Panerai gen or rep?

[the_don_robinson]

So its going to a big year for me soon, 30th birthday and getting married...
... Have always wanted a gen pam but now I found this place I'm torn!

I love my 111n and the 112 I have... the question is should I get a gen of either model?
I like the sandwhich dials, kind of think no date as I like to rotate. However I suspect if I get a gen it will be my daily choice.

I know some of you will have hads the same dilemma... What did you decide?

 

[rotarycut]

Top up and get a gen 312/320.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Scarface]

104 ia also nice and can be considered and base you can go for a 005 due to its beautiful disal

 

[tats]

I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I can't see the reason to get a gen PAM if you are talking about one of the more base models.

After I got my 112 I fell in love with it and went right uptown to the try on gens with the intent of buying the real thing. If the rep was this good, the gen must be much better. You know what? They feel exactly the same. Maybe there are differences in how my movement looks or the CGs not being razor square, but the overall feel is the same.

Now if you wanted to get a Rolex Day Date I would agree that the gen feels like the real deal, but for the more basic PAMs it just isn't the case.

I couldn't bring myself to spend $6k on a manual wind watch that uses a variation of the same movement found in my $200 rep.

For the what most PAMs are it doesn't make sense to me. Just my 2 cents

 

[frigpig]

The only Gen Pam to get would be one with a in house Panerai movement in it. These can be had for just over 8k and are well worth it IMO.

 

[the_don_robinson]

312 is AWESOME! But that is probably out of my price range...! I had seen a base radiomir. But I totally see what you mean Tats... As always so much to consider! Will also check out those other models....

 

[ALE7575]

At the level of the current PAM replicas, if you want a gen PAM, I would buy a non copied model, and with a well visible "manifattura" movement. LOL
And for the copied models I would buy many Super reps.

Just my opinion
ALE

 

[AHX]

I've made this argument before. I've moved into the "Buy gen" camp, but I would never ever buy a genuine base PAM. The replicas, in my eyes, are honestly the same. You have tiny imperfections yes but once serviced, by feel, appearance and wear, as well as function, they are on par with genuine quality. In some cases, notably the PAM318, they actually literally surpassed genuine quality.

My rep PAM005 will get wrist time with gen Rolexes and Omegas one day.

 

[desert_fox]

I agree with the sentiment of buying a non-base gen Panerai. The super-reps of the simpler design PAMS are so damn close to the gens nowadays I would feel bad paying $5000+ for it. I say go for a gen PAM that has never been rep'd before. I've been in love with the PAM 74 for awhile now, and it carries no replicas. But that's only if 40MM cases do anything for you

 

[granvino]

The newest PAM reps from N factory and the 390 from H fac are just way tooo close to GEN quality to justify spending 20+ times the money on a Gen base model. The only ones I, sometimes, think about buying is a 002 or a 55 and that is just because as time goes by they become somewhat rare. In the meantime, I wear my reps to work and everywhere else and none of mine friends that own gens have ever said a word of doubt about them..... Ha!

 

[the_don_robinson]

Thanks all.

Gravino - why are these models becoming harder to come by?

 

[tats]

Don - one of the best things you can do is wear your 111 or 112, drive to an AD, take it off in the car and then try on a GEN. There is a big chance that with an aftermarket strap on your rep, it will feel BETTER than the gen.

Then take a look and really examine a gen - if you are like me you will be stumped trying to justify spending $5k on the same watch that is sitting in your car for $250.

I do agree with the others, get one of the in-house models but shy away from anything that has a "super rep" version.

 

[kfmcmahon]

The only Gen Pam to get would be one with a in house Panerai movement in it. These can be had for just over 8k and are well worth it IMO.

I agree.
The PAM reps are so good right now I would only go for one that has not been repped yet or one with an in house movement.
Sets you apart from the rest.
Believe it or not, PAM's are second only to Rolexes where I live...whether they be GEN or REP!

 

[granvino]

Don,
The last production year for both the 002 and the 55 was 2001. If you look at the aftermarket now, this models are very scarce. If you like base models, like I do, this are still at a reasonable price if you find one, compared to Pre V and Pre A watches.

 

[JeMuMue]

Don, this big events need a memorable item like a Gen watch. But - why dont you take both? Take a Gen with a manufacture movement which you cant get rep and take a 111 as a rep for the daily use! I have couple of Gens, started collecting 18 yrs ago, but since a while Im adding also some Reps as it just allows to complete the collection. Also - the super reps are that well made, you hardly can see a difference!

 

[Stromtrooper4]

Why anyone would consider dropping $5'+ on a 6497 based movement is ludicrous. Sorry to all you Gen owners but historic Panerai's have to be one of the biggest rip offs ever. The 7750 based autos aren't much better either. The new in house movement versions are IMHO the better option. But the best ones would be Special edition like the 105 - 108 AMG. Chrono or. Rad 078 , 246 or 067 now those have proper movements

 

[jmgentry]

I agree pocket the money buy super rep's unless you are getting an unusual as well as non-duplicated model.

You could buy 7 super reps for the cost of one base model GEN ...... guess the real question is do you want to wear one watch or many????

 

[diegosaenz]

I can't recall which forum I read about this. But there was a post on a Paneristi forum on how to tell a gen from a fake, there was literally the two, the color of the jewels and a screw on the movement.

One of the members there wrote "If these are the only differences then Panerai is ripping someone off."

So that is why I'm never getting a gen PAM.

 

[frankt8242]

Why would you pay THOUSANDS for >>>

A watch that you can buy for a few hundred..???
The main reason that Pam reps are so popular is because Pam gens are so ORDINARY and unsophisticated to begin with.....!!icard: