If you are a true WIS you most likely have heard about NTH watches before. With the recent work of the owner, now the brand has more visibility with many different models and collaborating sellers. So you are more likely to see them even you are not that serious about watches. The first model I have in my collection is the Santa Cruz. I was able to join very first pre-order release. Believe me once you handle one you can not stop buying others 🙂
Technical Specifications:
- Case: 316L Stainless Steel
- Crystal: Double-Domed Anti-Reflective Sapphire
- Dimensions: 40mm diameter (without crown) x 48mm lug-to-lug x 11.5mm thick
- Movement: Miyota auto cal. 9015Â 28,800 BPH with 42+ hour power reserve
- 120-Click Uni-Directional Bezel with Top-Grade PVD/DLC Stainless Steel Insert
- 20mm lugs with tapering bracelet & 18mm double-locking diver’s clasp
- 30 ATM / 300m / 984ft WR
- Screw-Down Crown and Caseback
- Weight with Bracelet: 4.9 oz / 140g
If you check the current line, you will see that these are not regular submariner homages. All models have their own design mixed with the historical popular submariner DNA. The beautiful Santa Cruz first strikes you with how thin it is for a 300m water resistance rated dive watch. It is only 11.5mm thick.
Blue tone is amazing on the bezel and matches with the dial prints very well color-vise. Bezel insert is neither aluminum nor ceramic. It is brushed steel so it is both durable and not fragile. Bezel and insert are both circular brushed.
As you see in the close up dial has the waffle pattern and it ends when the minute track starts which screams about quality and attention to the detail. Date cutout is circular as the applied indices and it is very well positioned. It does not distract the dial. Hands are classic mercedes with a diamond cut giving them more dimension. Hands are not too short or long well balanced.
Case is very handsome and thin. It has mostly brushed finish while having some polished touches to support overall look. It sits flat on the wrist since caseback is not protruded too much. Lugs has nice downward curve so watch wraps your wrist without any hang. Bracelet fits the case nicely without play. Beware it is a real pita to put the bracelet back on. Bracelet itself is not very substantial while it is good quality. The version I have has the older bracelet, new NTH models has a different (improved although I like the old one better) bracelet and clasp.
As you can see clasp balances the head nicely. New version clasp is a bit large-thick compared to the thin elegant head.
Of course NTH has a big crown to support crown guard free classic case. Crown is deeply etched with NTH logo and it is lumed which looks really cool. The more lume the better 🙂
You may think because of the aged patina look the lume is weak. Until the Santa Cruz all watches I had with brownish lume had a weak shine. NTH is a real torch, it lights up the night with bezel, dial, hands and of course crown. All glows equally bright and with matching color.
A comparison shot with popular submariner homage watches. As you can see NTH is close to Ginault case while it is thinner and sits better on wrist.
Lume shots of comparable sub homages. Lume is much better than Steinhart and Tisell. It matches the Ginault in terms of initial brightness and they both can be readable all night once charged.
As final word, If you haven’t tried a NTH yet, I strongly suggest one. While the price is a little steep compared to other sub-homages, NTH definitely worth the price tag. Firstly it has its own DNA compared to a straight homage, secondly considering what you get for the price it probably even worth more.
