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Panerai destro conversion

b21222

Getting To Know The Place
29/12/20
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I've been looking to buy a 44mm destro pam for a while but unfortunately these are no longer produced.
I was thinking of buying a base model rep, something like the pam000 and rotating the dial over 180 degrees.
I've got a pam111 due to the seconds dial this conversion would not be possible on it, unless I was put in a base dial and sacrifice the seconds dial on the destro conversion.
The CG lever would end up being the wrong way around, though i think panerai have made destro models with the CG lever in that direction (pam217).
The hands would need to be realigned, but I don't think that should be too much of an issue.
The main problem I anticipate is setting the rotated dial on the movement, due to positioning of dial feet.
My questions are,
Is what i am planning even possible?
Could i clip the dial feet and use adhesive dial pads to do this myself, or would it be better to send the watch to a watch smith/modder to perform the modifications?
Would be grateful for any input/advice.
thanks
 

philwongnz

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What you have said seems logical to me. What you didn't mention was, the experience you have with watches? For example, have you removed hands and mount them back again before? Do you have the right equipment? Depending on the movement, you need to find a "flat" surface to place the dial dots so it can stick to the dial. Another issue will be, aligning the dial so is dead straight at 12 o'clock so you need to do a bit of tinkering to ensure the hands are aligned with the dial when they are at 12.

Removing the dial feet and then sanding the residual down is also something to consider to ensure the dial sits flat.

I think there are lots of threads on homage forum for Pam builds. Yours is not that unique in my opinion.

Good luck
 
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b21222

Getting To Know The Place
29/12/20
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I've done a bit of modding on Seiko watches, swapping dials and hands, but the dials have always been movement specific so never had to work with aligning the dial or sanding/clipping dial feet. But hopefully shouldn't be too difficult.
Will try to source a base dial and give it a try on the 111.
 

KOT1917

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The model will turn out to be fancy anyway, but no, there are no 44mm models in a bettarini case with an inverted CG.

It will not be possible to turn it upside down either; the shape of the profile is not symmetrical, and the contour will not fit evenly to the edge of the case.

But the alternatives are even more difficult, because apart from 219 and 022 there is no steel rep CG.
There is also rep 026/649 but they are black, you have to clean them.

As for the pins of the dial, maybe it’s time for me to sleep, but I don’t understand why touch them at all. They will go into the holes, just the opposite.
 

b21222

Getting To Know The Place
29/12/20
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The model will turn out to be fancy anyway, but no, there are no 44mm models in a bettarini case with an inverted CG.

It will not be possible to turn it upside down either; the shape of the profile is not symmetrical, and the contour will not fit evenly to the edge of the case.

But the alternatives are even more difficult, because apart from 219 and 022 there is no steel rep CG.
There is also rep 026/649 but they are black, you have to clean them.

As for the pins of the dial, maybe it’s time for me to sleep, but I don’t understand why touch them at all. They will go into the holes, just the opposite.


I tried flipping the crown guard on my 111 and it didnt fit well. Sourcing a destro crown guard will be more difficult than finding the watches themselves, so inverted CG is the only way to go.

I haven't seen the dial pins/feet myself, so wasn't sure if they are symmetrical.

Was planning on modding my 111 but I need to find a dial first and possibly matching hands so the lume matches.

Any idea where to look for these? I've emailed davidsen today. Hoping he can help.
 

KOT1917

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About destro CG - you are right, which is why I see this as the main problem.

Here they are, this is a photo of gen, but nothing changes on rep.
I would recommend doing destro from the base model. Marina dial will not be easy to find.
This is either factory rep 026 K, 056, 219, 649.
(Watches is not frequent, and the details are even rarer)
DSN 022, 026 with T dial.
(It seems that I am the last one who bought something from him a couple of months ago, you should check the availability, and if you succeed (which is not at all a fact), then immediately buy hands).
Also there used to be destro dials from some homage suppliers like helenarou, but I'm not sure if they work now.

Well, the last, and most likely, come to HForum and ask to make an individual dial. I think this is quite possible for some, and the most likely path.
 
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b21222

Getting To Know The Place
29/12/20
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Ideal for you now in the m2m section a base dial that can be used for destro build, based on your 111, without purchasing additional pam000, b21222 :
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...ies/9937399-panerai-parts-dials-and-case-back

Thanks, I’ve sent him a PM about it. Hopefully will be willing to ship to UK.
I think the hands on my 111 should match the lume on it too.

I spoke to davidsen, he’s got a sausage dial available but will probably need to buy hands separate for it
 

Hazing

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If you wanted to go bigger and in a 1950s case instead, there is a beat up 217 dial on Chrono24 for $6,000 usd. I even asked if he’d go down on that price at all and he said no. Fml

Just a little snack. You know? Not food to eat but food for thought.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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b21222

Getting To Know The Place
29/12/20
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Pam111 converted to destro(fantasy) with inverted cg, and 201a dial and hands from dsn

jz30AX.jpg
 

b21222

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As for the pins of the dial, maybe it’s time for me to sleep, but I don’t understand why touch them at all. They will go into the holes, just the opposite.


unfortunately the dial feet/pins were not symmetrical, same as with my pam111 dial.
Had to clip the pins and used adhesive to attach dial to movement
 

KOT1917

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Thank you for sharing! Explain a little, if not difficult; DSN 210A dial has different mounts (in other positions) than PAM111?

I sincerely apologize for misinforming you, I am not a builder, but I was convinced that the PAM dial on 6497 at REP / GEN is attached in one and only way. :(
 

b21222

Getting To Know The Place
29/12/20
41
16
8
Thank you for sharing! Explain a little, if not difficult; DSN 210A dial has different mounts (in other positions) than PAM111?

I sincerely apologize for misinforming you, I am not a builder, but I was convinced that the PAM dial on 6497 at REP / GEN is attached in one and only way. :(

Sorry, I wasn't clear. From what I gather the dial pins are the same on all dials, including on my noob pam111 and on the 201a dial.

However the position is such that it will only fit in the correct position. (12 on top and 3 next to crown)
If you try to rotate the dial 180degress (crown at 9) the pins do not line up.

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