My first Rep - Its a PAM 112 by Silix

[pennerei]

Hi,

(first of all sorry for my not perfect english, im from germany)

i want show you my first Rep. Im not really satisfied. What do you think?

Ok, first of all i must say the price was low. I paid 110$ at silix-prime.
I dont wanted to spent too much money on my first rep because i wanted to test the hole process first. (i choosed the version without saphire glas)
Here ist the link to the watch at silix

I ordered the watch before i register to this forum. Maybe i had choose another dealer if i first read this forum because of the chinese/german custom problems and because of the probation of silix.
But the watch arrived without problems. (Details of the order you can read here at the silix section).


The Front view looks very nice but....






...if you look at the watch from different angles the glass shines in a very intensive blue colour. At these angles the dial looks absolutely blue.
I dont like this look...is this normal?





Im annoyed of the yellow numbers. In real its more distinctive than at this pic.
The colour is really hard antiquely.
Is this normal?






At this pic you can see the CG open. The lever have a brushed face but the CG ist not brushed. Its polished like the case.
You think i can brush it on my own?





I know the backview is not correct like the gen but this is not so important for me.





Sideview










And this was the original pic at silixprime. Dont match very well with the watch i received. What do you think?

I hope you enjoyed my first Review.


Bye Pennerei

 

[tkkidd]

thank you for sharing

 

[guru]

Nice review, be glad that you received the watch. Do not expect any good rep for this price, you pay for that watch in Bangkok 40 USD on the night market. This is the cheapest quality you get. YOu need to live with it:screwed:

 

[JellyJoe]

apart from the brushed crown guard it looks the same watch as in the last pic. What other differences could you point out?
The blue reflection is the cheap AR coating I really couldn't stand, rather have a plexyglass one, just my opinion.
Anyway all n all it's a nice plain looking watch, and the flaws you see arent evident.
Gratz

 

[Uk Watch services]

The sillix pic also has the high cannon pin mod done. His doesnt, although as guru said your not gonna get that for the money paid.

These can cost anywhere up to $600 if you start looking at DSN and Vac etc.

 

[nielsen]

My first rep. was also a 112 PAM. I found the forum here and did a ton of reading and then ordered it from Davidsen based on reviews I read here. I paid about 4X what you did but got a genuine Swiss ETA Swan Neck movement and I wear that watch all the time. I had 'Savage' make me a strap and the combo is just wonderful. My suggestion is that for the price you did OK. Yours is a cheap rep. You cannot expect perfection if you buy at the bottom of the market. Enjoy it. It looks great. Incidentally, in 2 years of wearing my 112--and I teach at a university and come into contact with a ton of people on a daily basis--I have never had anyone comment on my 112, let alone have anyone ask whether it is genuine. Only you will know you have a cheap rep. If you want a better one, sell yours and buy one of the more expensive ones from one of our trusted dealers. Assuming you stick to the good dealers, you will get what you pay for. Will I, for example, deal with Davidsen again? Absolutely--and despite ongoing quality control issues. He always comes through.

 

[jimmyj]

I see why Dealers have G I A N T medicine cabinets . People want gen for rep prices! p s it cost $55 to fill my gas tank lol so $110 for a watch it should be so good.

 

[watchman888]

Recently had a chat w/Coldi re his 202 for sale (a Davidsen). He opted no AR bkz is was historically correct. And he hates cheap AR, which your is. He sent a pic of a blue'd out watch like your and ranted 'It screams fake'. There are several better grades of AR than you have obtained at your (rock bottom) price level. Davidsen is better. Chief, oft-mentioned on RWI, is apparently the best. Here are a couple of links for info on taking a step up, and why it's worth it.

For you regulars, check out Anton's custom DSN: it's a beaut and GREAT photos!

http://anton-c.blogspot.com/2008/07/marina-militare.html

and from Aquaracer:

http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/...-vs-17160?t=17160&highlight=panerai+reps+gens

cheers, WM8

 

[Drulee]

A good DSN version should be around $400.

The CG is polished, but can be brushed (not grinded) with a 3M ScotchBrite pad - these are great for adding a brushed finish to SS, and to refinish titanium You can also use fine grit wet sand paper for good results.

The AR can be removed with either a CapeCod or light brushing with a Dremel and polishing bit (make sure you know what you are doing though). You'll have to remove the crystal though, as the coating is on the inside - usually.

The CG pin could also do with flattening, lots of tutorials are available on how to do this.

