Noob or DH Gate cheapie - 029 GMT

[phdsjain]

So long story short, I had been looking for a correct as per gen GMT Panerai to replace my 243.
As luck would have it, most of the models previously termed super-reps have been out of production since at least 2 years. The 029, 297, 088 etc

@mysterio suggested I mail TDs if in case even one had old stock.
In my case, a TD on other fora but not here turned up with a Noob 029.

I received my QC pics yesterday, all good, the CG pin and lever looked off but I thought its probably batch variation but I hadn't give my go ahead till I came across @Gcnlm995 's post under the non-TD review section on how DH gate cheapies were misrepresented and being sold for $338.

This made me go back and do a retake my QC pics and a quick search on DH Gate which turned up with at least a dozen sellers selling the 029 for $100 and thereabouts.

Here's a comparison picture I put together with the Noob QC images from Josh's site and the one he's selling me. What does the gentry think?

 

[d4m.test]

Looks like a DHgate watch. Have you bought from this TD before? It would be very shifty if a TD were pulling stock from the DHGate bins...., but that's just me. The Lume doesn't look deep enough, lacking depth. Did you get the sandwich or not? The outer ring for the cyclops looks too thick on your QC pic, looks weird. The pin for the lever looks rough, rounded top, wrong...Did you get QC pics of the movement? Any side pics?

 

[d4m.test]

The numbering on the ring (24 | 2 | 4|) etc, looks squashed and slightly stretched in your pics, maybe it's the lens they were using..

 

[d4m.test]

Also, the handle part on the lever looks way too narrow, it should have a rounded end, your pic has a slight curve, but not as pronounced.

 

[gigi77]

Attention to DHgate sellers, on the advert they often use gen pics... ask for "real pictures" and you will see a different watch.

 

[phdsjain]

I haven't dealt with Joshua before but most users over at Repgeek were happy with him (He's a TD over at Repgeek)
He was also the only one who had a Noob 029 in stock but now I am not sure if this even is a Noob.
Here's a fellow member @Gcnlm995 's experience where she was conned by Josh very recently: 1st Buy from Josh at Perfect Clones...

He did send other images for QC Approval which I can share if allowed to.

Did attribute a lot of differences to the lens and angle but the CG pin, lever and cyclops remain unaccounted for. I always assumed DHgate cheapies were simply too poor a copy to even come close to level of Noob and other rep factories. I could be wrong.

 

[d4m.test]

I haven't dealt with Joshua before but most users over at Repgeek were happy with him (He's a TD over at Repgeek)
He was also the only one who had a Noob 029 in stock but now I am not sure if this even is a Noob.
Here's a fellow member @Gcnlm995 's experience where she was conned by Josh very recently: 1st Buy from Josh at Perfect Clones...

He did send other images for QC Approval which I can share if allowed to.

Did attribute a lot of differences to the lens and angle but the CG pin, lever and cyclops remain unaccounted for. I always assumed DHgate cheapies were simply too poor a copy to even come close to level of Noob and other rep factories. I could be wrong.

*Nervous shifting* Eerm, uhhh, some of those Dhgate cheapies are....to the untrained eye, getting pretty close....*shoves unmarked box back under my bed*

 

[phdsjain]

Above: My watch
Below: Stock QC image from his site

Observation and point of comparison:
1. CG lever shape
2. CG Pin - protruding on mine vs flush on stock pic, size is smaller on mine
3. Cyclops edge thicker on mine and distortion like H-factory crystal
4. Bezel insert numbers skinnier on mine or my eyes are playing tricks on me

 

[phdsjain]

Attention to DHgate sellers, on the advert they often use gen pics... ask for "real pictures" and you will see a different watch.

Did that five minutes before your reply, let's see what turns up in my inbox. Hope it is something ridiculous.

 

[mysterio]

The pictures you've shown are eeriely close. But what worries me is the similarity of the images reflected on the crystal.

(same camera used to take the picture and the set-up of the camera inside the lightbox)

(the yellow discoloration on the edges of the lightbox and again the similar reflection of the camera as well as the position of the white "horizon" at the bottom of each picture)

But it's hard to even guess the provenance of the watch with only 2 pictures. I can only comment on the similarity of the two.

 

[phdsjain]

Hi @mysterio , thank you for your input.

All of the QC example images on his website happen to be in the exact same lighting and angles irrespective of the model.
The camera looks the same in both set of images except for the positioning.
In my QC pics, the camera is placed further out vs the example pics on his site where the camera is set closer.
I believe this accounts for the lens distortion causing bezel numbers to look flatter & wider etc
The only points I am unable to account for the CG lever shape and pin size/ recess and cyclops distortion which make me wonder if mine is even a Noob. The Noob 029 is classified as a super-rep in Sir Ale's guide.

 

[shoes]

Interesting thoughts as I am also looking to buy the same watch I have found one example with a TD but had the same concerns as to its quality


Sent from my iPhone using RWI

 

[mysterio]

QC examples on websites, however poor or excellent, may be totally different or the same to the watch you are getting. That's why you get QC pictures of the actual watch you will get, to confirm if they are as good as the watch on the website, or conversely, that they are not as bad as the ones you saw on the website.

The Noob PAM029M is indeed a super rep.

 

[d4m.test]

+1 to Mysterio for spotting the camera reflection. I can't believe I missed that. Strange...two watches, same seller, two different quality levels. Ugh, but not only that, two different watches, one each for the QC pics. Maybe I'm half asleep right now, but did OP say he requested more QC pics? He has paid for it already, yes? (Common practice, QC after moola), so this might be interesting. *watching* (no pun)

 

[phdsjain]

Joshua just mailed me saying he will send another set of pics. Let's see if it's the same watch I receive pictures of.

The CG on this one is unacceptable and more like H-fac than Noob. CG pin is smaller and not flush. CG lever is the wrong shape. CG cutout has rounded corners than clean-cut square.

 

[phdsjain]

Update: Joshua just got back to me with this. Will be accepting it. Proven beyond doubt it is indeed a Noob.

The actual watch pictures sent by a DH Gate seller was an A-series with second markers on the dial and a low level rep with white datewheel. Can share those too if someone wants.

 

[phdsjain]

The DH gate cheapy from a '2nd year Factory Seller' recommended by DHGate.

 

[d4m.test]

The DH gate cheapy from a '2nd year Factory Seller' recommended by DHGate.

Hey, that doesn't look half bad....if you're drunk...and hit your head....a couple times....

 

[phdsjain]

It's here!View attachment 90624

 

[d4m.test]

Gah! Slideshow too fast and picture quality too low. Can't make a good judgement.