Gonna buy my first PAM. Experts please weigh in.

[pman]

When I first joined the rep commuity I didn't get the whole PAM thing. So I went to an AD and checked it out for myself. They're much more impressive in person. As a result I'm going to buy one. I'd like to get a 176. Here are a couple photos of the one that Joshua is selling. Please pick it apart and educate me as to what I need to know. Again, it's not to criticize any dealer but to learn more about pros and cons of this particular watch. Here are the inaccuracies I see:

Recessed pin
L Swiss L logo too close to the 6

Here's what I don't know.

Is the dial font and dial good?
How is the crown guard?
How about the back? I

know that no rep is perfect but I'm just trying to gauge how this compares in accuracy with other PAMs out there now. Maybe I'm better off buying a Davidsen 111h because it's more accurate? That's why I need advice and guidance from the experts. Thanks in advance for all your help.

pman

 

[gioarmani7428]

Nice. Check out Davidsen too.

 

[crick]

i would say go with davidsen and anything he has superlumed. I have a pam and it's not superlumed at all and that's been nitpicking at me for a bit

There are some minor inaccuracies with my pam, but heck, who would know ?

gratz on the pam bug! that's how i got mine stupid AD's...

 

[Roeod4]

Ok, in general none of the Titanium H series Panerai have accurate crown guards. They are all too thin. The font on this watch looks ok as does the back. If you buy one of these, I would suggest that you get the cannon pin fixed. That really does help it look more accurate.

If you don't mind going with stainless instead of Titanium then I would also suggest that look at what Davidsen is offereing right now. His watches are excellent. The only thing is that he does not offer anything in Ti at the moment.

Maybe you can join in and help us talk him into it.

 

[evildee]

Davidsen's 111H is not accurate at all. Thin font, seconds dial markers are too short and thin dial.

If I were you I'd get a watch from belial2k and have him mod it with cannon pin and super lume. If you want to go all out get the dagger upgrade too.

 

[PannyLover1]

Josh is one fast shipper and his Titanium PAM cases are VERY NICE (I got the 177H)
[smilie=blob1.gif]

 

[Novesh]

i've owned a 111h and currently own a 177h

i <3 them both.

happy hunting

 

[pman]

Thanks everyone. I really like the sandwich dial without the second hands. If I go with something like a 112 which dealer should I get it from?

 

[Golfman]

Josh is a great dealer. I've bought PAM 005, 217 and Iwc Chrono Domino from him.
Really good communication, fastest delivery (generaly 5 days between order and delivery), and nice service.
Advantages : one of the biggest choice
Lack : doesn't propose (but in fact i have never ask him) upgrade as superlume and high cannon pin

 

[thelawnmowerman]

Go the whole hog and get a Fiddy , once you've worn a 47mm you wont wanna touch a 44mm , I just sold my 111h cos its just sat in my watch box ever since the 127 came.

 

[PannyLover1]

I'm getting more and more interested in this one, It's got everyhting one can want from a watch
http://replica-watch.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10139

 

[WatchDude13]

If ordered from Joshua, the 111h and the 112 are going to have the recessed pin issue and the crappy lume (both fixable for some extra cash - an no, he won't do it). They also have the 'L SWISS MADE L' too close to the 6 problem, it seems like EVERYONE'S has it now (except Davidsen and his fonts are too thin).

There is not perfect choice right now.

You could go with the 111h from belial2k and it's about as good as they come right now, but at 5 bills - it is steep (and I think it has the 'L SWISS MADE L' issue).

Rumor has it Davidsen is re-doing his 111h dial and that should be a winner!

I'm torn....

-Joshua has earned my respect and business by taking VERY GOOD care of me and delivery a DAMN NEAR PERFECT PRODUCT in the past.
-Davidsen has quite the rep, and his new 111 should be SOLID!
-belial2k to me has the best offering as he does all the work inhouse and you get shipped a rep that is as upgraded as you can get. No shipping off and no additional work (maybe crown & crown guard, but I've heard it is good).

With the given choices, Joshua's would end up being the most expensive (after mods), then belial2k, then Davidsen. belial2k's would end up the most perfect (after the dagger upgrade) and that is VERY IMPORTANT to me!

I'm gonna think about it and make a decision before Christmas. THAT will be a present to myself. :lol:

 

[pman]

Watchdude, you summarized my feelings very well. Hence, my confusion and asking for help. It seems like there's no right answer on this one. I don't mind spending $300 for a watch, but when you get to $400 & $500 I'm hesitant. That's save up your money and get a good used gen territory.

I think I might go with Joshua and then make the mods happen over time. That way I don't take that big a hit all at once.

 

[takashi]

Used gen PAM is currently holding its value pretty good. I would suggest sticking to rep. The 177h is a fine piece. You will like it (despite the flaws).

 

[WatchDude13]

Watchdude, you summarized my feelings very well. Hence, my confusion and asking for help. It seems like there's no right answer on this one. I don't mind spending $300 for a watch, but when you get to $400 & $500 I'm hesitant. That's save up your money and get a good used gen territory.

I think I might go with Joshua and then make the mods happen over time. That way I don't take that big a hit all at once.

Have you even done any work yourself?

You could do the Joshua 111h, buy the superlumed capped hands from Davidsen and re-lume the dial yourself (shouldn't be too hard because it's a sandwhich dial). It would cut down on the "upgrade costs".

 

[watchlover]

I don't mind spending $300 for a watch, but when you get to $400 & $500 I'm hesitant. That's save up your money and get a good used gen territory.

I think I might go with Joshua and then make the mods happen over time. That way I don't take that big a hit all at once.

Think about it this way:

1. If you mod it up to US$500 You have a 99.9% close rep for about 1/6 th the price of a used PAM (they run roughly around US$3000 used). My cutoff for the price of a rep is around 40% of the gen OR US$1000 whichever is less. Above that, might as well get a gen. Not to discount your assumption, but you will have to save on 5 or 6 US$500 reps to get a gen PAM..

2. Subsequent mods have two possibilities:

• * If you can do it, great, then just wait for the new parts to arrive and bing badaboom done
  * If you can't do it, you'll have to ship it somewhere, pay for shipping, wait for it to come back (boy.. not EZ).

3. Pre-mods are bigger in initial spending, but, hopefully there is little to no subsequent mods needed.

4. Think about your motivation re: getting a rep too. Is it to convince a scrutinizing AD? or is it to convince the general public? OR is it to convince you, that indeed, the watch is the real article.

99.99% of the time, the person looking at the watch is, well, YOU!

People don't care less, unless they're WISes, or an AD salesman trying to get a quick sale


My 2 cents