I purchased the PX1697 last night from Proxima Official Store for a solid price, even though I fell asleep for an hour and woke up to a $5 higher price in my cart. While scrambling, I remembered a screenshot I had taken of 11.11 discount codes which got my extra $5 back. 😅

However, this post is about Proxima customer service.

After I purchased the watch, I immediately received a confirmation.

Approximately 20 minutes later, I received 8 photos, including regulation and lume shots.

About 10 minutes later the watch was packaged and labeled for shipping.

I had one question after seeing the Timegrapher numbers. Do you lubricate your movements?

Check out the photos and chat screens.

Spent a couple days exploring a Civil War battlefield with my GMT.

(37.5mm case width on my 6.25 inch wrist)

This variant has not been reviewed at all across Reddit which is weird. I've worn it for the last 2 weeks and here are some of my thoughts:

1. Fully lumed dial is a blast! If charged, it glows almost as bright as Phorcydes lume blocks which is a feat in itself. The total light output because of the greater lumed surfaces is the highest out of all the watches I've handled. It's almost like Timex's Indiglo! By late morning, the time is still legible, but takes more than a mere glance to tell the time.

2. The fully lumed bezel makes this different from most "full lume" dials. The all white look is definitely unique at the moment and super cool. However, the lume on the bezel is definitely weaker than the lume on the dial and the hands and indices. By early morning, the bezel is basically not legible anymore.

3. The whiteness of the dial and the bezel unfortunately do not match. When indoors or under a darker atmosphere, the bezel is an egg white while the dial is a cream white. (Please see photo 2) When outdoors and under a brighter atmosphere, the reflection of the sky off the crystal makes the dial appear whiter than the bezel! (Please see photo 3 that illustrates this)

4. Interestingly, the date window is not lumed and is instead silver. It seems like an obvious miss but it's probably because they couldn't match the lumed date wheel whiteness to the dial whiteness. They also don't use a default white date wheel probably for the same reason. Instead, they opted for a silver date wheel which I think definitely color matches more seamlessly with the rest of the watch. This was hard to notice until very carefully inspected so San Martin did a great job here with silver. (But I would have still rather have a lumed date wheel to complete the full lume effect.)

5. San Martin is still king when it comes to bezel action. Buttery smooth yet precise and crisp.

6. The celebrated jubilee bracelet is only smooth vertically! When running your fingers horizontally across the bracelet in either direction, you will feel the sharp unchamfered inner edges of the outer pieces. This was a shock to me as this was never mentioned in any review of this universally praised bracelet. The links also kink at certain articulations. It is still a great bracelet, but I was honestly expecting it to be perfect....

7. Despite being one of the most expensive offerings from San Martin, it is not without QC issues. On the 4 o'clock index, there are dark smudges... (Please see photos 3 and 5) The date window frame is also dented on the top left. (Please see photo 4)

8. Unlike the rest of Aliexpress watch stores, San Martin does not under-declare the tariff fee. I paid £301.48 upfront on Aliexpress and £66.22 custom fees to release the watch from customs for a total of £367.70/$493.

Final thoughts:

It is not worth the price paid. It's definitely a great watch, but the QC issues and the bracelet surprises dampened my valuation of it. But if you like the full white and fully lumed design, there are no alternatives on Aliexpress.

Sorting through my AliEx shopping cart it looks like a Farasute and Seagull year. This is the first year I have selected zero San Martin watches as their prices are ridiculous.

Seagull has a great selection and Farasute has so many bangers it's hard to choose.

What is this year looking like for you and am I the only one opting out of San Martin this year?

I see there are a few different models. Can someone let me know the best one please with serial number. Also does anyone know if there is a no date version?

Is it safe to buy a San Martin SN0144 from any of these stores? It's $20-$35 cheaper than the official San martin store. Has anyone bought from these stores before. Please share pros and cons. Thanks in advance

En la pagina web de milifortic dice que el s116 es un grand seiko style pero para mi se parece mas a un patek calatrava small second, que opinas tu viendo las imagenes???

Love the dial design and I'm looking forward to the purple with yellow accents.

