A little mini-review of this KW replica WITHOUT coloured lines
Comments about the gen PAM 590
Gen PAM 590 has a specially deep sausage lume structure, see the deep markers cavities for lume in below pic.
GEN PAM 590 – DEEP SAUSAGE LUME DIAL – BLACK COLOUR DIAL in comparison with Brown dial of Gen PAM 562
There are some doubts about the colour of Pam 590 gen dial. But above pic shows a direct side by side comparison between a PAM 562 Titanium fitted with brown dial and the dial of PAM 590 which is obviously black.
KW rep PAM 590 P-series
KW PAM 590 is marked P-series. In my opinion it really should be Q-series since the watch is from 2014. To be confirmed with the real thing in the market
This replica is fitted with a decorated A6497-2 movement like P.5000. The movement in these replicas is the decorated KW V2, which has been slightly improved in relation to KW V1, with better jewels shape and some more accurate bridges including balance ****. Differences are not big but they are enough to get a more accurate movement. See below pics:
KW V2 DECORATED A6497-2 MOVEMENT LIKE P.5000 – WATCHES PLACED IN THE SAME POSITION (In order to see the different placement of movements)
In above pics both watches are placed in the same position (see CGs green encirled). We can see the different placement of the whole movement and the Balance wheels @7 and@11.
This decorated movement is a very good step to get the P.5000 appearance and for a no trained eye it is difficult to see differences in a no side by side comparison. In below pics Gen watch is turned to match gen and rep movement position (see CGs green encircled in different positions). In this way we can compare the movements in parallel. You can see there is a great similarity
KW V2 DECORATED A6497-2 MOVEMENT LIKE P.5000 – GEN WATCH IS TURNED TO MACTH MOVEMENT POSITIONS (In order to see the similarity of decorated movement with gen)
Anyway there are differences as follows:
-Decorated KW movement has not, obviously, 8 days of Power reserve
-Balance wheel position @ 11 instead of @7 (as above said)
-Replica has a conventional “big†6497 Balance wheel, whereas gen has a little variable inertia balance wheel. This difference is the most noticeable in the rep movement.
-Balance **** (the bridge with the Incabloc over the BW), although has been improved to V2, has very different shape and Incablock support in the rep due to necessities of 6497 movement. This is also noticeable but a bit more accurate than in V1 version.
-Some differences in bridges shape and jewels placements due to a different movement of base.
-Although the finish of rep bridges is very good, as usually in KW decorations, gen bridges have nicer, more uniform and more fine brushed and the edges are better defined and bevelled and mainly more nicely polished. Anyway the rep appearance in real size is awesome and reaches a gen-like level more than acceptable.
-Inscriptions on bridges have good finish, but are thicker and not as nice as gen. Due to the structure of 6497 movement, the rep inscriptions are placed clearly outwards, for this reason they are a bit bigger than gen to get the same appearance and not to leave longer spaces between prints. But this is only noticeable in side by side comparisons, because the inscriptions are not inverted like in P.9000 decorations.
Anyway, this is one of the most accurate (in appearance, because it has not the Power Reserve of the gen) of rep decorated movements on first quarter 2014, together with KW P.2002/9 fitting KW PAM 346, even superior in appearance to clone P.3000 of PAM 372 (but this movement has a PR close to the gen).
Regarding old Luminor 44mm case-set fitting this watch, KW version is already well known and with a very good reputation of awesome finish, solid gen-like appearance and some inaccuracies in lugs as all rep Luminor case-sets at this moment.
Unfortunately, the case-set of gen 8 days series is a bit different from the old Luminor 44mm. The new 8 days P.5000 movement is thinner than old Unitas 6497-2, this smaller thickness allows a thinner case in the new gen 8 days series, bezel also seems a bit different and the crystal is almost flush with the bezel. KW is using for its 8 days replicas the same case-set and crystal as “old†Luminor 44mm. It is no easy to see the differences without knowing them and without a side by side comparison, but they exist.See some pics and comments here:
http://orologi.forumfree.it/?t=68428563
Inscriptions, markers and 8 Giorni logo on dial are accurate enough.
Seconds @9 subdial due to different movement is placed a little outwards.
Rest of dial layout is correct. Only L SWISS MADE L inscription is placed clearly to the left side and a bit lower.
Like all rep sausage dials PAM 590 has inaccurate sausage lume structure of application different from gen. Moreover, in this case Gen Pam 590 has specially deep cavities for lume material, and lume seems really recessed in relation of the dial surface, as we can see in gen pic published above. Therefore, due to this rep has the usual rep raised lume very “sausage†shaped, and gen is specially deep, rep lume application structure of PAM 590 is more inaccurate in comparison with other sausage dials.
Another issue is the rep brown dial, whereas, as we have above seen, the gen has clearly a black dial.
Production number on caseback has, IMO, wrong letter of the year:“P†instead of “Qâ€. To be confirmed with watches in the market.
Caseback engravings are a bit less sharp and deep as gen. Following the first pics of PAM 590, caseback is wrong because rep has the caseback structure from a rep PAM 390 with a bigger PIG logo. Pending to be confirmed with the pics of real 590 watches.
Rep hands are Pre-V type whereas gen hands are modern type, being located on the dial is a serious issue for a replica.
It is a shame because the watch is very well manufactured and gets an impressive level of quality and gen-like appearance, but there are many flaws to get a First Class rep evaluation, added to a nice but obviously rep movement without great Power Reserve
Very good watch, but just a good and nice replica due to several evident issues.
Fore more info read PAM GUIDE
Some GEN links to enjoy:
http://www.panerai.com/en/collectio...or/673-luminor-marina-8-days-acciaio-pam00590
http://www.paneraicentral.com/2014/01/sihh2014-panerai-luminor-8-giorni-brevettato-pam590/
http://panerai.watchprosite.com/sho...0-luminor-8-days-acciaio-with-p5000-movement/
http://www.network54.com/Forum/353391/thread/1390302461/New+Release+44mm+Luminor+8+Giorni+Brevettato
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f75/pam-590-mini-me-203-a-972565.html
http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/introd...orth-america-exclusive-with-in-house-movement
Thanks for reading
ALE
