Welcome to the first first impressions post of the year, and boy is it a sensible, reasonable value purchase. Just like I planned last month, that's good sense and sensibleness in action. I'm on it. I'm in between contracts at the moment so I'm not earning, hence I must not spend (too much). I will, however, hopefully be spending more time with you. Oh that's nice writing, I'm feeling it.
We start the new year with a newer Chinese brand on my radar (Happy Chinese New Year), it's been 6 months or so that I've been looking at them. Initially I was looking specifically at the 369 but another one has recently caught my attention and a purchase is determinant on the quality of this offering. They have a fair few decent looking models, so this 369 is an important benchmark.
Images: Watchfinder / Aliexpress
The sensible and reasonable price I paid for this Oyster Proximator is £135 (I just looked and it's cheaper now - classic Aliexpress doing me over), and I get me a pseudo Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36mm 116000. This Proxy comes in at 37mm with skinny wrist loving lug-to-lug of 45mm, I went for a different spec than the image above, it's going to be a versatile piece I hope. Some will say it looks more like the 36mm Rolex Explorer 114270/112270 (with a white dial), and they'd be right, it's definitely an Explorer 1 homage, but for me this is about filling a particular OP shaped gap and it does that!
When it comes to the Explorer 1 in general, though the marker at 12 suits the vibe I prefer the Rolex crown at 12 for a classier feel. I think the crown clashes with the marker on the Explorer 1 dial, but on the Explorer 2 there is more going on to balance the dial and take attention away from that clash, I digress, back to it.
Here we go then, the box is a common sight with watches from Aliexpress, it's a bit dirty but solid, safe and secure. The watch is in a cloth pouch and wrapped in cellophane.
First impressions are positive, on picking up the watch in the pouch the weight is apparent and I do like that heft as you may know. It's a very pleasant and reassuring heaviness. It sports the mercedes hands, which I think add some interest to the package as the dial is less balanced than the 116000. The lack of logo above the name removes the clash mentioned above, but the triangle marker at 12 is smaller than the Explorer 1 set up which it is clearly inspired by, the white dial does a lot to take away from that connection which I think is a good thing, it dilutes that assocation to a degree. The 369 markers are nice and clean, everything is straight and it feels solid.
It looks and feels good, the bracelet is not janky or cheap, it's making me cheerful with screwed in links, quick release and a surprisingly decent micro-adjustment. Noice.
All good for now then, we'll keep an eye on it, see how that automatic movement is keeping time and if the bracelet is a hair-puller. It needs adjusting to the skinny wrist and then I'll be testing it out ready for a review in a few months.
First impressions are promising, and it's a good horological start to the year. Hopefully, Proxima provide another reliable option to those looking at Chinese watches, alongside Sugess, Aesop and Merkur. Good name too, not sure about the unicorn logo though. I'm sure others have viewed and reviewed Proxima watches but I won't be paying too much attention to that, it's about my assessment of this watch.
I will leave you with some fitting words by noughties poets Lil Jon, Eastside Boyz and the Ying Yang twins...
3-6-9, damn you fine
Hoping she can sock it to me one more time
Get low, get low (get low), get low (get low), get low (get low)
To the window (to the window), to the wall (to the wall)
'Til the sweat drop down my balls (my balls)
'Til all these bitches crawl...
etc etc.
Yours Approximately,
Alvin
P.S. see below - the new abode comes with a very important dedicated watch space. A simple little Ikea desk you say, yes for now, but it's an important step for me to have this, especially as we've realised increased visitor numbers the past couple of months (thanks all). I hope to provide a bit more content and a bit more quality therein. Those three Chinese watches potentially make a pretty decent budget collection, watch this space...
LINKS
Aliexpress
Watchfinder
Get Low - NSFW / Explit lyrics
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