183 or 380?

[teoulennon]

I've decided between these two, which appear to be the same but one has a sandwich dial and the other a sausage dial.

Is one considered better than the other?

 

[nielsen]

Judging by your avatar, I don't think it really matters....:lol1:

 

[teoulennon]

Judging by your avatar, I don't think it really matters....:lol1:

Lets not bring my smokin' hot girlfriend into this nielsen

 

[karesz501]

The current 380 from H-factory is considered a super rep, practically identical to the gen. Some argue the size of the tube, but gens have a large variation on this as well, so no issue at all.

The 183 is a much older cartel version, has no superlume at all, case is not 100% correct, etc.... Take the 380, hell of a watch!

 

[chrvolt]

My opinion is that there's no soul in 380.

Too much lettering on dial.

PANERAI and logo?

183 has flaws, but it's an all time classic.

My 0.2 eurocents :lol:

 

[silay]

380 all the way

 

[Debre]

I've decided between these two, which appear to be the same but one has a sandwich dial and the other a sausage dial.

Is one considered better than the other?

Depends on your definition of better....

Better as in technically better or better as in more pleasing to the eye?
I for one have always had a weak spot for the 183, even though it has its flaws looking at it from a technical point of view.
As Karesz501 pointed out already, it has no superlume and the casing is not 100%.

But if you are in love with its looks, you will not give that a second thought and get one all the same.

As for the dial being sandwiched or sausaged....both have their own attraction and the lume quality depends on what lume was used.

Finally there is a saying in my country which goes: There's no arguing about taste....
Meaning that everybody has a different taste and it's useless trying to persuade someone to alter that.

Good luck in making your choice!

 

[co-axial]

I love the 183. Classic dress watch imho.

Relume can be done by high standards. Just got mine finished by Wiz

http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/pam-183-relume-106450?t=106450

 

[ALE7575]

I've decided between these two, which appear to be the same but one has a sandwich dial and the other a sausage dial.

Is one considered better than the other?

These watches are considered as First Class reps. (380 better in some aspects than 183), But I like morte the PAM 183 (a taste question)
Below some comments about these watches.

PAM 183
EVALUATION: FIRST CLASS REP (Noob, other makers DSN included)
The PAM 183 is very similar to the Radiomir “Base†PAM 210 introduced in 2005 but with seconds@9 sub-dial and the inscription Black Seal in the dial.
PAM G-series year 2004 saw (finally!) the introduction of “Historic†Radiomir models by the launching of the PAM 183. Aimed squarely at the enthusiast and collector, they were comparatively aggressively priced.
The gen PAM 183 is a Radiomir Black Seal, it has a base sandwich black dial in a cushion shaped Radiomir SS case 45mm, with detachable wire lugs with, Display caseback and movement Panerai OP XI calibre, a modified ETA 6497/2, it is manual winding by a onion shaped crown which has OP logo engraved.
In 2005 H-series it happens a small tweak to the design of the Black Seal, in that the word “Black Seal†moves from below the center of the watch to above the center. And the brand Panerai goes to below the center.
Therefore all PAM 183 from H-series onwards should have the words Radiomir-Black Seal above the center and the brand Panerai below the center and vice versa.
There are replicas from the regular dealers and from DSN, they all are First Class reps of 2005 H-series, despite some flaws concerning lume and case shape.
REPLICA links:
http://www.puretime.co/product/pam183h-a6497/
http://www.puretime.co/product/pam183h-ultimate-edition/
http://www.timesshop.net/11616-xfpa2860-radiomir-black-seal-black-dial-ss-lt-asian-6497-manual-wind.html
http://www.timesshop.net/11749-pa0410s-panerai-radiomir-black-seal-black-dial-ss-lt-asian-6497.html
http://asian7750.com/cn/product_show.asp?big_pid=&ps_id=&P_id=1798&ti=
http://www.marvellousreplica.com/products_detail.php?ProId=669
http://www.trustytime.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_45&products_id=8
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/new-born-183h-98838
http://s1113.photobucket.com/albums/k515/dsnwatches/Pam%2045%20mm%20Radiomir%20watches/New%20Born%20Pam%20183H%20Black%20Seal/
GEN links:
http://www.paneraisource.com/watch_details/Historic_12.html
http://www.paneristi.com/reference/vendome/radiomirhistoric.html
http://www.panerai.com/s_page.xpd?id_lingua=2&id_sezione=16&id_prodotto=3069&id_categoria=3205



PAM 380
EVALUATION: FIRST CLASS REP (H maker and DSN)
The PAM 380 seems the same as PAM 183 and actually is similar, but sports “OP†logo on the dial and has Sausage black dial instead Sandwich dial like the 183. This logo watch is to the Radiomir series the same as logo PAM 005 is to the Luminor series. This is the first Radiomir to have the OP logo on the dial. In 2012 has been introduced another Radiomir Logo: the PAM 424 with Brown California dial.
The OP Logo is made up of the letters O and P which of course stand for Officine and Panerai. There are also two arrows in the logo - one pointing up and one pointing down-. These refer to the fact that Panerai was a specialist in manufacturing underwater products and landing aid systems. The down arrow referred to the under water (diving) products, the up arrow referred to the other tools.
This model belongs to Panerai's link to the “Historic†Radiomir models and military roots. The gen PAM 380 is a Radiomir Black seal released in 2011 N-series, it has a Sausage black dial in a cushion shaped Radiomir SS case 45mm, with detachable wire lugs with, seconds@9 sub-dial, Solid caseback and movement Panerai OP II calibre, ETA based, it is manual winding by a onion shaped crown which has OP logo engraved.
The high price and collectible pre-Vendome 5218-201/A, PAM 000-005-318-195-360-380-424 are the only available Panerai watches with the legend OP Logo.
Fortunately for the replica fans and makers this model has solid caseback because the movement OP II is not used in replicas, apart from the DSN reps which are fitted with Swiss OP II in some Display caseback models (but not in this case). All replicas from H maker and DSN are First Class reps.
REPLICA links:
http://www.puretime.co/product/pam380-n-h-maker-best-edition-on-hand-stitched-brown-leather-strap-a6497/
http://www.timesshop.net/12179-pam380-radiomir-blackseal-black-dial-ss-lt-asian-6497-manual-wind.html
http://www.hontwatch.com/productdetails_2951.html
http://www.trustytime.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_45&products_id=9320
http://www.kingshowbox.com/goods.php?id=7122
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/pam-380n-100400
http://s1113.photobucket.com/albums/k515/dsnwatches/Pam%2045%20mm%20Radiomir%20watches/new%20380N%20with%20new%20crown%20April%202012/
GEN links:
http://www.paneraisource.com/watch_details/Historic_304.html
http://www.panerai.com/s_page.xpd?id_lingua=2&id_sezione=16&id_prodotto=10555&id_categoria=3205

ALE

 

[tommylad]

Owned both, just got the 380 today. Go with the 380 - no contest.

 

[teoulennon]

Thanks for the input guys, incredibly helpful!
It sounds like I can't go wrong with either one.
Now the impossible task of deciding whether I want a sausage or sandwich on my wrist!

I just put in an order with HK Tan for an alligator strap like the one below, can't wait!

BTW, how easy are gold hands to come by? They look classy!