It's Time For A New PAM...

[Alex_P1]

I've strayed away from PAMs for the last couple of months and got into modding vintage Rolexes...

I think it is now time to get back to my favourite brand and treat myself to a new PAM!

I've got a 112N and 292M and decided that a 177 would really fit in nicely as I want something hand-wound, with a non-stainless steel case, display back and seconds @9.

I nearly bought one a few months ago and had decided on the 177M from Noob, is this still the best version available? I have also just seen the 036 which looks great, but the incorrect movement bugs me...

 

[ALE7575]

Hi Alex

The PAM 177 is a good choice if, as you said, you are looking for a watch non SS and display caseback.
Noob and H maker N-series are the best choices, I have not clear what is the best.
If you want an answer I decided to buy the Noob for my collection and it is very good.

Concerning 036 is a very nice watch too, the conventional replicas are really bad, but you have a DSN version with a real Swiss movement (case and CG are not perfect like the h and Noob). It is an interesting option.
See the study and comments in the PAM GUIDE

Good luck
ALE

EVALUATION: (*) FIRST CLASS REP (DSN model)
The gen PAM 036 is a Luminor Marina Militare, with Tritium indexes and a Brown dial in a Titanium case. Is similar to PAM 040 but has Brown dial and Display caseback (See more related watches in PAM 005).
It was a Limited Edition of 200 watches (read the curious story about the year below). Nowadays is the only Pam with display caseback and movement OPII. This is the 1st Luminor Marina to get the name of Marina Militare by special authorization of the Marina Militare (MM) Italiana.
The PAM 036 is one of the legend Vendome watches, with some few others like the 040, the 021, the Pre-A 1,2,4,9, and the Mare 6, 7 and 8.
When Panerai Firenze was sold to Vendome, in March 1997, the Cartier Vendome group received some stuff from Panerai Firenze, and with the stuff, some projects, like the watches which belonged to the Project Slytech as the Black Seal Slytech. So, Panerai Vendome had the idea to launch three Titanium watches, PAM 025, PAM 040 and PAM 036, which were conceived in the end of Panerai Firenze.
There are two interesting stories about PAM 036 and 040, below the PAM 036 one:
Strangely enough the PAM 036 is referenced as a Limited Edition from the Year 1998. Well, have a look on the official website, or in the Limited Editions Catalogue, or in Paneristi.com or Panerai Source.com, you always will see it presented in 1998, which is a mistake, as it gets a B production which is the evidence that the watch was launched in 1999, presented during the SIHH of the same year. You will notice that the pic on the official website is also a wrong pic, as the Pam 36 is presented with a Lumniova dial I never saw in any Pam 36, and with a wrong BB number...
Original Article:http://quicklook.watchprosite.com/show-nblog.post/ti-409776/
Anyhow, as kindly informed by RWI member "tech" in:
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showpost.php?p=1136483&postcount=90
there is the possibility of having PAM 036 and 040 with Luminova dial due, most likely, to have been inexplicably produced with this Luminor dial. Although many people are inclined to believe that this has happened by an unfortunate change (for the owner) in a maintenance service.
The Brown chocolate dial is amazing. The Case Back lets show the beautiful movement obviously inspired from the Rolex Cortebert look.
It has, like the PAM 040, this charism, this part of legitimity and History that many other Panerai Vendome watches don't have... That makes this watch a very desirable item in the original market.
Due to PAM 036 has display caseback the usual conventional reps of this watch have not close to the gen movement, because the gen PAM 036 has a very different movement OPII. See the pics of this watch and the pics above of a regular replica in the market.
This replica PAM 036 from DSN is a First Class rep with a real Swiss 6497 movement like the gen Panerai OPII and the Tritium type dial T SWISS T. DSN has also corrected enough the old issues of deep outlined surrounding the numerals and stick markers and bad engraving in caseback inscriptions.
Therefore, for a Luminor Titanium the best rep choice are this PAM 036 or PAM 040 from DSN or going to PAM 177 or PAM 176, PAM 061 or 056 H maker if you are not specifically looking for a Tritium dial.
REPLICA links:
(*)http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/new-born-036-99405
(*)http://s1113.photobucket.com/albums/k515/dsnwatches/Pam%2044mm%20titanium%20luminor%20watches/New%20born%20pam%20036%20with%20new%20CG%20upgarde d%20in%20march%20201/
GEN links:
http://www.paneraisource.com/watch_details/Special_88
http://www.paneristi.com/reference/vendome/specials98
http://www.panerai.com/s_special_editions.xpd?id_lingua=2&id_sezione=16&i d_prodotto=855&id_categoria=43

 

[Alex_P1]

ALE,

Thanks for the advice, I'd spent a couple of hours going through your guide - I had an older Excel version on my laptop and then found the new one in the Sticky section. I think I'll stick with the 177 and will probably go with the Noob version as, from what I've read, the dial is better. If you've got it in your collection, that is certainly good enough for me!

I'd better start thinking about straps now, as the only problem with rep PAMs is that they are beautiful watches usually on terrible straps and I want to change them as soon as I open the box!

Thanks again,

Alex

 

[ALE7575]

You are welcome

Believe it or not, concerning straps I have got the Noob black leather strap (non croco) and I have not yet changed.
I like it !!!

ALE