Is This A Homage?

It's original but takes a lot of design cues from 70s watches. Squared circle cushion case shape, integrated bracelet look, and even the Beads of Rice. 

I actually quite like it 🤓👍🏼

You know, I have wondered about the original designs San Martin released myself, so I did some digging and was not able to come up with an exact match, although I did find it reminiscent of other watches, especially Criterion.

p.s. thanks for getting me here. I came to WatchCrunch after seeing it on one of your videos. 😀

I'm not sure whether there really is a "original" watch nowadays. Pretty sure everyone take cues from each other. But looks original and good looking to me.

It‘s a Monza with screws.

yes there are subtle differences in terms of crystal size, finishing, lugs and numerals, but it was first thing I uttered. “Monza with 70s sporty screws and a boring face”. Quick google search to check I’m not mad and yay, go me. I suppose this would count as an original nowadays.

She's a looking for sure😍 San Martin is definitely gettin it done.

Personally I'm pretty sure if you show me any watch and give me enough time I can find a few watches that look very very similar regardless of brand. 

Me too, Mr. Ben!

I‘m quite taken with this San Martin…even though its design strategy is like Kia and Hyundai in the car world. Plus, its brand name sounds like a great place to get some delicious fish tacos! Don’t care much for that crown though. It looks like a little nut hanging there.🥹

Try to create an original design for a watch that doesn't resemble something that has been done before.  

this San Martin looks pretty interesting... not my style, but San Martin is definitely heading a good direction (PS love your videos! you are one of the first watch youtubers that I follow)

Nice find!

It is tricky, no doubt

I actually own this, in the same colour even. Pretty sure it's originial, but only as original as you can be with a three hander, applied digits and indices - without letting Forsining's designers do the dial.

The one thing that annoys me about this design are the screws - I'm pretty sure they are not functional, and if they are not functional they should not be there.

This raises another question, probably often referred to: is any watch 'original in design?' Apart from obviously daft designs, I have rarely seen a watch that doesn't look like another watch. There are only so many permutations. The rest is down to the quality of the watch. Perhaps...

Sadly I think soon we are going to reach a point where most design tropes are going to have been utilized by some brand at one point in time or another, in a few decades‘ time we might not even talk about homages the way we do now—especially with all of these microbrands exploding. 

I was also thinking of Bell & Ross in addition to Criterion as having a similar look.

Hey Ben, big fan. The SM is as original as anything else and at least they're trying to move beyond copies, er, homages. So long and thanks for all the vids.

The case looks very much the same as the Jublieon Singapore watches from a few years back.  That company didn't make it, I'd be willing to bet this is from the same tooling.  I own a chronograph model but they also made a three hand version that looks exactly like yours.  I like the finishing on yours a lot.  See photo below:

I'd say its original(ish) - there are so many 3 handers around and only so many shapes/colours, its getting harder and harder to find a truly original design.  San Martin have been guilty of stretching the truth (lying) when describing a watch as an original design in the past, but in this case I think that whilst it does have elements of other designs, this combo is new.

I found another watch that has either the same influences as the SM, or influenced the SM.

This is the Karl Keller Blackbird.

With around 125 years or so of wristwatch history and Google Image Search, this could be a long ride.

At least it doesn't resemble a Hublot.