San Martin SN0116-G-B Fruit Series Dive Watch — NH35, Sapphire Bezel, 200m

San Martin SN0116-G-B Fruit Series Dive Watch — NH35, Sapphire Bezel, 200m

The San Martin SN0116-G-B is a 39.5mm automatic dive watch from San Martin’s Fruit Series — a collection of vivid dial colourways (avocado green, grape purple, orange) on a full-specification dive case. It is powered by the Seiko NH35A automatic movement, fitted with a 120-click unidirectional sapphire bezel with luminous markers, and rated to 200m. The dual luminous system — BGW-X1 blue-white on hands and hour markers, SLN C3 green on the chapter ring — creates two visually distinct lume zones readable simultaneously in darkness.

Available in three dial colours on a BOR (beads-of-rice) 316L steel bracelet with San Martin’s fly adjustable clasp.

Key Specifications

Variants — Three Fruit Series Colours

Avocado green: A muted olive-green dial — the most discussed colourway in the Fruit Series and the one that named the collection’s character. The avocado green shifts between warm olive-brown under indoor incandescent light and deeper forest green under cool daylight. The green seconds hand (a detail specific to some San Martin originals) adds a tonal accent against the dial. BGW-X1 blue-white lume on the markers creates a deliberate cool/warm contrast against the warm green dial in ambient light.

Grape purple: A deep wine-to-aubergine purple dial — the most unusual colour in the three and the rarest dial option on any dive watch at this price level. Purple dials on automatic divers are genuinely uncommon at any price; at 200m specification with a sapphire bezel they are exceptional. The grape purple reads as dark and rich indoors, slightly more vibrant under direct daylight.

Orange: A warm amber-orange dial with SLN C3 green lume on the chapter ring specifically — the most deliberate colour contrast configuration of the three. Orange dial + green lume is a polarising combination that is either exactly what a buyer wants or not at all. The chapter ring’s green SLN C3 glow against the orange dial in darkness creates a distinctive two-colour display.

The Sapphire Bezel — 120 Clicks

The SN0116-G-B’s bezel uses a sapphire insert — not the aluminium or ceramic commonly used on dive watches at this price. Sapphire is the hardest practical material for watch crystals and bezels, rated at approximately 9 on the Mohs scale (aluminium is approximately 4, ceramic approximately 7–8). A sapphire bezel insert will resist scratching through normal daily wear conditions far more effectively than aluminium, and more effectively than even ceramic in some contact scenarios.

The bezel uses 120 clicks — twice the standard 60-click dive bezel resolution. Each click represents 30 seconds of elapsed time rather than one minute, allowing more precise dive timing. For everyday use this is academic — but for buyers who actually dive, the finer resolution is a genuine functional advantage.

The luminous markers on the bezel insert match the BGW-X1 specification on the dial, ensuring the bezel scale is readable in darkness alongside the dial.

Dual Lume — BGW-X1 and SLN C3 Together

The SN0116-G-B applies two different Super-LumiNova formulations to different dial elements:

BGW-X1 (hands and hour markers): An enhanced blue-white formulation — brighter than the standard BGW9 reference formulation, producing a more intense and longer-lasting blue-white glow in darkness. Applied to the main time display elements — hour and minute hands, seconds hand and hour markers — ensuring the time is always the brightest information on the dial.

SLN C3 (chapter ring): The classic green-glow formulation applied specifically to the minute and seconds graduation on the chapter ring. In darkness, the chapter ring glows green while the time display glows blue-white — creating two visually distinct lume zones that are distinguishable by colour, not just intensity.

The practical effect: in complete darkness you can instantly distinguish time display (blue-white) from elapsed time scale (green) without needing to interpret position or shape. This two-zone lume approach is more common on expensive Swiss dive watches than on affordable automatics, and its inclusion on the SN0116-G-B is one of the specification details that sets it apart from generic dive watches at this price.

Movement — Seiko NH35A

The NH35A is the current iteration of Seiko’s NH35 automatic caliber — date-equipped, hacking and hand-winding capable, 21,600 vph, 41-hour power reserve. It is the most globally serviced automatic movement in the world. San Martin stands behind the quality of this movement with a 2-year warranty.

