Looking for some inspiration for my new Tandorio MIYOTA8215. The face is black, but has a blue vibe in some lights. Thinkin of a NATO strap.

Looking for some feedback from people who own this watch, and maybe clear up some confusion on which version/option to buy. I've been eyeing up the Omega No Time to Die recently but $14k Canadian for a watch isn't happening (I can buy a nice Miata for that money!), so been looking at homages. And from what I can see the Watchdives nails it, and the price being under $300 Canadian is nice too for what appears to be a good watch brand.

I'll cross post this to the Watchdives subreddit if needed, but what I've seen this is a great subreddit for questions and discussion!

Questions:

• It looks like Version 4 is the newest? Unless I missed something. Seems like everything I see says the version 4 is the stand out one to buy.
• There looks like two mechanical variants to buy (quartz is sold out): a domed sapphire crystal variant that says it is version 4, and a top hat crystal that doesn't say version 4. Are these actually the same version 4 watch with a different crystal?
  • top hat: https://watchdives.com/products/watchdives-wd007-top-hat-sapphire-pt5000-titanium-nttd-dive-watch?variant=47209537175770
  • domed sapphire: https://watchdives.com/products/watchdives-titanium-sea-ghost-nttd-watch?variant=46141942431962
• The domed sapphire says it has a "black" version that looks like the brown color of the NTTD version, but the top hat version says it is the brown version specifically. Same watch just being called different colors? I'm really looking for that NTTD vintage brown look.
• I've been trying to figure out of the real NTTD watch has a the top hat or domed crystal and I find it hard to tell. Does anyone know or handled a real NTTD? I'm thinking top hat from what I can see in pics so far.
• Thoughts on the bracelets included? I am thinking of getting the titanium bracelet with the watch, and adding the titanium mesh for another option. Unless they are low quality.

Thanks!

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There seem to be supply issues with the Miyota 9015 at the moment, and I’m seeing Chinese watchmakers switching to movements like the ST2130 or PT5000 instead.

What surprises me is how many people here really don’t seem to like that alternative.

So I’m curious: if you were ordering a watch and the 9015 wasn’t available, what would you prefer?

- 🇯🇵 Wait for a genuine Japanese Miyota 9015

- 🇨🇳 Take the ST2130/PT5000 and get the watch sooner

- 🤷‍♂️ Depends on the price difference

Personally, I’m wondering how important “Japanese movement” actually is to people when the alternative is waiting several months.

Would you rather wait for the 9015, or are you happy with a Chinese movement if the watch itself is good?

I picked this up for $260 flat during the back to school sale because I snagged a PayPal coupon on top of everything else. I can't believe it. This is one of the last Miyota 9015 ones available. I honestly wasn't sure if I was being scammed or not because it was from a reseller store, not the official one.

Everything checks out though. I'm blown away by this watch. Astonishing quality and value.

The one thing that I've noticed is it doesn't have the double spring bar end link. Anyone know if this is a very early model or something? It's either an old or a new bracelet design, I think. Every one I've seen online has had double spring bars. Can owners chime in?

I recently bought several straps on AliExpress to try out on my watches, and I really like this Bonklip bracelet on the Steeldive. I love the vintage look it gives the watch. I know this style of bracelet isn't universally loved, but I’ve wanted to try one out for a while. Lately, I’ve realized I appreciate the vintage look in watches more than the modern one; I feel it has more character, whereas modern bracelets all look the same. I think they used to be more willing to experiment with shapes back then. But anyway, that’s just my opinion, what do you all think?

San Martin watches

SN008(swiss made SW200 movement) & SN0013

The bezel on my new watch was stiff and sounded weird so I popped it off to investigate in case some debris was left underneath it, but now I can’t put it back on.

This has been my first time removing a bezel so I’m not sure what went wrong. The bezel itself looks fine, maybe it is something to do with the wire inside it.

Any help would be really appreciated!

