San Martin SN0136 Review – One More Benchmark GMT-Equipped Diver
The San Martin SN0136 sits at the intersection of the brand’s diver lineup and its growing collection of GMT-enabled sport watches. It’s a watch that combines familiar San Martin refinement with a noticeably more assertive bezel design, resulting in a piece that feels both utilitarian and deliberately styled. With an NH34 movement, ceramic bezel, enamel dial, and on-the-fly clasp, the SN0136 lands firmly within the brand’s modern design language while leaning into a more industrial case profile.
You may want to explore other San Martin watch reviews, we have a few in the collection.
San Martin SN0136 -GMT Equipped Diver Watch
Design & Case
Although officially listed at 39 mm, calipers show the watch at 40.2 mm, driven by the overhanging bezel. Thickness comes in at 13 mm, with a 47.3 mm lug-to-lug, kept compact by inverted end links. On the wrist, the proportions feel controlled, and the added bezel width gives the watch more presence without pushing it into oversized territory.
The midcase follows a straightforward tool-watch approach: flat slab flanks with horizontal brushing, softened by a widening 45° polished chamfer that runs cleanly along the lug hoods. The transition from case to bracelet is consistent — brushing depth and grain direction match, and the geometry between end links and lug hoods is well aligned.
A 6.9 mm screw-down crown sits between guards, signed and bordered by a polished rim. Threading is tactile and secure, with no drift in the minute hand during setting. Overall, the case construction reflects a familiar San Martin balance of practicality and surface control: no excess, but enough finishing variation to avoid looking plain.
Movement & Crown
The SN0136 uses the Seiko NH34, a 24-jewel automatic GMT movement running at 21,600 bph and offering approximately 42 hours of power reserve. Operation is standard for the caliber:
Position 0: manual winding (Magic Lever system prevents overwinding)
Position 1: date set (down) / independent GMT hand set (up)
Position 2: time setting
Movement behavior is stable, with firm hand engagement and no noticeable slippage during adjustment. The screw-down crown and seals support 200 m water resistance, giving the watch full diver capability despite its GMT complication.
Bezel
The bezel is one of the defining elements of the SN0136. It uses a 120-click unidirectional mechanism with tall, deeply notched grip geometry. Unlike many polished diver bezels, the full coin-edge surface is brushed, giving it a more industrial profile.
Resistance is lighter than expected but consistent throughout the rotation. Individual clicks land precisely, and the bezel does not stop between detents. There is no back-play or wobble, and alignment at 12 is clean. The insert is polished ceramic, adding contrast against the brushed grip and contributing to the watch’s layered appearance.
Bracelet & Clasp
The bracelet follows a two-link H-style construction, fully brushed. It uses screw pins, though tolerances show slight lateral play — not problematic, but not the tightest in the brand’s lineup. The bracelet begins at 20 mm and tapers to 18 mm, improving comfort and maintaining proportion relative to the case.
The clasp is San Martin’s on-the-fly micro-adjust system, offering roughly half an inch of travel without tools. It is a milled, double-pusher clasp with polished bevels that echo the case chamfers, and a raised 3D hexagonal logo. Functionally, it is secure and practical, especially for quick temperature-related adjustments.
The caseback is a sterile screw-down unit with a brushed surface, completing the watch’s 200m sealing.
Crystal & Dial
Up top sits a slightly domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, occasionally showing green or violet reflections under angled light. Dial visibility remains strong, even with the curvature.
The dial is enamel, finished in an olive-green sunburst with pronounced radial brushing. The inward-sloping olive rehaut carries a 24-hour scale printed in gold, giving the GMT function a clean, integrated display without cluttering the bezel.
Indices are applied, primarily elongated gold-tone batons, with a gold-framed date window at 3 and a triangle at 12. The handset includes hour and minute hands with gold edging, a red-tipped seconds hand, and a GMT hand with a lume-filled arrow.
Lume
Lume performance is strong and consistent. The hands and markers glow a vivid green, with even application across the dial. There is no patchiness or fade-imbalance across the indices. The ceramic bezel is not lumed, but the dial lume is sufficient for nighttime readability and maintains intensity for an extended period.
Summary
The San Martin SN0136 blends diver robustness with GMT practicality, wrapped in a case design that leans more industrial than understated. Its real strengths lie in its bezel execution, enamel dial finishing, and the predictable reliability of the NH34. The bracelet tolerances could be tighter, but the on-the-fly clasp remains a practical highlight for everyday wear.
Overall, the SN0136 offers a cohesive, well-constructed interpretation of a GMT diver — grounded in tool-watch sensibilities, with enough refinement in the dial and finishing to give it broader appeal.
Seiko NH34 is a reliable movement no doubt but we have seen its implementation in much cheaper watches as well, take Tandorio GMT for example.
Specifications Table
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model | San Martin SN0136 |
| Case Diameter | 40.2 mm bezel (39mm case) |
| Thickness | 13 mm |
| Lug-to-Lug | 47.3 mm |
| Lug Width | 20 mm (tapers to 18 mm) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel, brushed with polished chamfers |
| Crown | 6.9 mm screw-down, signed, guarded |
| Crystal | Slightly domed sapphire with AR coating |
| Bezel | 120-click unidirectional, brushed grip, polished ceramic insert |
| Movement | Seiko NH34 automatic GMT, 24 jewels, 21,600 bph, 42 h reserve |
| Dial | Olive enamel sunburst, applied gold-tone indices, framed date at 3 |
| Rehaut | Olive, 24-hour printed scale in gold |
| Lume | Green lume on hands and indices |
| Bracelet | Brushed H-link style with screw pins |
| Clasp | Milled, on-the-fly micro-adjust, double-pusher |
| Caseback | Sterile screw-down |
| Water Resistance | 200 m |
| Approx. Price | AliExpress pricing (varies), mid-range San Martin |
