PAM 441 ceramica replica (from Joshua/PC).
After some market wars of dealers, we have the same watch from V6 and from KW where both are considered “makers” of this watch. Anyway, I got this beauty, marketed as KW production so I can have some observations first hand:
CERAMIC CASE:
really a thing of beauty! Perfect is the right word, believe me. Top bezel can be unscrewed with a sticky ball or small rubber suction cup. It is one piece together with sapphire. Nice and quick way to remove sapphire and blow out all of these dust particles from the dial without removing of a movement. Very handy.
The CG bridge is full ceramic, mounted to the case by two screw with rubber gaskets (to protect brittle ceramic of CG). Threaded holes are made in metal under the ceramic layer of a case - so the case is quite a complicated build. The lever has a nice ceramic snap feel when closing.
I couldn’t set the time at first since the ceramic cap of a crown disengaged from metal part. Was not glued strong enough, apparently. A drop of 2 components glue fixed the problem quickly. We will see how it holds since it is not easy to glue ceramic surfaces…
The titanium caseback on this watch is still CERAIMC one, but free replacement one is on its way. Anyway, it is not so visible since everything is so dark. It is not something to pop up at first glance.
I see no reason this caseset is being manufactured other way than gen ceramic case. In case You are interested in brief description of the process and some photos, take a look at paneristi's post: http://goo.gl/PVXhy5
DIAL, HANDS…
- dial is very very nice, with correct thinner arabic digits than those known from previous 359-like dial watches. Lume is very good considering it is faux patina style.
- hands are OK
- CP issue is there but not so annoying in real life (black hands, something shiny at the center, OK…..)
- 24 hours instead of correct as per gen 12 hours GMT hand - well, we will have to live with it. I am more for 24 hours GMT hands in watches - the PM/AM thing is important sometimes.
- date window is perfect - nothing else than black edges when observed from an angle.
MOVEMENT:
- non inverted balance decoration (but it is easier in case of watch regulation)
- smoked glass makes everything less annoying - it is more shiny than detailed now
- the movement was like -30 secs/day when arrived; I regulated it to +7 secs a day and will let it break down
STRAP, BUCKLE
- nice quality asso strap, nothing to be removed and trashed as we often do with rep straps. A keeper.
- black DLC’ed, probably titanium buckle, sandblasted
FINAL VERDICT:
if movement will not turn to be lemon - it is one AMAZING watch! The ceramic case is outstanding. I would not event blink if someone would introduce me to this case-set as a genuine one. That good.
The caseback problem with engraving will be corrected by replacement part from Your favorite TD.
CP is not such issue in real life but should be corrected in the future. Would this issue prevent me from buying this version? I already have this watch but… yes, I would buy again despite of CP issue.
The GMT complication on A7750 is done as per gen and is known to be reliable solution. It is 24 hours instead of correct 12 so it is easy to recognize “it is a rep” every two hours
For practical use I like 24 hours GMT more than 12 hours.
CG's details:
UPDATE:
some observations of movement behaviors after 5 days:
- after small regulation it works stable about +3 secs/day (I hope it will get slower a bit as movement breaks in)
- no problems with autowinding
- no problems with date change (date wheel doesn't hang during night)
- small problem with GMT hand blocking seconds hand - easy to correct especially with this new bezel which you can remove...
other:
- lug pins need to be treated with Loctite
- the idea of modding CP: to get stainless steel pin, polish the head, cut it and glue over the CP using some drop of silicone..
After some market wars of dealers, we have the same watch from V6 and from KW where both are considered “makers” of this watch. Anyway, I got this beauty, marketed as KW production so I can have some observations first hand:
CERAMIC CASE:
really a thing of beauty! Perfect is the right word, believe me. Top bezel can be unscrewed with a sticky ball or small rubber suction cup. It is one piece together with sapphire. Nice and quick way to remove sapphire and blow out all of these dust particles from the dial without removing of a movement. Very handy.
The CG bridge is full ceramic, mounted to the case by two screw with rubber gaskets (to protect brittle ceramic of CG). Threaded holes are made in metal under the ceramic layer of a case - so the case is quite a complicated build. The lever has a nice ceramic snap feel when closing.
I couldn’t set the time at first since the ceramic cap of a crown disengaged from metal part. Was not glued strong enough, apparently. A drop of 2 components glue fixed the problem quickly. We will see how it holds since it is not easy to glue ceramic surfaces…
The titanium caseback on this watch is still CERAIMC one, but free replacement one is on its way. Anyway, it is not so visible since everything is so dark. It is not something to pop up at first glance.
I see no reason this caseset is being manufactured other way than gen ceramic case. In case You are interested in brief description of the process and some photos, take a look at paneristi's post: http://goo.gl/PVXhy5
DIAL, HANDS…
- dial is very very nice, with correct thinner arabic digits than those known from previous 359-like dial watches. Lume is very good considering it is faux patina style.
- hands are OK
- CP issue is there but not so annoying in real life (black hands, something shiny at the center, OK…..)
- 24 hours instead of correct as per gen 12 hours GMT hand - well, we will have to live with it. I am more for 24 hours GMT hands in watches - the PM/AM thing is important sometimes.
- date window is perfect - nothing else than black edges when observed from an angle.
MOVEMENT:
- non inverted balance decoration (but it is easier in case of watch regulation)
- smoked glass makes everything less annoying - it is more shiny than detailed now
- the movement was like -30 secs/day when arrived; I regulated it to +7 secs a day and will let it break down
STRAP, BUCKLE
- nice quality asso strap, nothing to be removed and trashed as we often do with rep straps. A keeper.
- black DLC’ed, probably titanium buckle, sandblasted
FINAL VERDICT:
if movement will not turn to be lemon - it is one AMAZING watch! The ceramic case is outstanding. I would not event blink if someone would introduce me to this case-set as a genuine one. That good.
The caseback problem with engraving will be corrected by replacement part from Your favorite TD.
CP is not such issue in real life but should be corrected in the future. Would this issue prevent me from buying this version? I already have this watch but… yes, I would buy again despite of CP issue.
The GMT complication on A7750 is done as per gen and is known to be reliable solution. It is 24 hours instead of correct 12 so it is easy to recognize “it is a rep” every two hours
For practical use I like 24 hours GMT more than 12 hours.
CG's details:
UPDATE:
some observations of movement behaviors after 5 days:
- after small regulation it works stable about +3 secs/day (I hope it will get slower a bit as movement breaks in)
- no problems with autowinding
- no problems with date change (date wheel doesn't hang during night)
- small problem with GMT hand blocking seconds hand - easy to correct especially with this new bezel which you can remove...
other:
- lug pins need to be treated with Loctite
- the idea of modding CP: to get stainless steel pin, polish the head, cut it and glue over the CP using some drop of silicone..
