In my monumental fifth review for this series, I am posting an eagerly awaited rep. 
This review is so fresh, the watch isn't out yet. :lmao: But I guess this might whet your appetites a little and maybe even get some feedback. Here is my review of the...
The PAM684 was just recently announced in January during the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève) exhibition along with its stainless steel twin. the PAM682. While its more tame brethren got some attention, because Risti had been requesting Officine Panerai to come up with a smaller submersible, even smaller than the existing 44mm PAM243, PAM064 and PAM087, the PAM684, I think stole the limelight. It is a 42mm Submersible like the PAM682, but that's where the similarity ends. The PAM682, made of steel, and is water resistance up to 300m, the PAM684 is a nice little number with a Red Gold case and a ceramic bezel (ala PAM389) and is only water resistant up to 100m. Both are powered by the P.9010 movement, now ably copied cosmetically by the A7750 movement with the balance wheel @11, and glued on decorative plates. Some of this review might copy some of the text from the XF PAM682 as they are so alike. So let's begin, shall we?
Dial - Same as with the PAM682, with black dial with the LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE text at 12 o'clock and the PANERAI Automatic text at 6 o'clock. Circular hour markers for the majority of the dial with 1 and 2 stick markers at 6 and 12 o'clock respectively. Seconds subdial but instead of the usual characteristic blue seconds hand for P.9010 equipped watches, the PAM684 tries to differentiate itself with a gold subdial hand.
Crown and crown guard - Nicely executed crown guard, with the slight chamfers at the sides of the half-moon shape, same as gen (not as prominent as on larger submersibles but it is there). REG T.M. engraving is nicely done and lever pin placement is same as gen. Crown is a bit skinny but it looks like same as the gen (since it's smaller to match a 42mm watch).
Bezel - Bezel is nicely brushed with the black ceramic insert. The bezel minute markers from 0-15 are sharp and legible but in a different color (might be patinated) and the circular hour markers aren't prominent nor are they sunk on the bezel. Slight chamfer on both top and bottom sides of the bezel, not as prominent as on bigger subs but it looks like the same as the gen. The cut is clean and it exposes the shiny polished edge underneath which now complements instead of countering the polished red gold steel case.
Case - Well done case, polished red gold plated stainless steel with longer lugs which is expected for P.9010 based movement watches. The case has the screw in lug change system for the PAM684, same as on gen (the PAM682 has the quick release system ones, in comparison).
Movement - It is the new P.9010 movement which in reality is just the A7750 with decorative plates glued on to make it look like the gen P.9010. Fortunately, the placement of the balance wheel for the A7750 is at the same location for the gen movement, which is @11. No misspellings as well so let's be thankful.
Caseback - The caseback is made of the same material as the case, red gold and has all of the markings, even the chemical composition of the gold used in the watch (well gen anyway :lol: ) Now there is a missing detail and a point of contention. Both the gen PAM682 and PAM684 technically have not yet been released by Panerai. So the factory copied the only available reference, which is the prototype watch. However, being a prototype, this particular watch was devoid of any serial number and millesimation. What would you guys prefer, the prototype caseback or one with serial number and millesimation which most likely will be used on the production watches? (TXXXX/1000 for the PAM682 and TXXX/250 for the PAM684)?
Lume - This recently had been a discussion item with the first batch of PAM682s which had the uniform green lume to match the first picture uploaded by OP in their website. Now it has been updated to show that the P.9010 based submersibles will henceforth have blue lume on the lume pip and the minute hand. Naturally such improvements would be coming out for the PAM684 as well. So some lume shots in a bit of shade and in total darkness.
So in conclusion, the XF PAM684 looks to be every bit as interesting as the XF PAM682 from those who have been waiting for a 42mm submersible to arrive. With fit and finish every bit as good as the other factory releases, this watch at the very least deserves your serious consideration. Same as its stainless steel brother, this PAM684 is definitely at least a first-class rep medium class if we're going to consider the movement (it's very good but it's not 1:1 to gen), maybe even bordering on super rep class.
Parting shot of the twins, I'm sure some of you will get both (I am also seriously considering it :lol.
I hope you've enjoyed the review. Thanks for looking!
