Current Options for PAM127

[vv8vv]

I'm looking into the PAM127 which has no shortage of content on this forum, but some of the information, while helpful, is a bit dated such as this 127 guide from 2015. As of now, here's a breakdown of the options I've found that are currently on the market:

Factories:

• XF:
  • Price Range: Around $458 - $488
  • Reputation: Seems to get the highest marks in terms of rep quality and effort to replicate the gen.
• ZF:
  • Price Range: Around $388 - $418
  • Information: Limited details available.
• HWF:
  • Price Range: Around $348
  • Cost-Cutting Measures: To save on costs, it reuses the crown guard from a different model, which presents several discrepancies compared to the original or other replicas.
  • Crystal Quality: Known for the most pronounced crystal distortion among other reps, this makes the HWF appealing to those seeking the high-dome distortion characteristic of the PAM127.
• Noob
  
  • Price Range: About $338.
  • Background: Historically, Noob was recognized for producing excellent versions of the Fiddy about a decade ago. Although ChazingTime lists a version from Noob, the accuracy of this and the current status of Noob's operations are unclear, raising several questions.
    

Questions:

• Accuracy of Factory Summaries: Are the above summaries correct regarding each factory's offerings and peculiarities?
• Choosing for a Vintage Look: Considering the desire for the vintage appearance with a bulbous dome and edge distortions on the dial, is HWF a more suitable choice over XF, given its price and crystal characteristics? Or do the shortcuts made by HWF overshadow the crystal quality?
• Comparing XF to HWF:
  • Is XF genuinely the superior choice, with only minimal differences in crystal quality compared to HWF?
  • If so, what specific aspects of XF justify the $150 price difference?

 

[donkacper]

As far as I know only XF and HWF are available now from dealers. And yes, XF is much better.
You can try to get a Noob version in M2M if you’re patient and lucky

 

[superspark69]

Hold out for a noob, ask around the forum keep an eye out for sales, V6F was also a good option, noob was best then V6F then the others

 

[superspark69]

Eddie lees was also extremely good but far rarer than noob

 

[shyreplover]

I somehow thought that when eddie lee was still selling panerai, the movement bridge was still using sticker instead of real engraving.
You can make any version better by sending the watch to a modder named Marlin.

 

[superspark69]

The case was The best however. Agree on the movement, but then again it’s fairly easy to spot the rep movements even when engraved. Marlin sure is the best for getting it as close to gen as possible. Of course if you’re extremely lucky and have deep pockets, every now and again a super franken pops up, although with the scarcity of Pam parts now these are getting fewer and fewer to the market. My favourite watch is my 127, everything gen apart from the Eddie Lee mid case

 

[Woundup]

Please don't remind me of how nice the Eddie Lee cases were/are.... Had one that I sent to Belkin for a build that unfortunately never made it to him.

I agree with @superspark69 - my franken/Marlin fiddy is one of my favorite watches. I've often thought of buying the gen, though the effort I went through to put my fiddy together makes me think I'd appreciate the gen less. Might sound odd but its true...

 

[johnlogan]

Eddie lees was also extremely good but far rarer than noob

Is Eddie still active ?

 

[shyreplover]

Eddie Lee retired like 14 years ago. Him and davidsen are soarly missed.

 

[johnlogan]

Eddie Lee retired like 14 years ago. Him and davidsen are soarly missed.

Didn’t Eddie Lee do a runner with a lot of peoples money ?

 

[GingerBubba]

A TD next door (one of the best) is doing the XF for$235

https://www.rwg.bz/board/index.php?/topic/172059-xfvsf-pam127-usd-235/&tab=comments#comment-2490209

 

[leebert]

As far as I know only XF and HWF are available now from dealers. And yes, XF is much better.
You can try to get a Noob version in M2M if you’re patient and lucky

Super - what struck you as superior about the Noob, and the V6 productions? It appears that the crystal w/Noob has far lower distortion - what that it? And/or something else?

Appreciate the input from all (and OP for starting the thread) - it's helping me decided how I'll be proceeding for this watch (it's so fucking classic of a design)

Lee

 

[Woundup]

Super - what struck you as superior about the Noob, and the V6 productions? It appears that the crystal w/Noob has far lower distortion - what that it? And/or something else?

Appreciate the input from all (and OP for starting the thread) - it's helping me decided how I'll be proceeding for this watch (it's so fucking classic of a design)

Lee

Understand that there were more than one version of the noob 127. However even the best noob version still had elements that were not as good as some of the other factories 127's.

There is plenty of information out there to educate yourself fully if you search the various rep forums and use the working links in ALE's thread. If you love the fiddy, you will enjoy the self education much more than just being spoon fed.