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232 versus 294

unregistered

Active Member
13/1/08
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I've made no small secret my love of the 232 and its more recent evolution the 294.

Well now, thanks to PSoC (Hixxy) I have my 294! :clap:

He's done amazing work on a Vacclumed 232. Some of which included shortening the crown tube and the lugs. Two of the biggest tells on the DSN/Cartel franken 232 most people get (you can read the review here). On top of which, he's added a low distortion plexi ala the 294 to make this a pseudo 294 (gen has a display caseback and engravings between the lugs). Right now I couldn't be happier.

232 on the left, 294 on the right unless otherwise stated, though it should be obvious. My 232 was one I built very long ago and had been upgraded once when DSN came out with a better dial (you can read that review here).

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Now some alone shots of the pseudo 294

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Wristie
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Here is something you guys should like, DSN stock dial and hands on the left, Vacclumed dial and hands on the right;

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2sec exposure, 2.5mins in between shots

In person, the DSN glows a smidgen brighter and a little more aqueous. We know this dial of his really burns, you can see it right in the middle next to the gen MM20

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Though its a fantasy right now, this is perfect for me and as such you know the 232 is going up for sale soon. The watch actually wears a slight bit smaller now as the plexi makes the dial visually look smaller, interesting change to note. Also, there are minute differences between the two dials, with the 294 dial having a mildly thinner top plate but thinner cutouts and the 232 having thicker cutouts. Uncharged lume color is whiter on the 294 as well. Text printing is mildly different with the 232 slightly sharper.

Merry Xmas everyone!
 

justlounging

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Great comparison bro! and the watch looks solid on your wrist although IMO maybe a slightly thicker strap would set it off better.. :)
 

levelmanroger

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I'm going to show how Pam-stupid I am:
Can someone please tell me how the heck these are different models? Except for a very slight difference in the crown, these are the SAME FREAKIN WATCH!!!
Curse Pam and their 973.4 model numbers - most of which are virtually identical!!!

Oh... by the way... Nice Watch(es)!
 

Fiddo

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I'm going to show how Pam-stupid I am:
Can someone please tell me how the heck these are different models? Except for a very slight difference in the crown, these are the SAME FREAKIN WATCH!!!
Curse Pam and their 973.4 model numbers - most of which are virtually identical!!!

Oh... by the way... Nice Watch(es)!

The 294 has a Plexi crystal. Otherwise, they are same.
 

unregistered

Active Member
13/1/08
416
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Great comparison bro! and the watch looks solid on your wrist although IMO maybe a slightly thicker strap would set it off better.. :)

Guess its personal choice but I can't stand thick straps on Radiomirs, I feel they need to be on thin style tapered straps. I've had 4mm thick Strap Culture and Heroic18 27/24 straps on my 232 and they've always ended up swapped out.

I'm going to show how Pam-stupid I am:
Can someone please tell me how the heck these are different models? Except for a very slight difference in the crown, these are the SAME FREAKIN WATCH!!!
Curse Pam and their 973.4 model numbers - most of which are virtually identical!!!

Oh... by the way... Nice Watch(es)!

Essentially you are right, the 232 and 294 are nearly identical, the main differences are that the 232 came in the I series as a special edition with a closed caseback, I think there were an additional 12 OORs for it.

For the 294, it was released last year or this as a Tokyo boutique special edition of 50 pieces in the M series and has a 249 caseset, i.e. plexi crystal and display case back with the cotes de geneve engraved 6497 movement and OP engraved crown instead of the OP logo. (Pics of the gen)

I personally prefer a mixture of the two which is what I have above, i.e. a plexi glass with solid caseback. toying with the idea of getting a Nightwatch thick caseback for this as well.
 

levelmanroger

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So if Omega puts a cheaper plexi crystal on an otherwise identical PO, could they get away with calling it a "new" or "limited edition" model and charging more for it?
I like Pams, but there is such stupidity in the craze for them.
Face it guys - they make 5 watches. That's it! They are the new Swatch we had when in high school where you could mix and match cheap plastic parts to "create" your own watch.
From now on I will refer to them as "Paneratch".
 

unregistered

Active Member
13/1/08
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Pretty much, but they're still fun to read about and learn all the variances between models :)
 

chromed.

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dude, u'r like a walking one stop panerai info booth man!! hahahhaa..