40mm PAMs.. Quick look at the flaws and which one's the best

[taiji]

44mm PAMs attract our attention most of the time. What about our dearly 40mm PAMs? Have we forgotten about them?

Here's a quick look at each model. Hope the information will help those who is thinking of getting one to make the best selection
and also that the 40mm PAMs will gain more popularity like their "big" 44mm brothers.

*Experts, please throw in any information I miss out to make this post the most complete 40mm PAMs info center

For PAM049 automatic

The flaws are

1.) Poor cyclop mag power
2.) Incorrect "skinny" date font. Gen uses a bolder font.
3.) Lume is too green
4.) Shorter hour hand

Plus point

1.) Correct solid caseback (mostly C series for reps)
2.) Crown thickness is correct

Mod

1.) Check out Lello's latest datewheel that will fit both swiss or asian 7750
2.) Relume recommended


For PAM050 automatic

The flaws are

1.) Poor cyclop mag power
2.) Incorrect "skinny" date font. Gen uses a bolder font.

Plus point

1.) Correct solid caseback (mostly C series for reps)
2.) Crown thickness is correct

Mod

1.) Check out Lello's latest datewheel that will fit both swiss or asian 7750
2.) Relume recommended


PAM168 Chrono

The flaws are

1.) Shorter hour hand
2.) "TM" engravement behind the caseback is incorrect ("TN" on rep)
3.) "Stainless steel" behind the caseback is incorrect ("Titanium" on gen)
4.) Date wheel back ground should be blue not black
5.) Recessed date (same problem as PAM196)
6.) Position for the "10" and "20" on the sub dial at 3 o'clock is incorrect (same problem as PAM212, 196 etc)

Plus point

1.) Lume colour looks correct
2.) Crown thickness is correct


PAM60 chrono

(Pic borrowed from TT)

The flaws are

1.) The one and only deadgiveaway flaw - Display caseback on gen on incorrect solid caseback on rep

Plus point

1.) Position for the "10" and "20" on the sub dial at 3 o'clock is correct on this one
2.) Crown thickness is correct

Mod

1.) Almost impossible to have the display caseback. The rep factory never make this as far as I know

Backcase pic for PAM049, 050 and 168

Pointers to help you decide better

PAM049 - If not for the shorter hour hand and "skinny" date wheel, it is very close to the gen

PAM050 - Best one out of the 4 models with the least flaw but with relume and Lello's Date wheel. It is scarily close to the gen

PAM168 - Too many flaws but the blue dials looks cool

PAM60 - Except for the wrong solid caseback. It has the best dial of all.

My vote goes to PAM050.

How about you?

Thanks for viewing

 

[seraphe]

Well done, bro! I've been thinking about the 40mm automatics for a while now since I got so obsessed with the 44mm big brothers.

I thought it would be nice to sport a classic size for a watch to wear with suits or tux. Something not too large to fit in the sleeve. The only options I thought of are either the 42mm chrono Radiomir or these 40mm automatics. Frankly, if there's an ideal 40mm automatic, I would agree that PAM050 will be my choice. Curious though... I have thought the links for the 050 bracelet are all brushed. Am I wrong?

I just visited Sungai Wang tonight after work and browsed through a few local dealers but all their pannie stocks look really bad. The only nice ones are the fiddys which unfortunately have the wrong 6497 faceplates. The 40mm automatics are really bad. Either the CG has no tube visible on the front, or the cyclop has no mag power at all. All the lume look painted green.

 

[taiji]

What a coincidence... :shock: I was there yesterday.

Anyway, I got myself a long wanted Omega SMP Chrono. The greatest thing is that the price is sooooo much better than
my local dealer. Guess I will be visitng Sungei Wang "very often". Have ordered a ETA 7750 DW from cousin. Once arrived, the watch
will be send to my watch smith for mod.

PM me. I make some good discovery there.

 

[takashi]

:twisted: would be glad to visit that place next year ^^

 

[asturianin]

Lello has correct date wheels for the pam 050?? :shock:

 

[zenpang]

Great info, but I am curious about the Lello datewhell

 

[Sperry]

I got the 168 and although I have had to have cleaned and oiled so it would keep decent time, I LOVE THE COOL BLUE. I know it is crap for accuracy but believe it or not I get most complements for this watch.

