Panerai gen crystal?

[R0L3X]

Hi guys,

This noon I sat at some terrace and a guy next to me wore a Panerai (I think the 048). I just saw it was genuine. No doubt. Looked perfect.

I doubt if I would have thought the same when it was a Noob? Somehow it seems like genuine crystals always make the watch look more expensive. The AR is better and it just has more luster.

Even non AR Rolex crystals look much better than after market / replica. It just catches the light much better.

Does anyone know where to source genuine Panerai crystal?

 

[DesaiMJ]

Good one. I m looking for one. Yes it makes watch better.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[nalomb]

I wouldn't look at a necessarily factory OEM Panerai crystal -- the difference between most reps and gens on the crystal side are the materials used and the AR. Most gens have little to no AR, but most are made with a good sapphire crystal that doesn't have the murky look of a mineral crystal most reps have. For PAMs, I generally go with a WSO crystal or a double AR (despite the fact most if no gens have that) and that does the trick. There aren't any laser engravings or specialties for PAM crystals, so if the quality of the glass is good and the AR is either gen spec or better, you should be in good shape.

 

[mysterio]

I wouldn't look at a necessarily factory OEM Panerai crystal -- the difference between most reps and gens on the crystal side are the materials used and the AR. Most gens have little to no AR, but most are made with a good sapphire crystal that doesn't have the murky look of a mineral crystal most reps have. For PAMs, I generally go with a WSO crystal or a double AR (despite the fact most if no gens have that) and that does the trick. There aren't any laser engravings or specialties for PAM crystals, so if the quality of the glass is good and the AR is either gen spec or better, you should be in good shape.

Maybe you are referring to Rolex watches than Panerai watches as PAMs are known to have AR coating applied on the inside of the crystal (not to mention most PAM reps like their gen counterparts mostly have sapphire crystals instead of mineral crystals). The color of the AR coating has even been notoriously inconsistent before with bluish to purplish hues even for the same model over the years. However most of the PAMs now use colorless AR, which is also what the current crop of PAM reps use.

To the OP, I definitely agree that a gen crystal would be better than the rep crystal but it is not as night and day as you would imagine. I have compared rep PAMs to gen ones owned by friends side by side and I do say it's close. Closer than where PAM reps were maybe 3-5 years ago. Also, it is a value proposition and given the choice, I am with @nalomb here and would rather go with an aftermarket AR like rnrprof's applied on the rep crystal or a WSO crystal. Gen crystals are probably available on Risti but I have not checked their marketplace so availability is uncertain although I would expect the price to be more than the alternative.

 

[pixel_junkie]

Subscribing, also interested.

 

[Autogot]

Go for rnrprof's crystal.
The best quality for resonable price!

 

[Sultan Brunei]

Maybe you are referring to Rolex watches than Panerai watches as PAMs are known to have AR coating applied on the inside of the crystal (not to mention most PAM reps like their gen counterparts mostly have sapphire crystals instead of mineral crystals). The color of the AR coating has even been notoriously inconsistent before with bluish to purplish hues even for the same model over the years. However most of the PAMs now use colorless AR, which is also what the current crop of PAM reps use.

To the OP, I definitely agree that a gen crystal would be better than the rep crystal but it is not as night and day as you would imagine. I have compared rep PAMs to gen ones owned by friends side by side and I do say it's close. Closer than where PAM reps were maybe 3-5 years ago. Also, it is a value proposition and given the choice, I am with @nalomb here and would rather go with an aftermarket AR like rnrprof's applied on the rep crystal or a WSO crystal. Gen crystals are probably available on Risti but I have not checked their marketplace so availability is uncertain although I would expect the price to be more than the alternative.

what is WSO crystal? never heard of it...
where's rnrprof located? I always wanted to send him my crystals however I'm concerned where to put my crystal-less watch while I sent to crystal to him?

 

[Tucker]

what is WSO crystal? never heard of it...
where's rnrprof located? I always wanted to send him my crystals however I'm concerned where to put my crystal-less watch while I sent to crystal to him?

He’s in Colorado.

 

[mysterio]

what is WSO crystal? never heard of it...
where's rnrprof located? I always wanted to send him my crystals however I'm concerned where to put my crystal-less watch while I sent to crystal to him?

WSO = wholesaleoutlet990, ebay seller. They've been used by modders like marlin2284 for their watch builds.

 

[Sultan Brunei]

WSO = wholesaleoutlet990, ebay seller. They've been used by modders like marlin2284 for their watch builds.

He said in the description at eBay, his crystal is AR applied, and same quality with original.
Question is,
1. How's his AR quality compared to standard rep AR quality? (seeing many person consider rep AR is as good as genuine AR)
2. How''s his AR compared to rnrprof's legendary AR?

 

[mysterio]

He said in the description at eBay, his crystal is AR applied, and same quality with original.
Question is,
1. How's his AR quality compared to standard rep AR quality? (seeing many person consider rep AR is as good as genuine AR)
2. How''s his AR compared to rnrprof's legendary AR?

Here's a Marlin2284 PAM127 with the WSO crystal which just sold recently. Another feature of the WSO crystal is the minimal distortion like gen, which has nothing to do with the AR but the shape of the crystal itself.

I have never seen a PAM127 with prof's double AR crystal. Maybe @rnrprof has one.

 

[Tucker]

@mysterio What about a crystal replacement for a 243? WSO doesn’t identify any of the ones that they are selling as a direct replacement for the 243. The cyclops on the gen crystal isn’t all that great but it is better than the rep. The distorted cyclops on the rep is really bad.

 

[Zulu44gmt]

what is WSO crystal? never heard of it...
where's rnrprof located? I always wanted to send him my crystals however I'm concerned where to put my crystal-less watch while I sent to crystal to him?

A few months ago I purchased a pam 111 lens from prof- he had them stock - another option he gave me at the time was send him the watch and he would have installed it for a fee.

You’ll need a press to reinstall and maybe anew gasket.


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