HELP!! Modding My PAM 192 Tantalium - how to make it the best it can be???

[investinwaffles]

Hey guys,
I am a total noob (esp to Panerai), but I recently got the oppurtunity to buy a rep PAM that I have wanted for quite some time now. The watch looks so beautiful and I got PrimeStraps to custom make me a strap to highlight the blue needles

The model is the PAM 192 Tantalium L.E. (300 produced).

Now, I really want to make this the best rep it can be (as I will never be able to afford the GEN). What do you guys think I need to do to make it a super stunner??
I am not wanting to make it 1:1 with the GEN as there are already some major flaws that I know will be impossible to fix, but I do want to try to make it as close as I can...

Also, something important to note is that I wont be doing any of these myself (unless its something really simple, like polishing the CG pin), so I will be contacting modders in a few weeks to get it professionally done!

Pictures will be posted at the end of this post!!


So I guess ill try to break it down into sections of the watch to make the modding ideas flow a little easier :thinking:

Case:
What other rep PAM models use interchangeable parts?? The bezel has some deeper scratches in it that wont come out but I am such a noob that I have no idea if this is interchangeable with other watches.

The case is Titanium, but the bezel does NOT look titanium (then again I have no freaking clue). Can anyone confirm this??
Are there any other PAM's that I can swap the bezel with (212 or 253 Flyback)??


And to reiterate- the case is Titanium and not tantalium (which appears darker). See the pics of the GEN in post #2.
People talk about darkening the case using OxyClean. Does this method last (will the "finish" scratch off), or does it permanently darken the TI?

I feel like this is the most extreme part of the watch modding, because if I mess up I dont know if I can source another case like this. I also dont want to mess up the finish as it looks to be subtly brushed and it looks really good right now (just not dark enough to match the GEN).

Caseback - The REP says "Titanium" and does not have an LE serial number. I am pretty sure it will be impossible or extremely costly to have a custom caseback made, and since no one will see it I feel like its a moot point...


Crystal:
What kind of AR do you guys think the GEN has?? I can hardly ever see the blue on the hands of the watch because of how reflective the crystal is (Im 99% sure there is NO AR).

Also, my crystal does something weird. In bright sunlight, the edges turn a reddish pink and makes the whole crystal look a little redshifted. It looks like it may be a red gasket around the crystal but I cant see and again im such a noob that its really just my best guess.
SEE THIS/LAST PICTURE

Who does good, accurate (colorless?) AR coating in the US?
I was thinking of sending it to Taka but inside the US would be a huge plus for me (scared of international shipping and I CANT take this thing apart my self) :lolcina:

Dial:
So I notice that there is a HUGE flaw with the dial compared to the GEN...
The REP has half-second hash marks while the GEN does not. Is there any way that a modder could correct this??
I am really thinking NO because they are printed on

Other than the half-second hash marks I dont really see anything wrong with the dial. Subdials have enough texture, depth, and definition to not bother me at all.

Lume:
Will it be hard to have a modder replicate the lume on the GEN? Does Panerai use the same kind of lume for the models that look like they do?

Movement:
Caseback will never be opened but the movement inside this one is having some issues now.
Firstly, power reserve is either really bad, or the watch is just stopping randomly.
After the whole day (10-12hrs), the movement will randomly stall (no more clicking), giving it a little tap seems to start it up again for 2-3 hrs but it freezes again and after tapping it 2-3 times (6-8hrs or so) it finally runs out of power.
Also, the second hand is not very smooth (really bugs me!), and the Chrono hand is shifted slightly to the left.

Should I get a new movement and swap it in when I have the watch worked on, or will a good service be a better option??
Anyone know what kind of movement is in this (It is a handwind, I assume the Venus 75), and any other reps that came with it??


I know this watch is pretty inaccurate, but this is hands down my favorite PAN model ever and I will likely never be able to afford the real one
Please help a super noob dive into the world of modding, and not get it wrong the first time :bounce:

Cliffnotes:
Total noob modding a PAM 192 Tantalium
How to mod:
Case
Crystal
Dial
Movement

To be the absolute best it can be...


Thanks for the help guys! I am in over my head and I need some more well versed geeks to point me in the right direction...

PICS!!
REP on the LEFT, GEN on RIGHT
Keep in mind that the GEN is in bright, direct sunlight and the REP is indoors.

MORE PICS OF GEN!!:
http://www.watches24seven.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=4961


More pics of MY REP:
First Post
Second Post (MORE/UPDATED PICS)

Picture of the crystal - Note the Reddish tinge.. (thumbnail, click for FULL-SIZE)


Please let me know if there is anything more I should do to this watch! I just dont really know ALL the possibilities or what looks best to the Hardcore Paneristi!

 

[investinwaffles]

TTT

Any ideas for the red crystal issue?? Is it the gasket or something in the actual crystal?