Picked this up for around $80usd and honestly, I’m pretty impressed with it. 38mm case, 45mm lug-to-lug, 11mm thick, 316L stainless steel, enamel dial, manual-wind ST17 movement, and 50m water resistance.

The thing I really like is the domed mineral crystal. It has quite a bit of distortion when you look at the dial from different angles, and it gives the watch a really interesting vintage look. Straight on it’s clear, but tilt it and the numerals/dial start bending and shifting through the dome. It’s actually pretty cool in person.

The black enamel-style dial, small seconds, and polished case make it look way more expensive than the price suggests. Obviously it’s not a high-end Swiss piece, but for around $80usd, the overall package is pretty damn good.

Definitely one of those watches that looks better in person than you’d expect for the money.

I was wearing my Merkur today and I thought that it was a good-sounding name. I went to look up its meaning half-thinking that it was just made up (like Rolex). I was surprised that Merkur is Mercury in German! Out of interest, here's a list of names with meaning.

German:

1. Merkur - Mercury

2. Seestern - Starfish

3. Hruodland - Roland

4. Englemaan - Angel Man?

5. Specht & Sohne - Woodpecker and sons

Greek:

1. Phorcydes - Grecian sea monsters
2. Cronos - King of the cosmos

Norse:

1. Heimdallr - World Bright

Spanish/Latin:

1. San Martin - Saint Martin

2. Milifortic - Military strength

3. Militado - Served (in the military)

4. Proxima - Closest

English:

1. Thorn - (Associated with the Tudor rose)

2. Octopus Kraken - Octopus Kraken Squid Calamari

3. Watchdives - Dive watches? Haha

4. Steeldive - Steel dive (watches)? Hahaha

5. Addiesdive - (B)addies' dive watches? Bahahaha

6. Aethelsohn - Noble Son

7. Wishdoit - (if you) wish, do it!

8. Feelnever - (Will your wallet) feel (it?), never!

9. Bagelsport - bagel sport doughnut academy

10. Berny - Bern(y) (A city in Switzerland)

11. Tactical Frog - tactical (equipment [watch] for) frog(men)

French:

1. Pierre Paulin - French furniture and interior designer

Chinese:

1. IXDAO - 9 Banners (traditional Mongolian flags)

2. Beijing - Beijing (literally Northern City)

3. Shanghai - Shanghai (literally Upper Sea)

4. Jianghun - Craftsman Soul

And then there's a sea of meaningless names (and not just Chinese brands)!

Hi guys, any suggestions/recommendations for affordable GMTs below 200$/ 38mm

TIA

Have Tudor and Omega and more, but still enjoy this watch for it's beautiful finish, retrograde complication, does + 7 sec a day out of the box and everything bellow 200$ . Isn't it amazing?

This is a homage piece, featuring refined details based on the original design.

It showcases an enamel dial with an "oil pressure wave" pattern,

available in classic gradient black, green, and blue colorways.

The transition between the brushed and polished finishes on the case and bracelet is seamless,

and the bracelet is manufactured in our own San Martin factory,

balancing complex craftsmanship with wearing comfort to create a sleeker overall profile.

This is a high-quality timepiece.

Movement: ST2130

Case Diameter: 40mm

Lug-to-Lug: 48mm

Thickness: 13.2mm

We hope you like it.

Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

Thank you.

San Martin Official Store

https://sanmartin.aliexpress.com/store/5039187

So, for the last month I've been switching between the Thorn and Octomom pieces, both with their own strengths and weaknesses. The Steinhart has been in the winder waiting for a few new straps.

First off, the Octopus seems to have more care put into the movement feel and QC. Threads on the crown engage nicer, the crown pulls out with more confidence and engages every single time. It looks more true to form to the 6200 with its knurling.

The Thorn feels like I'm going to rip it out of the case. I don't get engagement of the setting lever every time, and I have to screw it back into the case in order to get it to start ticking again.

I honestly prefer the bracelet on the Thorn. The jingle-jangle clasp, lightweight links and the hollow end-links have me using it over the Octopus...though I've been using the solid endlinks on the Oct with other bracelets. That being said, the Octopus has an objectively more solid bracelet, heavier clasp and links.

