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201A - One of my Holy Grail Watches

panman8888

Active Member
14/9/06
259
0
0
if only...

but dammit, the gen is too rare and too expensive (over $20K).

and i have yet to see a decent rep of this sought after watch, either.

first, here are pix of the gen:


matchfull2.jpg




prebuckle.jpg




matching2e.jpg








compared to the davidsen latest (pictured below) version, there are a number of issues i wish could be cleaned up:

1. the font on the latest davidsen is very wrong. the gen has a very simple, sans serif font. compare the top of the "l", bottom of "p" or bottom of "r" (really, the "ends" of each straight line) carefully with the gen and you'll see what i mean. there is some sort of ornateness going on with the davidsen font.

2. the gen does NOT have a sandwich dial. the preV watches are quite interesting because they appear as though a sandwich has been filled in with material and paint. in some ways, more of a sausage dial that seems "etched" or slightly recessed on the edges is what it looks like.

3. one thing that makes the preV watches so unique looking--again, refer to the gen pictures--is how the 6 and 9 are almost entirely the same thickness everywhere, even up to the point where they almost fully close (where the inner loop comes closing a circle). and note how fat the numbers are on the gen, how the 6 and 9 are almost closed, and then compare to the davidsen. also, the davidsen's "3" just doesn't look right, even inherently speaking and not comparing it to anything. the top portion on the left hand side of the davidsen "3" (that is, the top backward "c", if you know what i mean) looks like it got so fat, it lost its clarity.

4. the crown guard on gen has a much smaller cut for the crown, forming a smaller cavity around the crown.

5. the numbers and indices on the gen 201a's i've seen are somewhat yellowed in a more pale yellow, and less of a bright banana yellow

6. finally, the case on the davidsen luminors is NOT 1:1 with gen 44mm cases. at least not the one i have. each lug is thinner in width, and the overall thickness of the case (that is from the top of your wrist/case back to the top of crystal) is about 2-3mm shorter than gen!!!! really, the watch wears smaller. in fact, my gen 44mm luminors make my davidsen rep look and wear like a 40mm.

i increasingly admire davidsen's work, as i think we all do. but in the quest to improve the products we buy--and you have to admire and appreciate, as i do, davidsen's openness to critique and improvement--i thought i'd get a discussion going on this topic.. especially since the 201a is such a special watch to any pan fan. i for one would really like to see a better version rep offered by davidsen or someone in the future.

thoughts?








DSCF0811-1.jpg




DSCF0823.jpg



DSCF0822.jpg




DSCF0816.jpg
 

hk45ca

Legendary Member
Advisor
17/3/06
11,843
6
38
davidsen's rep of this watch is the best you will find and the pictures of the gens of this watch i have seen the lume on the dial is even more yellow than his. as far as his cases go they are as close as anything out there. i have a 113 from ruby and a 195 from davidsen and they are the same thickness as far as just looking and wearing. they basicly look feel and wear the same as far as i can tell.
 

Gunscrossed

Getting To Know The Place
20/9/06
98
0
0
I don't think Davidsen uses a sandwich dial for this model? It's engraved like the gen.
Here is a good guide to how the lume sits,
208869074.jpg


208870298.jpg
 

hk45ca

Legendary Member
Advisor
17/3/06
11,843
6
38
Cucumber_Jones said:
I like mine...

201a2ka0.jpg

me toooooo. lol

i am sure there are some small things that are not perfect but to me it looks very nice.
 

Cucumber_Jones

I'm Pretty Popular
15/3/06
1,511
0
0
Indexes filled in by enzo and the cannon pin flattened. This is version 2 case/cg and version one dial (with enzo's mods).
 

ragerover

Getting To Know The Place
17/10/06
69
0
0
enzo said:
Making a REP dial that is fully routed out of solid brass is expensive. It's easier to sandwich it, this is why you won't find what you want. As well this was limited to these few Pre-V/a models, these dials would only work on a couple of models and thus be wrong applied anywhere else. So, again, you are making a specialised dial that fits only a few watches, that formula means, $$$

I will admitt that I do not know much about the cost involved in making a dial. But, I have had automobile parts made before. Considering how most watch companies employ CNC (even the top watches such as Vacheronand Patek use CNC then hand finish) I don't see why it would that expensive to rep a dial.

A sandwich dial would give the same effect, so no need to really route a dial. But if someone had a small run of the dials made, I don't think it would really cost that much.

Do you know how Panerai made the original 201a dials? Were they routed by hand? or CNCed?

I think that DSN's first generation 201a dial is closer. The numerals look to be the same, while on the 2nd generation they look fatter. Maybe its just the pic and they are both the same?