PAM 351 Gen/Rep comparison

[Pangasius]

I like to show you a comparision of Panerai 351 Rep vs. Gen.

• Gen: Of year 2012 (O) with original strap, unworn
• Rep: Of year 2012 from Puretime with Kaktus Drifter Havanna from Kaktus Straps (Fransson), used several months.

PAM 351 is my most beloved PAM (beneath PAM 390) because of:

• Despite of the 17mm height you can wear it very pleasantly. This is because the titanium case is lighter than the steen ones (e.g. 312).
• The brown dial and the golden hands looks very beautiful and special.

Here are some perfectly suitable straps for PAM 351 (or PAM 390):

• Kaktus Drifter Havanna from Kaktus Straps (Fransson). My favorite because the leather color fits perfect to the dial and the bright stiching to the numerals. The leather of Kaktus Drifter Havanna is unrufflet.
• Black Choco from Rob Montana (The Strap Smith) - Also perfect in leather color. The leather has more structure than Kaktus Drifter Havanna and the stiching is beige.
• Dark Chocolate von dstrap.com (Olaf) - Similar to Black Choco from Rob Montana.

Now the comparison - Gen on left, rep on right:

Very good:

• Case shape, color and finish
• Hands
• Position of numerals
• Crystal shape and color
• AR

Improveable:

• Dial color. Rep is brighter and Gen is more mate.

And now, let's zoom. First the gen:

The rep:

You can see more differences:

• The numerals of rep are a little wider and not such accurate.
• The font of the rep are thicker.
• The numbers on the date wheel of the rep are thinner and 3 dates (29, 30 and 31) are not printed accurately. There are some brown spots within the numbers.
• The dial color is a little different. The rep is a little copper.
• The cannon pin of the rep is not flat but domed.

Now let's see the crown and the CG. First the Gen:

Now the Rep:

You can see:

• The encraving "REG." and "T.M." on the rep is a little thicker.
• The lever of rep is much smaller.
• It hat more clearance.
• The outer edge has another shape.
• It can be folded out more.
• The milling groove of CG (where the crown sits) is more straight (hope I use the right terms for this).
• The prings of the crown are less beveled on the rep.

Back side of gen:

Back side of rep:

• The pin of the CG from the rep is 0,5 to 1mm to short.
• Completely different movement (Gen: P.9000 / Rep: Asian 7750).
• Crystal of rep looks slightly thicker.
• Crystal of rep is a little less clean.
• Encravings on rep are correkct, but the font is a little thicker.
• The pins for strap changing are nearer to the case on the rep, but the straps fits right.

Here are some pictures from the sides:

Gen:

Rep:

Other side:

Gen:

Rep:

Finally two more pictures from the rep:

First with Kaktus Drifter Havanna:

Second with DStrap Dark Chocolate:

Conlusion:

The replica PAM 351 is a very nice watch. Look and wearing comfort are excellent.
The titan case , the warm brown dial and the golden hands makes it to a special watch without beeing too eye-caching.

There are some differences between gen and rep but these differences are not easy to spot (except the movement). You need know the gen or need to compare gen and rep side by side to see most differences.
But there is potential for the factories to eliminate the remaining flaws.

 

[Dr.Verylong]

Interesting read. Thank you!

 

[jeffw69]

I love my 351.

 

[Hasslebank]

Great post. Thx for sharing.

 

[frigpig]

Fantastic! Thanks for taking the time to write this up. That is a very very good replica save for the movement.

 

[ALE7575]

Congrats !!
This is an interesting and well done review
Really very helpful
This replica is better that I thought (leving aside movement, of course)
We can confirm our Evaluation of clear First Class rep.
I really like this watch
Directly to to the wishlist

And this comparison thread directly to the PAM GUIDE

Thanks again

ALE

 

[Bronzo]

Great read mate
Thanks

 

[risdian]

For all intent and purposes, this is a beautiful rep. I put this rep on my hand in my local rep shop and suddenly fallen in love. The cost from local shop for this rep is very high, citing Ti as precious metals -- I am sure just marketing gimmick from him. So I tried to get it from TD here. Back then Josh nicely said I should waited for an impending release of much improved version of this. I guess almost a year now. OP has reignite my interest again....

 

[Sultan Brunei]

pangasius,

How are the movement noise rep vs gen ?
The rep, when I shake it, sounds noisy whirl (just like a21 movement noise when shaked), how about gen ?

And the AR coating on the crystal seems like it's still reflecting anything, is that what it should be ?

thanks

 

[psychospike]

Thanks for sharing ..wonderful comparison ...

 

[Spboudart]

Great post.
Love the 351, my favorite '1950' case.
The Ti and colors make it so nice.

 

[Pangasius]

How are the movement noise rep vs gen ?
The rep, when I shake it, sounds noisy whirl (just like a21 movement noise when shaked), how about gen ?

On the gen you can't hear the rotor. I checked two PAM351 reps. You can hear the rotor from both pieces. On was very silent one was bit more noisy. But not too noisy, I think it is ok.

 

[Naburus]

Great comparison! Thank you for that!
And that's a lovely rep. Need to look for it.

PS: by the way, are you sure that you got the photos description right? I'm referring to the one that compares the CG and the lever.

"The encraving "REG." and "T.M." on the rep is a little thicker." - seems like it's the other way around, the rep's engraving is thinner than the gen's. And etc..

Now let's see the crown and the CG. First the rep:

Now the gen:

You can see:

• The encraving "REG." and "T.M." on the rep is a little thicker.
• The lever of rep is much smaller.
• It hat more clearance.
• The outer edge has another shape.
• It can be folded out more.
• The milling groove of CG (where the crown sits) is more straight (hope I use the right terms for this).
• The prings of the crown are less beveled on the rep.

 

[shyreplover]

^^ the picture on top is the gen. Just look at the date wheel.
His observation is correct, only the picture's description isn't right.

 

[Naburus]

^^ the picture on top is the gen. Just look at the date wheel.
His observation is correct, only the picture's description isn't right.

Indeed, right you are! Picture descriptions should be changed

 

[Pangasius]

Yes, you're right. Now I corrected my post.

 

[nielsen]

Thanks for taking the time with this review. Beautiful watch! Now if only our rep friends would copy that movement--accurately!

 

[nlnlnlnene]

thank you

 

[Arancini]

Another PAM for the hit list.

Fantastic review with the Gen.

This sort of comparison is just invaluable.

Thanks again.

 

[Isragg16]

Thanks for the review. The 351 is one of my favorite pams too. I thought the gold colored hands on the rep had a different shade than the gen. Is this correct?