The idea for this thread came after reading an posting on @KOT1917's yearly state of the rep collection.
Looking back through the year made me realize I did build quite a lot more PAMs than I thought, the fire is still burning strong although parts are harder and harder to come by.
Recently I have seen a sparkle of hope with some great builders coming back here on RWI so in the end I'm not alone
Frist off I'd like start with a fun build based on a sterile Aliexpress case and a custom dial from Belkin12. I'm loving this kind of builds, Panerai is not making nice Bettarini models any more? Factories closed down and left us dry? No problem, we'll be making our own!
Although far from the golden age It is a really enjoyable piece and it gave me some details on parts compatibility I will hopefully be able to exploit for future projects:
On a more serious note, here is one of my all time favourite vintage watches: the 3646, in this instance presented with tropical brown dial (made by Bigwaved) and steel blued hands. Strap from Iristhomas on Etsy:
Another vintage I had the opportunity to build this year is this 6154 with tropical chocolate dial. The distance between dial and rehaut is the so called "gaposis" effect visible on some genuine 6154. Movement is the now legendary 6497 with custom Rolex 618 bridges from DSN, a name I am sorely missing amongst our dealers. Strap from Zsir acquired a lot of time ago:
Twin 3646 build, both Esdee's case, Cortebert 616 movements, Belkin12 dials, Bakeka straps:
1.
2.
This is a 3646 with special dial made by Bigwaved. It's a 3-piece one that was painted and lumed to match a genuine reference, the result achieved by Bigwaved is incredibly close imho. Strap from Bakeka:
Gen to the right
Build
A long awaited (by me) sterile dial 3646 build. I am not asked frequently to build such watches, people always prefer branded dials, but from an historical point of view the sterile dials were very more frequently used by the italian army as they were less recognizable if caught behind enemy lines.
Here's my build: Athaya case set, 3 piece 2mm dial, strap by kyros. I managed to use real steel blued hands on this build by harvesting long tubes from an Athaya set and broaching NW steel hands. Not what I'd call easy and there was big chance to break them but everything went well in the end
6152/1 "Modern vintage" - Based on a cheap fiddy case from Ali, Belkin12's dial and Athaya curved hands. Dial has a beautiful and very special surface threatment with chemical blackening + radial brushing that makes it really unique, vintage and modern at the same time. All credits go to him for this beauty and laughs to me discovering how easy the surface threatment gets affected by lume on hands :lol:
Watch is presented on my own Iristhomas strap:
Old school 6152/1 restoration. A friend asked me to give new life to this case set he had lying in his drawer for a long long time.
Unknown maker's case set with correct engravings, custom Molnija movement holder, black_shark dial, River tall tube hands and strap from Jorge (G-straps)
That's it for now, but how about you guys? What did you build or buy this year?
Let's see your jewels as well and make this thread a show off for the best that 2021 had to offer in terms of vintage Panerai!
Looking back through the year made me realize I did build quite a lot more PAMs than I thought, the fire is still burning strong although parts are harder and harder to come by.
Recently I have seen a sparkle of hope with some great builders coming back here on RWI so in the end I'm not alone
Frist off I'd like start with a fun build based on a sterile Aliexpress case and a custom dial from Belkin12. I'm loving this kind of builds, Panerai is not making nice Bettarini models any more? Factories closed down and left us dry? No problem, we'll be making our own!
Although far from the golden age It is a really enjoyable piece and it gave me some details on parts compatibility I will hopefully be able to exploit for future projects:
On a more serious note, here is one of my all time favourite vintage watches: the 3646, in this instance presented with tropical brown dial (made by Bigwaved) and steel blued hands. Strap from Iristhomas on Etsy:
Another vintage I had the opportunity to build this year is this 6154 with tropical chocolate dial. The distance between dial and rehaut is the so called "gaposis" effect visible on some genuine 6154. Movement is the now legendary 6497 with custom Rolex 618 bridges from DSN, a name I am sorely missing amongst our dealers. Strap from Zsir acquired a lot of time ago:
Twin 3646 build, both Esdee's case, Cortebert 616 movements, Belkin12 dials, Bakeka straps:
1.
2.
This is a 3646 with special dial made by Bigwaved. It's a 3-piece one that was painted and lumed to match a genuine reference, the result achieved by Bigwaved is incredibly close imho. Strap from Bakeka:
Gen to the right
Build
A long awaited (by me) sterile dial 3646 build. I am not asked frequently to build such watches, people always prefer branded dials, but from an historical point of view the sterile dials were very more frequently used by the italian army as they were less recognizable if caught behind enemy lines.
Here's my build: Athaya case set, 3 piece 2mm dial, strap by kyros. I managed to use real steel blued hands on this build by harvesting long tubes from an Athaya set and broaching NW steel hands. Not what I'd call easy and there was big chance to break them but everything went well in the end
6152/1 "Modern vintage" - Based on a cheap fiddy case from Ali, Belkin12's dial and Athaya curved hands. Dial has a beautiful and very special surface threatment with chemical blackening + radial brushing that makes it really unique, vintage and modern at the same time. All credits go to him for this beauty and laughs to me discovering how easy the surface threatment gets affected by lume on hands :lol:
Watch is presented on my own Iristhomas strap:
Old school 6152/1 restoration. A friend asked me to give new life to this case set he had lying in his drawer for a long long time.
Unknown maker's case set with correct engravings, custom Molnija movement holder, black_shark dial, River tall tube hands and strap from Jorge (G-straps)
That's it for now, but how about you guys? What did you build or buy this year?
Let's see your jewels as well and make this thread a show off for the best that 2021 had to offer in terms of vintage Panerai!
