My PAM113 - a thank you to Bozz

[TheLoveOfBotham]

I recently got a great deal on a dial/handset/caseback combo from Bozz, and so by way of a thank you for being a great member and contributor to this wonderful forum of ours, I'm posting this quick shot in his honour...

I basically converted an old Noob v3 111 (I have 2) into a 113 using the H-factory parts Bozz sent me, and I must say, I love it. I have never owned or tried a white-faced Panerai before, and was always a bit reluctant to pull the trigger on one, especially because of my love for all things titanium, but when I spotted Bozz's m2m, I couldn't pass it up.

He assured me I would love the white dial look, and he was not at all wrong. So, once again, thanks Bozz, not just for the deal, but for your continuous input and advice. A valued addition to our community, as I'm sure those who know him will agree.

I would love to post more shots, but I can't for the life of me find my lenses, so this was shot using a 27mm prime (it is horrible for macro). I will update with more when my baby daughter turns 18 and leaves home!

As an aside, does anyone have any tips for fitting the movement holder tabs/screws? I have torn-down enough 6497s over the years, but the last stage of securing it back into the case frustrates the hell out of me. It's easily the worst part of disassembly/reassembly for me!

 

[Bozz]

Many thanks mate for your kinds words, it was a pleasure.
I also ignored the white dial pammies for a while, but as soon as I have received some 113s and 114s, I fell in love! Great nice watches, very versatiles.
Wear it well mate

Within two or three weeks I'll do a comparo between HF 113 dial and Noob 113 dial just to know who is the winner

 

[kilowattore]

It does look very good indeed, let's see some closer pics!

 

[pukka]

Looks great - I have a the newest version noob and i can't help but noticed that yellowish sub dial every time I look at it....I thought i could get past it but it's nagging me more and more....I think I need to get it swapped out for the HF dial at some point, it's the only way I am going to *LOVE* this 113.

 

[TheLoveOfBotham]

Thanks for your comments guys. And apologies for the delay in updating. Having finally found my lenses in this chaotic house of mine, below are a couple of shots showing some of the best features of this H factory dial.

Bozz - I look forward to your comparison of the Noob and H-Factory versions. I have no experience with the latest Noob version, so cannot directly comment on those, but I must say, I am very impressed with the overall quality of this version.

Pukka - I'm not sure how much more yellow-ish the Noob factory subdial is, but there is definitely an element of that effect with this one. This is probably a consequence of it not being sunken as the gen, and so it catches/refracts the light in such a way as to accentuate the yellow wavelengths. In any case, in most lighting situations, and on the wrist, it is not really noticeable (at least to my eyes). I have, however, tried to capture the colour difference in one of these shots, taken under a high-lumen LED indoors at night.

The thing I was most impressed with is the quality of the dial printing; even and glossy, with a slight elevation that makes it just look quality. Whether this is true-to-gen or not, I like the high-end look it imparts to the dial.

Anyway, onto the pics...

 

[Genoint]

Looks very much like a Noob dial to me. I have never seen an H factory dial look that yellow on the subdial, interesting. I was thinking about swapping but may have to rethink this.

 

[pukka]

Looks very much like a Noob dial to me. I have never seen an H factory dial look that yellow on the subdial, interesting. I was thinking about swapping but may have to rethink this.

this...^^

 

[TheLoveOfBotham]

Interesting points guys, and perhaps Boaz would like to chime in. Please bear in mind, however, that I chose a lighting situation and angle to specifically highlight this effect. In real-world situations, it is much less of an issue. Out of interest, can anybody elaborate on the the other visible features that may differentiate the Noob from the HF dial? I am in no way concerned either way, but rather interested in the comparison.

 

[TheLoveOfBotham]

*Bozz

 

[Bozz]

I received a Noob 113 dial few days ago and I'm waiting for a HF 113. When in my hands I'll do a comparo, I think +/- two weeks.
First impression looking the Noob: both dials are very similar, maybe indexes and subdial are better on HF. A detailed comparo when both dials will be here.
Btw my compliments mate, your 113 looks awesome!