 

[s.dupere]

lello

Hi, noob question but who is lello and how do I contact him?


thanks a lot. I want this pam 50 datewheel.

 

[taiji]

Lello is a popular member from RWG. He has helped us in making datewheel for ETA 2893 and 2836 (PAM29 and 63). His latest work is the datewheel for IWC's Ing.

Many have benefitted from his datewheel.

If you read through his threads, his next plan is to make a Pannie's date wheel that will fit on both ETA and Asian 7750. I remember he will have something ready for us somewhere abround this period.

What's even more exciting is that he is looking to make the datewheel for breitling BCE.

Just pay attention to his latest posts and follow up closely. Heis a great guy to deal with but please have the patience to wait for his reply.

I'll be travelling again. Last time, I manage to get Pannie CGs, Crowns, caseback (Not from davidsen's as it will not fit on his. Davidsen's rep is still one of the best) for our generic PAM reps. This time, I'll try to source for Pannie's datewheel. Yes... those that are used with A7750 on Ultimate PAM92 Arktos.

If I ever get it. I will put try to put into my PAM50 and 49. It may not fit but I'm willing to take the risk.

Chances is very low. Anyway, wish me luck. I'll keep you posted.

 

[babola]

Keep up the good work Taiji, it's members like you who keep the old Pannie sparkle and forums like these alive and kicking

Not sure where and how you managed to get those older and hard to find PAM rep bits, but I can't wait to receive your old-school polished CG and F-series display caseback

40mm PAMs, hmm, once you've gone the whole hog with 44mm mechanicals, it's hard to go back to a more 'decent' size, ha, ha!
Besides, at least for me Panerai is all about mech manual wind mov'ts...I get Omega or Breitling when I feel the auto mov't craving :lol:

cheers mate,
babola

 

[JohnnyKing]

Thought I'd chime in, since I'm also a fan of the 40 mm Pams!

I got my 048 (same watch as the 050, except for the strap) from Trusty a while back and have been using it frequently. Here are my thoughts:

Plus side:
- Very well built. Really has the feel of the original.
- Case + CG + crown very close to the original.
- Runs like a champ. Went a little fast the first week, but since then it's amazingly accurate.
- Will fool ANYONE who hasn't owned the original or deals with PAM's by profession.

Minus side:
- Floppy lever, although the fitting is very nice.
- Date mag a bit weak + date font off (though I personally think the rep font looks better than the bolder original).
- Lack of decent lume.
- If you look closely, you can see tiny "whiteish" edges around the numbers and markers.

Overall a very nice rep! Attaching a picture - but it doesn't do it justice at all. Looks very "flawed" compared to in the flesh.

Does anyone know if anyone sells a fully modded 40mm by the way?

Kind regards,
Johnny

 

[babola]

JohnnyKing,
that's one heck of a nice watch - bold and crisp white dial txt, 'fat' creamy dial numerals and markers, correctly shaped numerals 12 and 6, no recessed pin...etc.

As you said, date font is actualy OK, crown is the right thickness (slightly thinner than the one that comes on 44mm mechanics) although the teeth cut and bevel could have been just a tad less pronounced.

I wouldn't touch it, except from the dial re-lume, as every Pam rep can benefit from a little bit of Vacuum's, Flav's or Ziggy's lume magic :wink:

cheers,
babola

 

[moggio]

What a coincidence... :shock: I was there yesterday.

Anyway, I got myself a long wanted Omega SMP Chrono. The greatest thing is that the price is sooooo much better than
my local dealer. Guess I will be visitng Sungei Wang "very often". Have ordered a ETA 7750 DW from cousin. Once arrived, the watch
will be send to my watch smith for mod.

PM me. I make some good discovery there.

Why do you guys talk about someplace that is out of everybodies mind ?? its like a thread on your own

 

[redbird]

Can someone with an 060 post some wrist shots? That's a good looking 40mm!