 

[houndoggie]

Get the movement serviced first. Maybe a relume if you like. The pink edges on the crystal is a sign that it maybe a mineral crystal. So maybe a sapphire crystal would help....

 

[houndoggie]

I honestly think the rep is more aesthetic then the gen anyway, so any modding is just for your piece of mind.

 

[investinwaffles]

The only reason that I thought it was already sapphire was because the rest of the watch has some scratches but the crystal looks perfect still.

Is Davidsen the one to talk to about getting a sapphire crystal?

Also, I cant tell what kind of AR the GEN has?

Lots more pics in the link. I was thinking of just going for Taka's double AR since this watch is for me (dont really care what the "paneristi" think.)
Would anyone recommend single AR over double?

 

[houndoggie]

The only reason that I thought it was already sapphire was because the rest of the watch has some scratches but the crystal looks perfect still.

Is Davidsen the one to talk to about getting a sapphire crystal?

Also, I cant tell what kind of AR the GEN has?

Lots more pics in the link. I was thinking of just going for Taka's double AR since this watch is for me (dont really care what the "paneristi" think.)
Would anyone recommend single AR over double?

If your are going to get AR, get double. Subdial spacing is so different between them, don't waste time or money going for what the gen is. Spend time on money on what actually improves the watch, like superlume, double AR, and movement service.

 

[investinwaffles]

Wow, no idea how I didnt notice the difference in subdial spacing (guess I really am a noob) :facepalm:
Kind of kills it for me, but at the same time it doesnt really matter

So I think I will go with Fine DD instead, since Taka's is blueish which I dont think I want for this project.

Is Davidsen the guy to contact for a replacement Sapphire crystal??
Will he be able to help me out if I just tell him its for a PAM 192 or is there a specific size/shape/thickness that I should specify?

 

[houndoggie]

Wow, no idea how I didnt notice the difference in subdial spacing (guess I really am a noob) :facepalm:
Kind of kills it for me, but at the same time it doesnt really matter

So I think I will go with Fine DD instead, since Taka's is blueish which I dont think I want for this project.

Is Davidsen the guy to contact for a replacement Sapphire crystal??
Will he be able to help me out if I just tell him its for a PAM 192 or is there a specific size/shape/thickness that I should specify?

Davidsen is the best bet.. Also better if you know the exact crystal diameter and thickness. Telling him Pam 192 rep won't cut it.


As far as subdial spacing, I think the rep is much more pleasing then the crosseyed gen.

 

[investinwaffles]

Ok, I will try to get a local watchsmith to pop the crystal out for me so I can get a measurement.

Does anyone know what the actual measurements of the crystal is??


Also...anyone tried the Oxyclean darkening TI method??

 

[investinwaffles]

Ok guys, went to 2 local shops and neither told me that they could get the crystal out of this thing (neither wanted to try either).
Gonna email Davidsen now as he used to sell the 192 I believe and see if he has any insight for me.

For now, I need to source replacement parts for:

Bezel - (It looks like it is just polished SS, not titanium since its a lot brighter than the rest of the case

Crystal - Dont want to risk getting it out on my own (I WILL mess up). Maybe I can send it to a modder and have the crystal sourced that way???

CG Pin - Does it look titanium to you in the below picture??

After that, I am going to send it to a modder to have it serviced, superlumed, Fine DD AR, and I think im gonna have a strapmaker rep the GEN strap for me too

 

[investinwaffles]

Ok guys, sent an email to DSN. Crossing my fingers that he can help me out

Also, found a nice thread on darkening the TI (another 192 owner). Unfortunately, I have been unable to find the ORIGINAL thread he is referring to
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/...heir-ti-iii-19526?t=19526&highlight=tantalium

Please help me confirm something though. Does my case look like TI or SS??
Apparently, some of these 192's came in SS when the dealers ran out of TI cases. The metal looks darker than the polished steel bits (crown and bezel), but I can see what appear to be "brush" marks (though it could just be wear). How pronounced would the brushings in the brushed SS case be? Enough for me to definitively say that it is SS vs TI?
Never had another PAM so I have nothing to compare it to. My Audemars Piguet brushed SS is very pronounced

Note the darkness of the chrono pushers (same as case) compared to the polished CG, compared to the [supposedly] TI CG Lever:

Looks darker in these pics - editing I think:

NO Editing:

SO, SS or real TI??

 

[as00_maximus]

Looks like Ti, but the best test is the weight. I just picked up a 192 and it is much lighter than my other SS watches.

 

[investinwaffles]

I am pretty sure it is TI also.

Gonna save up my $$ and send it to one of the top modders and have them help me out. Im hitting a wall with ordering parts - I have NO idea what fits this watch.
I need:
Sapphire Crystal
New Bezel
Would like to put in a new movement into this but a servicing will have to do. The second hand looks a little jumpy (low beat) but I have no idea if the GEN has a high beat (I have to assume so since retail is $24K+)