This review is so fresh, the watch isn't out yet. :lmao: But I guess this might whet your appetites a little and maybe even get some feedback. Here is my review of the...Luminor 1950 Submersible 3 Days Automatic Oro Rosso 42mm PAM 684
The PAM684 was just recently announced in January during the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève) exhibition along with its stainless steel twin. the PAM682. While its more tame brethren got some attention, because Risti had been requesting Officine Panerai to come up with a smaller submersible, even smaller than the existing 44mm PAM243, PAM064 and PAM087, the PAM684, I think stole the limelight. It is a 42mm Submersible like the PAM682, but that's where the similarity ends. The PAM682, made of steel, and is water resistance up to 300m, the PAM684 is a nice little number with a Red Gold case and a ceramic bezel (ala PAM389) and is only water resistant up to 100m. Both are powered by the P.9010 movement, now ably copied cosmetically by the A7750 movement with the balance wheel @11, and glued on decorative plates. Some of this review might copy some of the text from the XF PAM682 as they are so alike. So let's begin, shall we?
Dial - Same as with the PAM682, with black dial with the LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE text at 12 o'clock and the PANERAI Automatic text at 6 o'clock. Circular hour markers for the majority of the dial with 1 and 2 stick markers at 6 and 12 o'clock respectively. Seconds subdial but instead of the usual characteristic blue seconds hand for P.9010 equipped watches, the PAM684 tries to differentiate itself with a gold subdial hand.
Crown and crown guard - Nicely executed crown guard, with the slight chamfers at the sides of the half-moon shape, same as gen (not as prominent as on larger submersibles but it is there). REG T.M. engraving is nicely done and lever pin placement is same as gen. Crown is a bit skinny but it looks like same as the gen (since it's smaller to match a 42mm watch).
Bezel - Bezel is nicely brushed with the black ceramic insert. The bezel minute markers from 0-15 are sharp and legible but in a different color (might be patinated) and the circular hour markers aren't prominent nor are they sunk on the bezel. Slight chamfer on both top and bottom sides of the bezel, not as prominent as on bigger subs but it looks like the same as the gen. The cut is clean and it exposes the shiny polished edge underneath which now complements instead of countering the polished red gold steel case.
Case - Well done case, polished red gold plated stainless steel with longer lugs which is expected for P.9010 based movement watches. The case has the screw in lug change system for the PAM684, same as on gen (the PAM682 has the quick release system ones, in comparison).
Movement - It is the new P.9010 movement which in reality is just the A7750 with decorative plates glued on to make it look like the gen P.9010. Fortunately, the placement of the balance wheel for the A7750 is at the same location for the gen movement, which is @11. No misspellings as well so let's be thankful.
Caseback - The caseback is made of the same material as the case, red gold and has all of the markings, even the chemical composition of the gold used in the watch (well gen anyway :lol: ) Now there is a missing detail and a point of contention. Both the gen PAM682 and PAM684 technically have not yet been released by Panerai. So the factory copied the only available reference, which is the prototype watch. However, being a prototype, this particular watch was devoid of any serial number and millesimation. What would you guys prefer, the prototype caseback or one with serial number and millesimation which most likely will be used on the production watches? (TXXXX/1000 for the PAM682 and TXXX/250 for the PAM684)?
Lume - This recently had been a discussion item with the first batch of PAM682s which had the uniform green lume to match the first picture uploaded by OP in their website. Now it has been updated to show that the P.9010 based submersibles will henceforth have blue lume on the lume pip and the minute hand. Naturally such improvements would be coming out for the PAM684 as well. So some lume shots in a bit of shade and in total darkness.
So in conclusion, the XF PAM684 looks to be every bit as interesting as the XF PAM682 from those who have been waiting for a 42mm submersible to arrive. With fit and finish every bit as good as the other factory releases, this watch at the very least deserves your serious consideration. Same as its stainless steel brother, this PAM684 is definitely at least a first-class rep medium class if we're going to consider the movement (it's very good but it's not 1:1 to gen), maybe even bordering on super rep class.
Parting shot of the twins, I'm sure some of you will get both (I am also seriously considering it :lol
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I hope you've enjoyed the review. Thanks for looking!