 

[pukka]

here's a really bad pic of my noob, excuse it being out of focus it was a quickie, but you can see the yellow dial clearly....Genoint - does yours look like this?

 

[Bozz]

Looks very much like a Noob dial to me. I have never seen an H factory dial look that yellow on the subdial, interesting. I was thinking about swapping but may have to rethink this.

This one is a HF dial for sure, from a HF 113 bought directly from a TD. I never bought a Noob 113 before. I received from a friend few days ago a Noob 113 dial and the subdial is more yellowish than this one.
But I'd like to have a HF 113 in my hands to express an opinion. What I remember the HF subdial was matt due to the paint, it reflected the light in a different way, but it was white not yellowish.
Regarding the dials sold, if the buyer needs a confirm about that, I can ask the TD to do it, no problem.

 

[pukka]

Regarding the dials sold, if the buyer needs a confirm about that, I can ask the TD to do it, no problem.

Bozz, I don't think anyone is questioning your integrity - I'm certainly not, I think the discussion has just evolved onto the HF vs Noob subdial - I for one would be curious to see a side by side.

 

[Genoint]

here's a really bad pic of my noob, excuse it being out of focus it was a quickie, but you can see the yellow dial clearly....Genoint - does yours look like this?

Yep mine looks exactly like that, yellowish subdial. Toro has the H factory for $158 or something like that. Maybe I will pick it up. Every H factory I saw in pics was completely white but I have never seen it in person so cant say for sure what it looks like. But that was the consensus when the noob 113 first came out.

 

[Bozz]

Bozz, I don't think anyone is questioning your integrity - I'm certainly not, I think the discussion has just evolved onto the HF vs Noob subdial - I for one would be curious to see a side by side.

Dont worry mate, just in order to reassure the buyer

 

[TheLoveOfBotham]

Bozz, I don't think anyone is questioning your integrity - I'm certainly not, I think the discussion has just evolved onto the HF vs Noob subdial - I for one would be curious to see a side by side.

Exactly this. I never for one minute had a doubt about what you sent me being a HF dial, and I am happy to take your word on this matter. I am now more interested in a direct comparison to see what, if any, are the differences between the two.

From the quick photo of the Noob dial, I would say that it is indeed much more yellow than my example. I really had to try with lighting and angle to show off the slightly yellow tint to the sundial. We must also remember that there can be variances between different examples of the same dial from the same factory. They're not all made to the same exacting standards by a robotic factory in Switzerland!

And really, the only real test is whether or not I as the wearer, and not a casual observer (who would never even notice) is happy with the result, and I must say, I am. This is a watch made from a selection of parts from my spares drawer. In my eyes, the sum of the parts is much greater than the whole!

 

[Bozz]

From the quick photo of the Noob dial, I would say that it is indeed much more yellow than my example.

Yes mate, my first impression

 

[Genoint]

Ale did a huge comparison on gen vs HF vs Noob dial on repgeek. I don't know if it is here. Either way, there are pluses and minuses to both. I was looking at my Noob last night and I love it. The only thing I am in the process of doing is changing the hands to that which has a much whiter Lume. I think noob hands are nice but the Lume is too green. I have some DSN incoming. Here is a pic of my Noob with some Ebay hands. The seconds hands from Ebay would not reach my seconds pin unfortunately so I am hoping DSN will. Plus the seconds hand in DSN is all black, no silver center like the Noob's.

In the pic below you can see how yellow the subdial is. And how much greener the seconds hand Lume is to the Ebay hands I have on there temporarily. The whiter Lume matches the indices much better.

 

[ALE7575]

I would like to clarify that I made the comparo with the last Noob dial of 113 O-series and the "old" H maker dial

Bozz are talking about the NEW H maker dial which seems much better than old. It is the same about the case ( I think that if the quality is conformed it could be better than Noob V3)

Anyway, as commented by Bozz, he will made a comparison of Noob dial O-sereis and the new H maker

Indeed the comparo will be really interesting... because the Noob dial Bozz is talking about is my own dial sent to him in order to make the comparison

LOL

ALE

 

[Genoint]

Thanks for the clarification. Looking forward to comparison.