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DSN 111h - THE best? cons? better alternatives?

Aquaracer

Active Member
5/1/07
431
2
0
WOW- I guess I've just been lucky- No stripped screws.

As with any manufacturer (I'm not sure how much of this, if any, they are directly responsible for manufacturing) Davidsen does some stuff well, some stuff not so well.

Any of the sausage dials have gren lume- from the pics I've seen.

His Fiddy is the best.

His Radiomirs are the only ones I would buy- because his crowns don't strip out the crown tube threads- they feel rock solid after months of use.

His sandwhich dials for the most part look right. Don't know if you've had the chance to compare a DSN to a gen side by side, but the dial material is spot on- and ONLY DSN watches seem to have this matte texture dial.

His fonts are still a little off, and I'veheard very mixed results from the PVD wacthes.

So maybe it's just a matter of buying only the right watches from DSN, and doing the "buy and mod" thinkg with everything else.
 

nafai23

Getting To Know The Place
10/8/06
35
3
8
davidsen is the one thing in reps I cannot understand to this day after 2 years collecting...


His watches are plagued with incorrect fonts and lume color. I could identify one as a rep from five feet away.
I still cannot believe anyone has ever bought a single watch from him.
People have flat out offered to design the dial for him with correct fonts for free and yet he releases watch after watch with incorrect fonts. I would say that he just does not have an eye for detail. If someone can put green lume on something and think it is accurate something is up.

just my opinion.
 

Jake48

Renowned Member
17/3/06
545
3
18
nafai23 said:
davidsen is the one thing in reps I cannot understand to this day after 2 years collecting...
I could identify one as a rep from five feet away.

The internet! What a place! People have super human powers, fly around like superman, use thier x-ray vision and can see diifferences on a watch dial in nanometeres from distances of "5 feet away" :D :D :D

nafai - I hope your just kidd'n! It is rare (even in So Cal where I live) to run into someone wearing a Gen Panerai let alone two people in the same room, one with a Gen Panerai and one with a Rep Panerai. I guess if you studied Davidsens reps long enough you might be able to spot one on someones wrist, but I doubt it.

I can tell you this - just a few weeks ago I was in line at my favorite bagel stop on Sat. and the guy in front of me kept looking back at me. He leaned over and said "Hey, what time is it" I held my wrist up, glanced at my watch (a Davidsen 111H) and said 1/4 after 8. He then said "Nice watch" held his wrist out next to mine and said " How many do you have? I've got two" On his wrist was a Pam 112. We talked about the different Pam models and he commented that after seeing my 111H he wished he had bought one "Just like mine"

I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a rep (I never hide that fact and even get a kick out of freaking people out with the quality of my rep watch) so I left it at that. All I can tell you is, that if for whatever reason, you were born with the vision of an eagle and Davidsen's watches don't look gen to you from 5 feet away, you are probably in a verv, very, very small minority.

Most of these watches on the wrist will pass for gens with flying colors. It is not till you have it in your hand that it gets easier to tell that it is not gen and even then it is not that easy if you have done a little modding & polishing to the watch.

As was mentioned earlier in this post, it is the incessant scrutinization of watch dials blown up 3x that seems to give people the idea that a micrometer is some huge gross error detectable from distances of less than five feet, when in reality, most people would have never noticed if not for the fact that they had seen the watch magnified 3x it's original size on a computer screen 12 inches in front of thier face...

I have seen enough Gen Panerais to know that even the Gens differ in appearence of dial color. lume color and finish of the metal to say for certain, that becuause I saw one watch one way and another a different way - one is a Rep or one is a Gen - just food for thought.

To me the biggest tell of a Rep from distance is a cheap coke bottle crystal. Other than that, be careful if you decide to call someone out becuase ther lume is too green or there font is too white - you might be suprised!
 

Aquaracer

Active Member
5/1/07
431
2
0
Jake48 said:
nafai23 said:
davidsen is the one thing in reps I cannot understand to this day after 2 years collecting...
I could identify one as a rep from five feet away.

I have seen enough Gen Panerais to know that even the Gens differ in appearence of dial color. lume color and finish of the metal to say for certain that becuause I saw one watch one way and another a different way - one is a Rep or one is a Gen - just food for thought.

How right you are!!

I've only EVER seen three Panerai's on someone's wrist- and this is with lots of Business Class flying and business meetings- THREE.

