*** pam 228 firenze - help please ***

[morninglory]

Hi All

Recently bought Panerai 228 rep from a 'trusted dealer together with a PAM111H (Swiss, cannon fix, superlume - beautiful); in truth the transaction has been going on for months and I am fed up with sending watches to and from China because of the cock-ups due to poor quality control / basic service.

So as I might have expected the very handsome PAM228 with Asian 7750 movement is losing 4 mins per hour (intermittently and unpredictably) because the dealer did not check it before dispatching sepite me requesting at least 15 times!. I am now of a mind to get it fixed by a watchmaker here in the UK now I finally have it in my hands and the Heroic18 alligator strap is in situ courtesy of my watchmaker (yes, the strap pin was also threaded in the lug upon receipt!)

Alternatively, I am considering contacting Davidsen or another Pan specialist to fix it / replace with more reliable movement. Any suggestions and any idea of what it might cost to replace with a Swiss ETA movement if indeed it is possible?

Whilst writing, the crown trys to turn when the watch is wound, the closed lever only preventing it from doing so indicating the stem is not disengaging when the crown is pushed in; is this correct and if not could this be the cause of the loss of time? Simple fix?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

 

[COLDI]

Its not worth it to replace IMO. If its running fast, it just needs a little regulation. A watchsmith isnt even needed, just a ball of duct tape and a tiny screw driver

 

[acharria]

Its not worth it to replace IMO. If its running fast, it just needs a little regulation. A watchsmith isnt even needed, just a ball of duct tape and a tiny screw driver

Coldi.

Please explain how to use the duct tape...
Tks

 

[CBR]

If its losing 4 minutes per hour it needs more than a regulation... Especially if its not consistent.

IMHO, there are a few options...

1. Send it back and try again.
2. Find a local watchsmith the fully service the watch (cost $150-200)
3. Purchase a swiss 7750 and have the mods made to work in your watch (there are parts that need to be swapped from the old one OR new hands purchased)

Coldi, you know I got mad love for you... but dont tell this person he needs duct tape and a screw driver to fix this. He will end up like we did... with a broken watch and no one who wants to work on it!

 

[COLDI]

My mistake. I thought i read 4 min a DAY. Not EVERY hour. That is messed up. i would contact the dealer if its pretty new and see what they say.

Sorry about that!

 

[morninglory]

Thanks CBR,

Am thinking of the service option, approx cost £80 ($130) however:

1. Watch is not consistently losing 4 mins per hour; some hours it will, others it will not. The watchsmith has put it on some diagnostic machine (sorry, am newbie so have no idea what it is), made a couple of adjustments an showed a print out, before and after, but this has made no difference.

2. the crown trys to turn when the watch is wound, the closed lever only preventing it from doing so indicating the stem is not disengaging when the crown is pushed in; is this correct and if not could this be the cause of the loss of time?

3. I am wandering if the date has been changed at factory between hours if 10 and 6; if it had, would the watch be displaying the troubles I am experiencing?

Many thanks for your assistance

 

[CBR]

If you can have a FULL SERVICE done on an A7750 and they will warranty the work I would say its worth it IF YOU INTEND TO KEEP THE WATCH. But understand that adding a service to a watch adds no real value to a watch when you go and sell it. YES you can list the service and the cost, but most buyers wont wish to pay for something they did not see done.
I am not sure what the symptoms associated with changing the date at the wrong time of day are.
Your saying that if you were to set the watch down on a table, you can observe the crown turning? Ive never heard of that one before...

 

[morninglory]

Hi CBR,

For sure I want to keep it esp with the Heroic18 strap as you can imagine. Furthermore I am keen for it to be reliable.

My concern with the crown turning (yep its visible until it decides to slow up due to the lever) is that even after the service it could still lose the time. Perhaps I should re-phrase; when the crown is pushed in, should its operation completely disengage so that it does not wind backwards but still retain the ability to manually wind forward?

 

[CBR]

I have never personally seen any watch movement that allowed the crown to move on its own (forward or backwards). Im looking at a partially disassembled a7750 (non chrono) right now and trying to figure out what gear could possibly be turning backwards and engaging the keyless works in order to turn the stem... and I simply dont see it.