The cannon pinion looks like it is a little recessed, but I can't really tell from the pic.

The dial looks like a different one from that pictured on the site. The "L Swiss...." looks closer to the "6" on the one you received, but that is really not that big a deal.

However for $110, it is really not that bad a deal.

 

[pennerei]

Thank you for all replies but how i should continue?

Firts of all i thank you for your replies, opinions and help.

I realized that its a good rep for this price and the only flaw is that i have had too much expectations on it.
The overall quality is good. The blue shine seems to be normal at this price level. Its nothing to say, silix delivered a good quality for the price.

But now i tasted blood and i want a PAM of higher quality and im willing to spend more money for it. But i dont know how i should continue?



There are two options...what are your opinion?

• send the watch back or sell it and buy a new one from Davidsen

• send this watch to vac for a mod. (Is this possible to mod or its not worth because of the case quality or something else? where you buy your watches for vac-mod?)

How much would approximately cost to mod at this watch CG, Saphirglas, new dial & superlume?...canon pin and the movement its not so important for me.

 

[nielsen]

Judging by the mods you want done, I suggest you sell the cheap one and go for a DSN. That route will probably be cheaper overall.

 

[cybee]

Do we allow dealers to photograph one watch and sell another? The lever pin in his pic is nothing like the watch you received. I know for $100 you cannot expect the correct mods but still, seems like more than a white lie to me.

Personally I would not pay anyone to mod it. Maybe try to mod it yourself or sell it and buy an upgraded version from Davidsen.

 

[Hambone]

Buy a new watch from DSN. As explained, you have a 25 dollar watch. that you paid 100 dollars for. Your review was nice, and forthright, but like anything in life. You get what you pay for. DSN has the best out of the box panerai reps, and they will cost you 4 times as much, but you will have a watch that looks like a real panerai, and not
a cheap copy. Otherwise, the gens are thousands. In this game, people want to have the best quality possible, as it is a lot of fun collecting these, however, you need to be prepared to spend more for a decent rep. Good luck.

 

[polaris]

It's not all bad, as a cheap watch you have the opportunity to mod and gain some experience. Do as drulee suggested.

Instead of a scotchbrite pad, the green side of a dishwashing sponge will work. For the cannon pin, you could get a H3 Canon pin, but I think you can just grind the lip of the minute hand a little - ala how Angus does the CP afaik. Will need some basic tools tho, tweezers, fine screwdriver. If you want lume, then I would try sourcing a prelumed dial and hands, from DSN perhaps.

If you're going to send the watch away to a pro for mods, then I think you're better off selling the watch and buying a premodded or DSN.

But #1 improvement would be a new strap. I like heroic18, but there are many others. Choose your style

EDIT: a lume job would cost $150-200 inc EMS, but was a different watch so sandwich may be cheaper, but my guess is at least another $200 for mods. You would still not have a sapphire crystal or a swan neck movement. So again if you want to modify and not do it yourself, go DSN or another who pre-mods.

 

[sconehead]

DSN sells the dials/handsets for around $70 or so...

 

[guru]

I got my 111 from vaccum, just drop him a mail and ask for one. You also can tell him what you want and he will build it for you.


Here are the pics

 

[pennerei]

Thank you all

Thank you all for your opinions and effort.

I have made a decision. I sell my watch and go for an DSN or VAC.
I think that is the best way to satisfy me.

Now im curious how much is the price of both dealers....from DSN i received the price yet. Now im waiting for VACs price.

Because of the custom problems i would prefer to buy from VAC but if the price is to high i must decide which dealer i will choose.

 

[sconehead]

Here's my PWC $99 111h.

DSN dial and handset $70 shipped, JacksonTse asian swan neck $35 shipped, Francisco decal 10 euros shipped (x3) with modded cg as per Houndoggies tuto. All work done by me. Total cost $219...Just waiting for a $50 T-48 crown and it's good enough for me. There ARE cheaper alternatives to a passable Pam if you're willing to mod yourself, it really isn't that hard to do...

 

[sconehead]

Here's a slightly better pic, only using my 3.2mp cell phone...

 

[pennerei]

sconehead thank you for your hints but i think i wont do a mod on my own because i always would think, that it could be better.
I also need the tools and the experience before i spent money in parts and in the end it goes bad.
I also needed a sapphire glass for the watch.

Thank you but i think i will buy one out of the box.


PS:...someone want buy the watch? i want sell it. I posted it on the sale area but the admins canceled it because i dont have 50 posts yet.