When I went to the various AD's- from Tourneau in NYC to Wempe in Frankfurt I can tell you, even people who handle these things every day and have the catalog memorized do not know every single variation of Panerai. Gens look green when the lume is charged, even in broad daylight. There are lots of different PAMs sine the buyout- the "Post A" period has probably 500-600 variants, when you take into account all of the models and slight changes made during production- Even runs as short as 150 pieces will have slight differences in dial silkscreening and lume color.

On these forums we're all 111H and 177H obsessed, but in the real work NOBODY knows- even "watch guys". Real Panerai fanatics are far more into the sub models and the limited edition models- 111's are just average to them. Panerai just recently had their big unveiling in Florence- there were 100 Panerisitis there- ONE HUNDRED out of the entire world!! It's NOT a Sub copy- it's a watch that you will have to educate people about- and if you know somebody- even a risti who can call out my new DSN 111H from five feet away- I'd like to meet him...
 

skcheng

Active Member
28/1/07
241
0
0
No one even knows what a Panerai is around my circles. The nit-picking about font, lume, crowns, crystals is an RWI/RWG/TRP created phenomenon. No one else knows or cares :lol:
 

vaccum

I'm Pretty Popular
18/3/06
1,884
14
0
skcheng said:
No one even knows what a Panerai is around my circles. The nit-picking about font, lume, crowns, crystals is an RWI/RWG/TRP created phenomenon. No one else knows or cares :lol:

Agree! :lol: :shock: :lol:
 

red

Known Member
1/1/07
152
0
0
skcheng said:
No one even knows what a Panerai is around my circles. The nit-picking about font, lume, crowns, crystals is an RWI/RWG/TRP created phenomenon. No one else knows or cares :lol:
Very true, but why do you bother with a Panerai? I know that there in an inherent value to me when I know that there are many parts of the watch identical to the gen.
The reason why I migrated over was because the quality has improved so much. Maintaining my gen IWC cost as much as a rep. Anyways I just think that the constnat pursuit of perfection makes everything worthwhile.
 

rogerwine

Renowned Member
10/7/06
600
0
0
Skcheng, be happy and don't worry about it and..... don't ever pay more then $200.00 for a Panerai rep. You have no reason too!!
Rogerwine
 

nafai23

Getting To Know The Place
10/8/06
35
3
8
ok...some good points...let me rephrase....


The panerai is about subtle style and details in a simple design combined with the boldness of a 44mm watch.
Davidsen's watches for me completely miss the mark on these elements...


If I never saw a panerai before in my life I would not like davidsen's watches....they just do not look right to me.
The mixture of colors and finish and fonts give the panerai its classic distinct look.

I feel that the vanilla josh and andrew stuff does this better no matter how recessed there pins are :)

that is just my opinion.
 

skcheng

Active Member
28/1/07
241
0
0
red said:
skcheng said:
No one even knows what a Panerai is around my circles. The nit-picking about font, lume, crowns, crystals is an RWI/RWG/TRP created phenomenon. No one else knows or cares :lol:
Very true, but why do you bother with a Panerai? I know that there in an inherent value to me when I know that there are many parts of the watch identical to the gen.
The reason why I migrated over was because the quality has improved so much. Maintaining my gen IWC cost as much as a rep. Anyways I just think that the constnat pursuit of perfection makes everything worthwhile.


Hey Red,

Don't get me wrong. I just spent $450 for a Cortebert movement for a vintage project. I swap in gen movements whenever it's possible, and I modify everything. Lume, crowns, datewheels etc.. So I agree that having something as close to the GEN as possible is a lot of fun.

I'm just saying that no one outside of the REP circles has any clue as to what we're doing or give a hoot. I'm not saying I don't :lol:
 

skcheng

Active Member
28/1/07
241
0
0
rogerwine said:
Skcheng, be happy and don't worry about it and..... don't ever pay more then $200.00 for a Panerai rep. You have no reason too!!
Rogerwine


LOLOLOLOL!!! But doesn't every PAM need at least a relume and movement service :lol:

What can I get for $10????
 

skcheng

Active Member
28/1/07
241
0
0
nafai23 said:
ok...some good points...let me rephrase....


The panerai is about subtle style and details in a simple design combined with the boldness of a 44mm watch.
Davidsen's watches for me completely miss the mark on these elements...


If I never saw a panerai before in my life I would not like davidsen's watches....they just do not look right to me.
The mixture of colors and finish and fonts give the panerai its classic distinct look.

