My first PAM - 351Q - A new rep addiction!

[Timesensitive]

Hi all... thought I'd share my first PAM experience with you all. Always wanted a Gen PAM - especially liked the base models and had never considered for a moment about buying a replica. I had an assumption that they were all really shit until I stumbled on to a Chinese dealers page. After looking at them I was impressed but couldn't believe that the quality was legit so I searched to see what the deal was. This led me to RWI (found purely by accident) and my education began.

After much deliberation I decided to go with a PAM351Q Titanium VSF 1:1 Best Edition with the P.9000 Super Clone movement. This model doesn't seem to be quite as popular as some of the super reps but I loved the titanium case and tobacco face so decided to contact Torro (a TD on here) to check availability. He came back with QC pictures the same day and I paced the order. Received the watch within 10 days and I have to say that I'm delighted with it even with some minor imperfections.

The tang was a little scuffed (I assumed that it was sticker residue) and after a couple of weeks the strap is showing signs of wear already - but the watch its self if keeping time perfectly and looks great.

Thinking of getting a gen strap - or I might just use that cash to buy another PAM - maybe a 438 Ceramic. Anyway here are the pictures.

 

[Timesensitive]

 

[Timesensitive]

 

[Timesensitive]

 

[Timesensitive]

 

[mskwatch]

Welcome and enjoy, surely first of many

 

[Rufctr2]

The Pam bug will begin soon ! Congrats and thanks for the picts.

 

[HauntedHat]

Not that I don't recommend Gen straps dude, they're great, but even Gen owners switch them up for aftermarket ones... There are a great deal of them around

 

[mysterio]

Not that I don't recommend Gen straps dude, they're great, but even Gen owners switch them up for aftermarket ones... There are a great deal of them around

Well a lot of people think genuine means it has to come from Panerai. No, it does not. They confuse the term genuine and OEM (original equipment manufacturer), which are what straps from Panerai should be called (of course all OEM straps are genuine but not the other way around). Genuine relates to the material used. Another term used is artisanal, which means the item is made using traditional methods or in some cases non-mechanized. It is a slippery slope once you really get into it.

Honestly rep straps are just there so you can have something to wear your watch with when you get it. But eventually the less than quality material and most likely machine-made straps will give way and for PAMs are probably the biggest tell on the watch and the easiest thing to upgrade.

The price range will vary greatly (up to prices that are more expensive than the reps you will wear them with for artisanal straps from established strap makers) but @Timesensitive if you want to start of the nice but inexpensive (not cheap) end, please check this thread out for inspiration.

https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/panerai/309822-quality-straps-at-budget-prices

Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[Timesensitive]

Good points well made HauntedHat and Mysterio. I've been looking at a few OEM straps on ebay, wouldn't pay full retail price so will try to find a discounted deal for a strap which has been on a display watch or something.

Followed the link Mysterio provided and spent some time looking at martu straps - I'll probably buy my first strap there and see how I get on.

 

[superspark69]

Although I don't generally wear them I found that the rep Asso straps have generally been actually pretty decent along with a few of the calf ranger ones?. It's a bit hit and miss with some of the rep's to be fair, but sometimes you land on a particular model/type of strap that they have got pretty much right.

 

[Timesensitive]

I was about to buy this strap from Martu
https://www.martuleather.com/store/p..._M811p-c1.html

Until I checked out the Toshi website and found this
https://toshi-straps.co.uk/product/b...ew-bar-ti-10-2

I really like the option of grey stitching as it'll match the titanium of the watch case well. Then I found an OEM strap on ebay for cheaper than I can get a Toshi strap so I'm split on which to go for
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-O....c100005.m1851

 

[superspark69]

I was about to buy this strap from Martu
https://www.martuleather.com/store/p..._M811p-c1.html

Until I checked out the Toshi website and found this
https://toshi-straps.co.uk/product/b...ew-bar-ti-10-2

I really like the option of grey stitching as it'll match the titanium of the watch case well. Then I found an OEM strap on ebay for cheaper than I can get a Toshi strap so I'm split on which to go for
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-O....c100005.m1851

The OEM strap on Ebay is stated as factory seconds - in other words it a rep strap being passed off as genuine OEM. Don't buy it!.

 

[mysterio]

I was about to buy this strap from Martu
https://www.martuleather.com/store/p..._M811p-c1.html

Until I checked out the Toshi website and found this
https://toshi-straps.co.uk/product/b...ew-bar-ti-10-2

I really like the option of grey stitching as it'll match the titanium of the watch case well. Then I found an OEM strap on ebay for cheaper than I can get a Toshi strap so I'm split on which to go for
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-O....c100005.m1851

"Factory seconds" huh? AFAIK, Panerai would throw a fit if their supplier sold rejects at a significant discount and the supplier would most likely not risk their partnership with Panerai for a pittance.

 

[Timesensitive]

Sorry - I noticed that one and discounted it. I meant to copy this link.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OFFICINE...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[superspark69]

Sorry - I noticed that one and discounted it. I meant to copy this link.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OFFICINE...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

For another £40 you can buy one direct from the panerai website and be assured of its authenticity plus you get warranty on it and peace of mind.

 

[m5smg2]

you’ve chosen wisely my friend. It’s a well made and accurate rep. The clone movement is also rock solid. A rep this good deserves a gen PAM strap IMO:

 

[Timesensitive]

Thanks . Nice pictures - it fits you well. What strap do you have it on?