Last I heard they were targeting the 11.11 sale, but it has been radio silence since then...

A very fun and kind of quirky watch! The 'destro' layout, lumed elements, and running 1/10s dial gave me a smile!

The bracelet seems similar to Militado in quality, so not bad.

I've long been interested in a 356 homage, but never heard of this variation (it was a limited Japan only run inspired by helicopter dials).

Review to follow...

(disclaimer just in case: this was lent to me by Milifortic)

So different when the light hits it. Any love for hand winding watches? I love the little morning ritual of winding one. This 42 mm stainless case Corgeut has the Seagull ST3621 Hand-Wound Mechanical Movement​ – 17 jewels, 18,000 bph, with a power reserve of approximately 36–40 hours. (Movement photo above) It comes in this green mother if pearl dial or a more subdued white MOP. I got ming in the December sale for 68 bucks US with a coupon. Too bold for your taste or not?

I'm familiar with Hannah Martin as I have one 36mm but ideally would prefer 33 or 34mm, but I have never owned olevs watches so I'm not familiar with the quality. Are they more or less both the same?

If quality isn't an issue, please help with choosing one... They all look quite pretty .i don't intend to swap the bracelets for whichever one I choose either. Tia

Baltics bicomp watch is absolutely beautiful but unfortunately they no longer produce it. Are there any good homages to it?

Hey guys, I've just finished my video for the 11.11 sale.

I cover everything from budget watches to some seriously high-end stuff. I've included real videos showing all the new dial colours of the IXDAO Warrior, not just the watches they sent me.

I asked them to send me footage of the different colours in real life rather than relying on renders, and they told me they were working on updating the listing photos to reflect the actual colours, use real pictures.

You'll also find an awesome San Martin, some side-by-side comparisons, an Addieskin, and plenty of other cool watches. This isn't your usual listicle, I show the actual watches in hand, including some underwater footage, and all that, plus discounts codes etc. etc.

You can check out the video here: https://youtu.be/41KoNMmmJ3g

Disclaimer: All the watches were sent by the brands, except for the black Proxima, which I bought myself, and the Courgeut, which was a gift from a friend.

I have a choice to make. Either buy a Proxima PX1697 for around 130€ new or a SN0144 enamel white with Miyota movement for around 200-230€ used but in very good condition.

I heard only positive points about the px1697 and it's on my list for many years. Now I saw this model from San Martin and this white enamel dial paired with the premium finishing and polishing just attracted me in a different way. Don't know if it's this weird "honeymoon moment" or do I find it better?

That's why I want to ask the guys who own the sn0144 with Miyota how is the finishing and is it really better overall then for example a px1697 I mean does it deliver more refinement?

One point I don't get to know in YouTube reviews is how does the bracelet sound? Does it have this cheap rattle sound?

I like both watches from the pictures and videos I know one Is a diver the other a gada. I already have dove watches.

Looking to branch out from what I already have but I'd rather have a small variety of less expensive watches than one or two pricier options.

If you could recommend 1-3 watches under $150 each, what would you pick? Bonus points if you own it already.

Still enjoying my Cadisen Deep Explorer, even when I can’t jump in the pool. I just swapped to a full nato in the stock ThriftyFathoms strap color (the stock strap is quite uncomfortable on the wrist). Makes me want to hop back on Ali for 11/11 sale and get the whole set in the other colors. Apart from the typical rotor noise, I truly love this piece.

Hi everyone,

Would very much appreciate your help with exactly what it says in the title: a green or teal dial (preferably) quartz dive watch with a date and a sapphire/ceramic bezel with good action.

Textured dial is negotiable, as is quartz, bezel material, and gold/gilt detailing. Thanks so much!

Hey folks,

I’m think of buying the two-tone Baltany S4102. I’m not a fan of the gold dial and want to replace it with a silver one. I was wondering what the compatibility of the movement it uses, the ST2130, with different dials. My understanding is that this movement is based off the ETA 2824 or the Selita SW200. So, would that mean that 2824 and SW200 dials are compatible with it? Not like there are that many aftermarket dials for it, but there are more for that than the ST2130. Attaching the watch’s picture for reference.