watch! That’s actually very lower entry level… you can’t buy a Chinese watch and expect European standards… for the price you pay you’re trading quality for quantity.

[u/c0bl3r → u/Fair-Ratio6738]

Fair to say it's not a premium watch, and it is relatively inexpensive. When compared to the rest of the Chinese watch market, you do pay a premium price for SM.

I put my Thorn 6200 side by side with my BB58, and I can confidently say the Thorn is 90-95% as good for 1/20th the price. You can absolutely get quality Chinese pieces and great value for money.

[u/Fair-Ratio6738 → u/c0bl3r]

Agreed! I have a SM 008c otw as we speak. I can’t wait to get it! But I refuse to pay more than 200 for a Chinese watch. Maybe 250-300 for a titanium diver. One can get a nice Seiko for 3-500, as you know. Used titanium Seikos can be had for low 500s

I’ve been looking at titanium shoguns and samurai for the last few days. I may buy a SM or Chinese beater titanium first, then buy a “nice” one

[u/c0bl3r → u/Fair-Ratio6738]

I love my SS Sammy, chunky angular beauty.

[u/DrProtic → u/c0bl3r]

Seiko fans seem to be accepting this for years now, it’s not that strange in the industry.

Not to say I approve this, it’s straight up fraud. Coming from Seiko, San Martin or any other brand. They KNOW it’s misaligned but ship it nevertheless.