I feel that the vanilla josh and andrew stuff does this better no matter how recessed there pins are :)

that is just my opinion.

You opinion is valid......on some models. What about Davidesn's vintage models? How about the 55?? Or the Fiddy?? Just like any other dealer here on RWI, Davidsen has some really great stuff and some not so great stuff.

And the entire "classic" thing escapes me a little. Yes, I like the vintage and historic models. But I'm just as interested in Panerai's newest offerings.

If we all truly loved vintage and historic, we'd all have pocketwatches on chains :lol:
 

skcheng

Active Member
28/1/07
241
0
0
mmg2 said:
So I've got the PAM fever in full swing now...

After a swiss 111h, 113, and 212 I've decided to go for a really nice 111h

Just so I know all the pro's and con's - I want to hear your reasons for *not* buying a DSN - or is it really the perfect 111h rep?

What about alternatives? Like Thumb Watch's modded 111h?

Anything you guys have to share please let me know. Thanks!

Back to the original question. I purchased a fully modified 177H from Angus and I'm really happy with it. The sandwich dial is nice and yes, the lettering on the bottom of the dial is really close to the 6, but otherwise, I'm really happy with it.

I think right now Davidsen has the nicest crown, crown guard.

I don't know about TWs modified watches yet. Any fully modified 111H will cost btwn $350 and $450 though. So pick and choose your poison and report back here!!

skc
 

red

Known Member
1/1/07
152
0
0
skcheng said:
red said:
skcheng said:
No one even knows what a Panerai is around my circles. The nit-picking about font, lume, crowns, crystals is an RWI/RWG/TRP created phenomenon. No one else knows or cares :lol:
Very true, but why do you bother with a Panerai? I know t my hat there in an inherent value to me when I know that there are many parts of the watch identical to the gen.
The reason why I migrated over was because the quality has improved so much. Maintaining my gen IWC cost as much as a rep. Anyways I just think that the constnat pursuit of perfection makes everything worthwhile.


Hey Red,

Don't get me wrong. I just spent $450 for a Cortebert movement for a vintage project. I swap in gen movements whenever it's possible, and I modify everything. Lume, crowns, datewheels etc.. So I agree that having something as close to the GEN as possible is a lot of fun.

I'm just saying that no one outside of the REP circles has any clue as to what we're doing or give a hoot. I'm not saying I don't :lol:
That is something I can totally agree with. No one amongst my friends knows how what Panerai is, let alone pronounce it. It is the personal interest that I relentlessly try to pacify that brings me to this board.
 

rogerwine

Renowned Member
10/7/06
600
0
0
Skcheng, you completeely contridict yourself on your statements. If you want to defend DSN watches well then fine, but don't say on this forum "who cares about the details' because thats about half what this forum is all about. The closer to the gen the better. Hell thats why people are paying more for DSN watches because of what they promise in the details. Even you want a cannon pin fix and a lume job, even when people in your circles could care less. And guess what, "Thats what this thread is all about"!!
Rogerwine
 

skcheng

Active Member
28/1/07
241
0
0
rogerwine said:
Skcheng, you completeely contridict yourself on your statements. If you want to defend DSN watches well then fine, but don't say on this forum "who cares about the details' because thats about half what this forum is all about. The closer to the gen the better. Hell thats why people are paying more for DSN watches because of what they promise in the details. Even you want a cannon pin fix and a lume job, even when people in your circles could care less. And guess what, "Thats what this thread is all about"!!
Rogerwine

Hey Roger,

We're in agreement here. I basically have Vacuum modifying everything that I purchase. And I DO care. I'm just saying that "others" not associated with RWG, RWI, TRC etc.. don't know and don't care. We're the ones that obsess about little details. So I'm in agreement with you as to how I approach REP collecting.

With regards to Davidsen, I too have had issues. Wrong caseback, smaller lugs, inconsistent dials, ??? lume, etc... But all of that has been beaten to death. And I've also gotten really nice stuff from him. Some of his parts are just not available anywhere else.

But the question posed in this thread was in regards to the 111H. I had one and I didn't like it. My 2c on the subject.

It's a great day here in NY area!! And I'm almost done with work. Time for a nice steak and a great burgundy :D
 

maxse

Banned member, the goat does not approve
Banned
4/11/06
550
0
0
so, any updates on the Thumb Watch modded 111H?