PAN104 thoughts?

[nielsen]

Ale: you have the patience of Job! Far more than I, I'm afraid.

If you are not sure of the virtue of hand-winding, perhaps a quartz would be the most suitable for you. It never needs anything except the odd battery, is more accurate than any hand wind or automatic movement you will ever own, and costs a fraction of the price. Mechanical movements are just that: mechanical, with all the flaws, warts, farts, and foibles that entails.

 

[Clark Kent]

That's a little bit exaggerated. If you forget to hand wind the movement it stops, if you wear an automatic regularly it will certainly not stop. Sure, Eco-Drive from Citizen would be the best but that's not THAT noble...

Dear Clark
I think you are a little confused and you don't know what you want.
I will try to clarify a little your situation.

Manual or Automatic
Manual is more simple and then more reliable in a rep.
Manual in a Panerai is the charm and "glamour" and all Paneristi like winding their PAMs manually. But if you don't like manual, the solution is very simple buy an automatic.
But I think you want to know why people like the manual, and it is a taste question, and as above said glamour and charm.. character . A little "tamagotchy" as Polonus said.
The more reliable manual 6497 and after that a 2836 or a 7750 working as GMT are almost the same.

First Class or Super Rep
In many cases it is more a subjective question.
A Super rep should be indistinguishable from the gen in a light side by side comparison and to be of the same material of the gen, with one or two little flaws and if it has display caseback must have the movement very similar to the gen. It should have all the functions of the gen.
A First Class rep can be more inaccurate, but need to keep indistinguishable too, we are more tolerant about the movement, because you cannot see it when you are wearing the watch. It could don't have some special features of the gen (Flyback function, Power reserve, etc...) but you cannot see it directly.
When we are saying "pending to upgrade to super rep" we are meanning that we are confident of the maker who has mede the rep, because has made other similar Super reps, but we have not yet any review or information enough to assure it, and we remain prudent.

Shipment via UK
At this moment to ship to EU it is very recommendable to make the transport via UK.
No problems about neither with Puretime nor with Timeshops.

PAM 111 - PAM 104 - PAM 029
111 and 029 are Super reps already tested and checked. IMO they are one of the best reps in the market.
PAM 104 of last versions N-series from Noo and H maker are pending of final evaluation. But surely will be Super reps.

PAM 029
One of my preferred reps. Many times I think it is better than PAM 111
You have Asian 2836 and "Swiss" 2836
Since you don't know the origin of the "Swiss" it is no worth the extra charge and you should go to Asian 2836.
Superclone is a name used by Puretime, it is the same.
Timeshops has this version too, consult this link:
http://www.timeshops.net/12451-xfpi39022-pam029-v2-noobfactory-2012-newest-best-edition-ss-lt
You can see you have two options about movement: Asian and Swiss. Chose the Asian.

If you don't want definitively the manual go to PAM 104 N-series without problems.
But, Please don't ask me what is better Noob or H maker.
You must leave some homeworks for you !!

ALE

Thank you! That was exact the info I was looking for! You are the best!

I'll wait until there are reports about the new PAM104, after that I'll decide what to buy...

Edit: You mean the Puretime version of the PAM 029 is the same as the one from Timeshop? I thought Timeshop has the more evolved v2 version? Is the Puretime PAM 029 also v2? And moreover I thought the SuperClone movement is a more sophisticated version of the Asian 2836?

 

[ALE7575]

Edit: You mean the Puretime version of the PAM 029 is the same as the one from Timeshop? I thought Timeshop has the more evolved v2 version? Is the Puretime PAM 029 also v2? And moreover I thought the SuperClone movement is a more sophisticated version of the Asian 2836?

Yes, sorry to get you confused.
The Timeshops version is really the V2, but the Puretime seems the previous one because it is released at the end of 2011.
The movements are the same A2836
ALE

 

[Clark Kent]

Ok, I investigated in this matter and I found out that the Puretime version is indeed the previous version (although Puretime is telling me that they are selling only the new one as they do not have the old one anymore). Only Timeshop has the latest version v2 from 2012 in their repertoire (at least at the moment).

Only one question left: Can anybody tell me if the included Asia movement 2836-2 is a so called "SuperClone" or the older less perfect one? I think as it is a new 2012 watch it should be likely a "SuperClone", isn't it?

 

[Clark Kent]

Just want to ask again if somebody does accidentally know if the latest PAM029 v2 from 2012 does have a so called Asian SuperClone movement, the latest enhanced clone movement?

I would like to order it as soon as it is available and as I do not fully trust the Swiss movement to be really a new, fully error-free swiss movement I plan to take the Asian clone movement...

By the way - in the case if the movement is not working anymore in future is it possible to replace it by a standard Swiss 2836-2 movement? I'm just curious because of the GMT function!?