Another 318 movt scandal!

[TimeWillTell]

Another 318 movt scandal unfolded!

This is the exact same swiss 6497 movt i handled in caina, but without the blue painted screws...:rofl:



I'm glad i made my way to the dark side Lol :cheers:

 

[panermaniac]

Do you mean China when you say "caina"?

 

[TimeWillTell]

Do you mean China when you say "caina"?

 

[ALE7575]

But this is already a known story, isn't it ?

Read PAM GUIDE of 318:

EVALUATION: (**) SUPER REP (L-series Noob & H maker)
The PAM 318 is the same as PAM 005, with Logo on dial, but has Engraved Solid Caseback “Brooklyn Bridgeâ€. It is a Limited Unique Edition "Brooklyn Bridge" of 150 pieces, version available only to the New York Boutique. See more related watches in PAM 005
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.
The high price and collectible pre-Vendome 5218-201/A, 5218-209/A and PAM 000-005-318-195-360-380-424 are the only available Panerai watches with the legend OP logo.
There is an odd story regarding the movements that were used in the PAM 318 “Brooklyn Bridge" watches. Instead of having a decorated movement, like the OPII from the PAM 414 installed, it has a cheap movement, called OP XXIX, exclusive for this watch PAM 318, completely unfinished low grade Unitas, no Geneva stripes, no bevelling, no blued screws, no perlage (under the bridges), there's not even stamped 'Panerai' on any of the bridges, with a poor finish in general. This movement is a low beat 18.000 b/h, is non COSC and has a cheap Novodiac instead of Incabloc shock absorber system.

But in PANERAI 'limited edition catalog 1997 - 2010' there is nothing said about the XXIX. On the contrary, when you look at the PAM 318 they talk about an OPII, 21600 high beat movement, COSC Certified and Incabloc shock absorber.
It was a mistake? It was made intentionally? I cannot believe that PANERAI would risk its reputation to save a little quantity of money.
if this was made intentionally we would see more PAM watches with this XXIX movement, like PAM Boutiques Special Edition, PAM 366 'FU', etc…
How or why these 150 PAM 318 were fitted with this low grade movement is something we will probably never know.
Panerai used this movement for only 150 watches, most likely something went wrong and with all the production finished, and ready for shipment, when somebody discovered this mistake and they decided not to start all over again but just rename it to the OP XXIX
Panerai’s president offered to PAM 318 owners a free change of movement, excluding transportation costs and insurance (weird?). Some owners would make the change and they made a bad deal in my opinon , because the PAM 318 with the “wrong†movement can become a collectible item, something like a postage stamp with a printing error, since only 150 items were made.
Below the links to get the complete story:
http://www.watchfreeks.com/view_topic.php?id=22595&forum_id=75
http://www.network54.com/Forum/353391/m ... ous+PAM318
http://www.network54.com/Forum/353391/t ... ners+Unite
There are replicas PAM 318 from regular dealers and from DSN. Replicas L-series from Noob and H maker are Super reps.
Good candidate for a first Panerai replica
REPLICA links:
(**)http://www.puretime.co/product/pam318-l-h-maker-best-edition-on-custom-brown-leather-strap/
(**)http://www.puretime.co/product/pam318-l-noob-transparent-ar-best-edition-on-brown-oem-leather-strap/
(**)http://www.timesshop.net/12494-pa8340b-pam000-l-h-factory-super-lume-black-ss-lt-asian-6497
(**)http://www.timesshop.net/12459-pa7990b-pam318-l-h-factory-black-dial-dlc-lt-1-1-asian-6497
(**)http://www.timesshop.net/8437-pam318-brooklyn-bridge-luminor-marina-black-dial-ss-lt-dark-tan-asian-6497
(**)http://asian7750.com/cn/product_show.asp?big_pid=&ps_id=&P_id=2110&ti=
(**)http://www.marvellousreplica.com/products_detail.php?ProId=1525
(**)http://www.trustytime.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_49&produ cts_id=8871
http://s1113.photobucket.com/albums/k515/dsnwatches/Pam%2044mm%20steel%20luminor%20%20watches/Pam%20318L%20logo%20watch/
GEN links:
http://www.paneraisource.com/watch_details/Special_250.htmlhttp://www.paneraisource.com/watch_details/Special_250.htmlhttp://www.paneraisource.com/watch_details/Special_250.html

ALE

 

[SSTEEL]

Yup.

 

[granvino]

Except this is a 40B ..., at the very least it makes for very interesting reading. There's a couple of threads after this one that lead to some comments made by Dirk circa 2003
network54.com/Forum/353391/message/1377882461/Is+my+Panerai+Pam+40+movement+a+'FAKE'-+Please+help

 

[mysterio]

Except this is a 40B ..., at the very least it makes for very interesting reading. There's a couple of threads after this one that lead to some comments made by Dirk circa 2003
network54.com/Forum/353391/message/1377882461/Is+my+Panerai+Pam+40+movement+a+'FAKE'-+Please+help

The buyer/seller conversation is more interesting than the movement issue. :lol:

 

[TimeWillTell]

Except this is a 40B ..., at the very least it makes for very interesting reading. There's a couple of threads after this one that lead to some comments made by Dirk circa 2003
network54.com/Forum/353391/message/1377882461/Is+my+Panerai+Pam+40+movement+a+'FAKE'-+Please+help

yesh i m pretty shock to see such movt under the hood of a 40B. Isn't it EXACTLY the same unmarked "industrial" 6497s we have handled before? :facepalm: 20 gees for this, no way!

The buyer/seller conversation is more interesting than the movement issue. :lol:

make me look at them in another perspective, "so much more than just a watch"...indeed so much more than just a watch! I have personally seen how people make their way to get a boutique special edition and flipping it for profit!

I'm glad this brand had shown me true colors of many, for i have seen the ugliest side of people, and where the brand has headed...

:cheers: