PAN127 "Fiddy" question...more difficult to find

[Industril]

Hi all,
After going through the forums, I've noted many remark the Davidson Fiddy Rep being the benchmark "out there".

Having newly purchased my first Fiddy rep, one of the first things I've noticed that is "deficient" is the lack of a swan's neck regulator.

Browsing through the net, I've noticed that my movement looks similar to this one, minus the "blue screws". Mine aren't colored.
hxxps://www.watchcartel.com/item_images/PAS049b.jpg

Anyone have any information regarding its origin, reliability, and generation? As you can tell from that image, as on mine, the "Panerai" engraving is a plate probably glued to the bridges.

So far, it's quite enjoyable
Cheers!!

 

[greg_r]

It looks like the standard low-end Fiddy you find around most of the dealers - mine came from T4D/PWC at a very reasonable price last year.

What you appear to have there is the standard Asian 6497 with glued-on foil decoration to make it look like it has E series bridges.

It's not the most accurate to the gen and the detail on the movement is probably less important than the more visible limitations (crown, cg and - if yours is the same as mine - low cannon pin and only moderate lume).

However, it's still a nice looking watch and the movement should be ultra-reliable (the 6497 - asian or swiss - is pretty much bomb-proof).

Wear it well and enjoy it for now. Build up your collection a bit and, when you get to the point where you have to scratch that fiddy itch again, upgrade to one of the 'Ultimate' versions (either DSN or T4D), which should have engraved bridges and will be MUCH closer to the look of the gen.

At least that's what I'm planning to do eventually - however, there are several other Panerai models I'm itching to buy first, so it might be some time before I upgrade my own Fiddy

 

[Industril]

Precisely.
Thanks for your quick response.

Surprisingly, it's keeping better time than my COSC gen's....

As you mentioned, crown, yes quite poor
cg quite loose
low cannon pin, yep check
and only moderate lume. Again, a yes but it lasts thru the nite.

As a follow-up question, what is a "very resonable price"...could anyone perhaps throw in a range. For my own personal benefit, just so that I can feel assured the price I paid is at least "industry average" This is my first rep...

Cheers!

It looks like the standard low-end Fiddy you find around most of the dealers - mine came from T4D/PWC at a very reasonable price last year.

What you appear to have there is the standard Asian 6497 with glued-on foil decoration to make it look like it has E series bridges.

It's not the most accurate to the gen and the detail on the movement is probably less important than the more visible limitations (crown, cg and - if yours is the same as mine - low cannon pin and only moderate lume).

However, it's still a nice looking watch and the movement should be ultra-reliable (the 6497 - asian or swiss - is pretty much bomb-proof).

Wear it well and enjoy it for now. Build up your collection a bit and, when you get to the point where you have to scratch that fiddy itch again, upgrade to one of the 'Ultimate' versions (either DSN or T4D), which should have engraved bridges and will be MUCH closer to the look of the gen.

At least that's what I'm planning to do eventually - however, there are several other Panerai models I'm itching to buy first, so it might be some time before I upgrade my own Fiddy

 

[AllergyDoc]

T4D sells a beginner 127 for $99 and a pretty good one for $299. Sead sells one with superlume, even cannon pin, fixed CG, and swan neck for $335 shipped.

 

[alvinado]

it keeps time well because that movement in the fiidy is know to be "bulletproof"
Enjoy your watches..

 

[greg_r]

Precisely.
Thanks for your quick response.

Surprisingly, it's keeping better time than my COSC gen's....

As you mentioned, crown, yes quite poor
cg quite loose
low cannon pin, yep check
and only moderate lume. Again, a yes but it lasts thru the nite.

I did a little work on the CG on mine and the lever is now nice and tight. Mine is accurate to CoSC standards now, too, although I had to regulate it slightly - the asian 6497 is really an outstanding movement at the price - one of the best in the rep world imho (I have several).

As a follow-up question, what is a "very resonable price"...could anyone perhaps throw in a range. For my own personal benefit, just so that I can feel assured the price I paid is at least "industry average" This is my first rep...

Cheers!

I paid $99 for mine from Time4Direct (one of the recommended dealers here).

 

[Industril]

Wow, thank you all for your wealth of responses. I am absolutely positive that vendors selling online have leverage to sell at higher prices simply because they can poll a greater audience.

At the moment, I'm touring Asia and today went on a shopping trip. A street vendor I'll call "buddy" caught me wearing my fake 127 that I purchased days ago (before I found RWI) and started yelling "Panerai! Panerai" with a weird accent. At first I had no clue what he was saying until I approached him and he started to critique my Fiddy (ignorantly accusing the "Panerai" name on the buckle is wrong, the CG is on flipped...etc). LOL Then he offered to sell me a Marina, assuming I was American, for 1,297RMB. I told him a firm no and counter offered 375RMB. Although I had no intention to buy, he was willing to sell that watch to me for my quoted price and even chased me down the street asking me to buy it. LOL

The Marina had a similar movement in the back with the exception that it seemed a generation newer because the bridges were machined to replicate the curves of the Gen; unlike mine which looks like manufacturing processes hadn't matured to accomodate curves. It also had the correct amount of bridges, however no "Panerai" foil along the back and no swan's neck regulator. I noticed also the crystal had AR coating. My crystal is kind of foggy. LOL

Interesting hobby. I do indeed hope that my fake PAM127 stands to be "bombproff". LOL I'll treat it as my daily beater and see how long it lasts...I don't suppose any of you had yours already fail?

Daily cranking it up, I notice the CG is coming loose. LOL! I don't suppose any of you have a fix for that other than turning the screws tighter...maybe superglue the dang thing to the case? haha

Regardless, for a mechanical watch that's cheaper than a plastic Timex, I'm surprised it's as accurate as it is!

Cheers & happy time keeping.

 

[greg_r]

Daily cranking it up, I notice the CG is coming loose. LOL! I don't suppose any of you have a fix for that other than turning the screws tighter...maybe superglue the dang thing to the case? haha
Cheers & happy time keeping.

Loktite threadlocker adhesive will stop the screws coming loose.

 

[Industril]

Ahh, the industrial strength solution

Sheer genius Thx for the expedient reply!

Daily cranking it up, I notice the CG is coming loose. LOL! I don't suppose any of you have a fix for that other than turning the screws tighter...maybe superglue the dang thing to the case? haha
Cheers & happy time keeping.

Loktite threadlocker adhesive will stop the screws coming loose.