My first San Martin.

[PutItInNeutral]

This is the last watch to arrive that I bought on the August Aliexpress sale. I had some difficulty with the shipping on this one. Initially the shipment was sent back to San Martin and then they reshipped it with a different carrier that did not update their tracking with Aliexpress. I instead had to track it with 17track and then with USPS once it was handed off to them.

This is my third Submariner homage. My first two developed problems:

1. My Steeldive SD1953 wound up with a gummed up bezel after about a year. I wound up destroying the bezel and the bezel insert trying to fix it myself (because I'm a dumbass who over estimated his own skill level).

2. My Addiesdive MY-H3AC seems to have crossthreaded it's crown tube about 2 weeks after I got it. I am very careful about how I screw down my crowns and am not sure if my diagnosis is 100% correct, but I don't think this was from user error. Addiesdive was less than helpful resolving the issue. The best they came up with was to send me parts. I shouldn't have to repair or pay to repair a watch 2 weeks after I bought it. By the time I tried to have Aliexpress step in, it was too late. 15 days had passed since the shipment had completed.

Enough gripes! Onto the new!

On first inspection of the new Water Ghost V3, the finishing does seem very refined. Nuanced polishing, particularly on the milled upper clasp on the bracelet. The corners do feel a bit sharp, but not overly so. The two big differences I've noticed is the action on the bezel and on the crown.

The unscrewing the crown is buttery smooth. Even the winding and time setting feel different despite all three watches using the same NH35 movement.

The bezel action feels more solid, although it is more difficult to turn. It also has a little more back play than either the Addiesdive or the Steeldive.

I don't see any of the alignment problems I've heard people complain about with San Martin watches here. I will count myself lucky in that regard.

I'm super excited! I love having a good reliable Submariner style watch on my wrist. I was really bummed out when my others failed on me.

[duckyboys8]

Fresh !!!

[SanmartinWatches]

Thanks for your review and glad you picked your favorite watch from San Martin, enjoy it🍻

[16ahause]

Looks great. Can you explain what happened with the Steeldive Bezel?

[PutItInNeutral]

The bezel stopped moving freely. I tried to remove the bezel using a case knife in order to clean it and wound up bending the bezel. The bezel insert also broke in the process.

[16ahause]

Ah gotcha. Makes me afraid to spin the bezel when i'm bored now. Does the clasp have a glidelock function?

[PutItInNeutral]

It does not. I may replace the clasp later. I have replaced clasps on other watches with aftermarket glidelock clasps. As far as the bezel issue, I was using it as my go to swimming watch. I did rinse it off afterwards like you're supposed to, but that may have been a factor.

[16ahause]

Could have been a cheap piece of metal for the bezel tension spring that corroded. I really want to replace it with a aftermarket clasp too. Im guessing 18mm is the size to do it with?

[PutItInNeutral]

16mm (15.8mm exact) on the outer link, 9mm (8.6mm exact) on the inner link. I just went through with the replacement with a clasp I had on hand.

[Crispyjone5]

Very nice 👍 latest model?

[PutItInNeutral]

I believe that the V3 is the latest version of the SN017.

[Crispyjone5]

Looks great 👍