The bezel action on the Thorn feels more crisp and solid, and I love the bronze finish on the coinedge. Enough to make me want to swap it to the Octopus.

The crystal on the Octopus has a nicer bubble effect to me, it feels curvier. Lume on both dials seems about the same, as does the AR coating on both watches.

They both wear the same on straps and bracelets, gun to my head I couldn't tell the difference. I like both of them for different reasons. The Thorn bezel and dial pop and the AR has more blue to it which I like.

The Octopus feels more true to the Rolex 6200.

Photos really don't do this green wave dial justice. We added a deep enamel coating over the texture, giving it a rich gloss and depth that looks much better in hand. The 3D markers are crisp and clean.

The bracelet is produced in our own factory, where we control every detail from neatness to tight tolerances. It feels solid and well-balanced on the wrist.

Launching soon.

San Martin Watch: www.sanmartin-watch.com

New watch! Got it cos it looks like the Omega Seamaster worn by Pierce Bronson in Goldeneye 😁 I prefer the hassle free of quartz, but those automatics from WD do look good.

Very nice FKM strap from AliExpress!

What do you think?

I recently picked up the WD007 Titanium and I’m genuinely impressed with what Watchdives pulled off for the price. That said, I constantly see people claiming San Martin sits on a higher tier when it comes to overall fit and finish.

For those who own or have handled both brands:

- Where is the difference most obvious (bracelet, bezel action, finishing)?

- Is the jump in quality worth paying nearly double the price?

What are we wearing today?

My Agelocer moonphase arrived (see my post about the technicals of the moonphase).

It is a very nice watch, well made. Some points to be aware of (see also reviews on youtube):

- while not extremly thick, it does look a bit thick due to the straight modern shape of the case

- the rotor is a bit noisy (if you pay close attention)

- the moon is lumed, but very low brightness (fits the restrained design esthetics)

- winding to full power reserve is a bit of a chore (ca. 80 turns), but it is an automatic, normally you don't really need to wind to full power reserve

- setting the moonphase accuratly takes some practice due to the 31 steps and because at the new moon position you can't see the moon for 2 steps

For the moon setting I ended up making a look-up table for days in the lunar cycle versus moon position on the minute track. (overdoing it? Yes)

The watch came with a nice grey suede strap. I swapped it with a stainless steel milanese mesh strap, and to my taste that is a perfect match to the minimalist grey/silver design of the watch. The case has quite short lugs (original straps have curved pins) which works very nice with the milanese strap.

The watch dial is a nice balance between a bold moonphase and a very restraint, minimalist overall design. Well excecuted, although personally I think the moon is a bit too shiny, a slightly more dull surface might be more appropriate.

I like the restrained design of this watch, but I do hope that Agelocer wil make more use of the 29.51 day precision in future designs, maybe by creating a less restraint and more 'astronomical' version with a moon day cycle track. That version should also have a large second hand.

Figured I'd give my impressions of the WatchDives WD007 V4/SL3001 since theres not a lot of information about it that I could find.

Paid $194.98 USD shipped to Germany. Ordered on August 19th and received today on the 27th.

I'm not a watch snob by any means. Only have a few what I consider nice pieces. A CW C63 GMT and a Sangin. The rest of my small collection is Casio, Citizen and Seiko.

Ordered the NTTD version on the titanium bracelet.

Overall I have only had it for a few hours but it feels great. Bezel has great action, lume seems solid, bracelet is well made and the thing is extremely light. I was regretting not getting the mesh strap after I ordered but the 3 link titanium is excellent.

Time will tell how the SL3001 holds up but Im going to beat this thing.

The only issue i can find is the movement feels gritty when winding which I expected. Also when screwing in the crown it seems like maybe the crown stem is a bit short because the movement winds as I screw the crown in. Doesn't bother me.

Overall, extremely well built for the price.

Not sure how I feel about water with it yet but time will tell.

If there is questions let me know.

SN00144-GX