The NH35A’s date display at 6 o’clock sits symmetrically on the Fruit Series dial, with the applied indices and coloured dial field framing it clearly. The hacking capability allows precise time synchronisation — useful on a dive watch where seconds matter.

BOR Bracelet and Fly Adjustable Clasp

The beads-of-rice bracelet construction uses small rounded oval links rather than flat rectangular ones, creating a bracelet that drapes more naturally around the wrist curve. The clasp allows on-the-fly adjustments, ensuring a perfect fit at all times — particularly relevant for a dive watch worn over a wetsuit or in temperature conditions that affect wrist size.

The tapering width from 20mm at the lug to 16mm at the clasp is San Martin’s standard on this bracelet construction.

200m Water Resistance

Built to withstand the rigors of diving, the SN0116-G-B boasts a water resistance of 20 Bar (200 meters) — a genuine dive specification covering recreational scuba to standard depths. The screw-down crown and caseback maintain the seal integrity. Post-dive: rinse with fresh water and dry thoroughly.

How the SN0116-G-B Relates to Other SN0116 Variants

San Martin has built an extensive range of watches on the SN0116 case platform. For buyers navigating between them:

SN0116-G-B (this watch): NH35A automatic, three-hand diver, 120-click sapphire bezel, 200m, fruit series colours.

SN0116-G (NH34 GMT): NH34 GMT automatic, 24-click ceramic bidirectional bezel, 100m, light blue and matte black. The GMT travel watch on the same case.

SN0116-G-JS (VK64 Chronograph): VK64 meca-quartz, chronograph function, 100 pieces per colour globally. The limited-edition quartz chrono on the same case.

SN0116 Rootbeer (NH34 GMT): NH34 GMT in the brown/gold rootbeer colourway.

The SN0116-G-B is the dedicated diver in the family — 200m, unidirectional bezel, NH35A — while the other variants prioritise GMT, chronograph or colour functions.

Who Is the San Martin SN0116-G-B For?

The SN0116-G-B is built for:

• Buyers who want a vivid coloured dial (avocado, purple or orange) on a genuine 200m dive watch with sapphire bezel
• Those who want the dual BGW-X1 + SLN C3 lume combination for two-zone darkness readability
• Collectors drawn to the grape purple specifically — genuinely rare on any dive watch at any price
• Buyers who want the 120-click sapphire bezel as a durability and precision upgrade over aluminium or ceramic

How It Compares

vs. Baltany S203043 — The Baltany S203043 is a 39mm vintage diver with NH38 (no date) and 120-click aluminium bezel. The SN0116-G-B has the sapphire bezel, NH35A with date, and the vivid colour options. Choose by bezel material preference and dial character.

vs. San Martin SN0116-G NH34 GMT — The NH34 GMT is a travel watch, not a diver. If you specifically want GMT function, that is the correct watch. If you want 200m dive capability with a coloured dial, this is.

vs. Phylida 500m NH38 — The Phylida 500m steps up significantly on depth rating at 500m. The SN0116-G-B is the colour and bracelet quality alternative at recreational dive specification.

More from Jewelry Addicts

Exploring San Martin dive watches and coloured dial automatics:

• San Martin SN0116-G NH34 GMT — the GMT travel version on the same case
• San Martin SN0116 Rootbeer GMT — rootbeer colourway NH34 GMT
• San Martin 40mm Fruit Series SN0118 — the 40mm Fruit Series sibling
• San Martin Watches — Full Collection — all San Martin models at Jewelry Addicts
• Baltany S203043 Vintage Diver — alternative compact vintage diver comparison

Blue=Beach Color, With BGW-X1 Blue Light

Light Blue, With BGW-X1 Blue Light

Black Panda, With BGW-X1 Blue Light

Orange, With SLN C3 Green Light

Luminous Effect: BGW-X1 Blue Light/SLN C3 Green Light, Hands and Markers

Top Hat Sapphire Crystal Glass, AR Coating

Top Hat Sapphire Crystal Glass, AR Coating

Screw-down Case Back, Brushed Craft, BOR(Beads-Of-Rice) Bracelet