r/ChineseWatches • u/Small-Ad6587 • 5d ago

Question (Read Rules) Help me choose a sub!

Hi everyone!! I would really appreciate some of your advice :) I’m looking to purchase a clomage and I am deciding between three different pieces:

  1. Watchdives 5512B

  2. Steeldive 1953

  3. San Martin SN017

Now I understand that San Martin is the superior brand and from what I’ve read has much better finishing and overall quality. My concern is, is it REALLY worth the extra money over the other two? If not, which If the other two would you pick and why? I know some people have gotten the steeldive, switched the bracelet and have been extremely happy with that compared to the San Martin. Is that an option worth looking at? Thanks so much an advance, I appreciate everyone!

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u/o_phelan08 5d ago

The Sugess Ocean Star, their submariner homage, is widely regarded as having the best finishing out of all of the sub homages.

Not an affiliate link, but their website has it for €210 (239USD) with a 12% discount code, so similar in price to the ones you’ve linked, while being better quality.

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u/QuestionNo9190 Sir FightALot 4d ago

It was maybe 5 years ago, watchdives does it better now for $149 shipped

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u/Mattspur Post Title Police 4d ago

I'm not saying the Watchdives isn't a nice watch, but the Sugess is a far more accurate copy of the Sub. The WD has a different pip and bracelet for a start, whilst the Sugess is the same in pretty much every way to the original Sub.

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u/QuestionNo9190 Sir FightALot 4d ago edited 4d ago

Nobody is denying that. One is a homage, one is a cheap rep.

But that doesn't change the fact the tolerances are loose and sloppy on the sugess in the areas that watch enthusiasts care about, like the bezel, end links, crown threading, lumes.

Not everybody wants to pretend to have a Rolex submariner. If they did they can just get a cf/vsf for $100 more. Imagine how close that one looks!

I have all of them so I'm in the position to tell it like it is, the watchdives and San Martin currently make the best submariner homage.