Bit of a dilemma

It sounds like you like the San Martin more so I’d go for that. If the only reason that you’re thinking about the Seestern is the display caseback (and I love them to), go for the one with the nicer dial and preferable complication. You can always save up for another mechanical with a display caseback maybe a manual chronograph from Sugess that will also look nicer.

Thanks for the advice, I was thinking about the orient bambino open heart as a possible dress watch down the line.

I’d go with the San Martin. They seem to be really well built for the cash.

San Martin. For the money, the fit and finish of those watches is amazing! An all rounder GMT is a great watch for travelling too. With dive computers, why trust a bezel spring and fading lume to keep me from getting bent? 😂

San Martin. Display caseback is fun to see once but you’ll stare at the dial 99% of the time.

I own the blue and gold version of that Seestern and it has been getting most of my wrist time over the last six months. In my opinion the display case back is an example of the German word "verschlimmbessern", i.e. making something worse with the best intentions of improving it. The one detail reviewers kept complaining about when talking about the Glashütte Original SeaQ 39.5mm is that it is a pity that it lacks the display case back of its larger Panorama Date sibling. But that's because GO movements have gorgeous finishing. The plain Seiko movement in this watch works great but do equally well behind a nicely decorated stainless steel case back. In fact, V2 of this watch now provides this as an option.

If a caller GMT complication is more useful for you than a driver's bezel you should go for the San Martin. It's on my shortlist as my first GMT watch because of that gorgeous wave/dune pattern, although I'd prefer a Miyota 9075 traveller GMT.

I don't like either brands, but would go with the San Martin in this scenario.

Saw Martin! Love the textured dial!