{*PCTeam*} H-factory PAM 299N review

[PolonusTM]

After some absence (work work work) I am back New watch in my box - H-factory PAM 299N.

Well, Noob's PAM 299 K was available many months before, H-factory was quite quick to announce "me too" version of 299 but in N-series. And nothing happen…

It was just before Chinese New Year when pictures of H-factory PAM 299 popped out of nowhere on Perfect Clones website. I ordered it without waiting, even before full specification appeared on the site It's just me…

OK, to this small review:

The expectations were:
- newer version of 299 N-series. Comparing to K-series (as delivered in rep by Noob) this one has different dial (like PAM 104) with different arabic hours (thinner) and L SWISS MADE L under the 6.
- better CG without rounded internal corners that plagued previous H-factory releases
- better bracelet (official explanation for such a delay was "bracelets had to be produced again since there were flaws" and "these flaws are even existing in Noob's version" without being specific).

What was delivered?
- perfect sapphire with single AR as usual from H-factory
- very good lume as from H-factory
- not so sharp internal corners of CG but a tiny bit better than in previous releases
- VERY good bracelet. Really. This thing screams GEN all the way! With mirror-like facets of links as per gen.
- a bit deeper engravings on caseback than usual
- nice, thin edge of crown, as per gen
- correct CG lever tip shape
- a bit too round top of CP, not as per gen but not annoying

Head watch in OK, keeps great time etc.
The bracelet is the killer. Really. Panerai itself explained that their new bracelet was a design exercise in having a feeling of the watch on a strap. And, by experiencing just this rep - they delivered!

Gen:

Rep:

And, as usual, close up video (720p) to observe all these nice details:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VwC7dVircY

 

[intheshadows]

Nice video, and nice watch.

The bracelet really does look nice, very tempting

 

[bee23]

Nice looking watch, the bracelet is superb

 

[ALE7575]

Thanks Polonus
Very useful review as always

Do you know about differences of quality with the Noob K-series version.

Could we say this H maker is a Super replica?
Now, it is pending to upgrade to Super rep.
Thanks

ALE

BTW: Included this link in PAM GUIDE

 

[d4m.test]

Had the noob which is an older version. It was a very accurate rep. I think the dial was slightly better than on this version.

 

[PolonusTM]

What was better on Noob's dial?

 

[Rwolf]

the bracelet is very nice!

 

[ALE7575]

The sec circle should not be reflecting light like that, gen has a more matte finish to it. Unless the newer version is different.

Komodo1- The sec circle should not be reflecting light like that, gen has a more matte finish to it. Unless the newer version is different


Sorry I have deleted Komodo's post due to a mistake

Really sorry

ALE

 

[ALE7575]

Komodo1- The sec circle should not be reflecting light like that, gen has a more matte finish to it. Unless the newer version is different

It seems that gen has not concentric circles or concentricc brushing like the replica has.
Please Polonus give your opinion !
That would be a serious flaw

I observe thinner date wheel font and little wrong R on inscriptions

ALE

 

[PolonusTM]

Good catch. Already reported it to Joshua, will quote his reply here.

 

[mysterio]

It seems that gen has not concentric circles or concentricc brushing like the replica has.
Please Polonus give your opinion !
That would be a serious flaw

I observe thinner date wheel font and little wrong R on inscriptions

ALE

That's like the 243 sub dial issue.

 

[PolonusTM]

Hmm... seems Joshua is quite sure. Quote:
"I will bringing a gen over for side by side comparison in 2 weeks .. I will advise further ..."

So we will see...

About the date font: I just took this with my iPhone:

I think it is correct - just a play of optics.

 

[ALE7575]

Hmm... seems Joshua is quite sure. Quote:
"I will bringing a gen over for side by side comparison in 2 weeks .. I will advise further ..."

So we will see...

About the date font: I just took this with my iPhone:

I think it is correct - just a play of optics.

Thanks Polonus for your comments and consults to Joshua

We will wait for Joshua reply

Concerning Date Font it seems really good in this pic.

ALE

 

[PolonusTM]

Anyway, looks like the flaw with seconds subdial is real one. H-factory believed "299 is like 104 on bracelet" without any grain of salt... The dials look almost the same BUT 299 doesn't have any circular brushings on subdial.

This flaw is quite difficult to spot without macro distance to the watch but it's a flaw anyway.

Who knows, maybe Joshua really has an access to a gen 299 n-series with this kind of subdial... little variations during production is nothing new for Panerai.

 

[ALE7575]

Anyway, looks like the flaw with seconds subdial is real one. H-factory believed "299 is like 104 on bracelet" without any grain of salt... The dials look almost the same BUT 299 doesn't have any circular brushings on subdial.

This flaw is quite difficult to spot without macro distance to the watch but it's a flaw anyway.

Who knows, maybe Joshua really has an access to a gen 299 n-series with this kind of subdial... little variations during production is nothing new for Panerai.

Yes I agree and maybe there are some watches gen 299 with circles. I have tried to find pics yesterday without success but it is possible
Pics of gen PAM 299 N-series with concentric sub-dial circles would be very appreciated.
I would want to confirm it before announcing it in PAM GUIDE
Thanks for your cooperation

ALE

 

[mysterio]

Tried to search, even widened it to include non-N series but so far all I'm getting are subdials without the concentric circles.

 

[PolonusTM]

I am quite sure subdials on 299 were always flat, just recessed. I will alarm them to avoid that shortcut (104 -> 299) in the future, with 297. 297 have flat subdial, too.

But I still like the watch now it is custom made hah Bespoke

 

[ALE7575]

Komodo1- The sec circle should not be reflecting light like that, gen has a more matte finish to it. Unless the newer version is different


Sorry I have deleted Komodo's post due to a mistake

Really sorry

ALE

THANKS Komodo1 spotting this flaw. You have been very useful

Well, it seems that this PAM 299 N-series form H maker is a very good watch and even a very good replica with an impressive presence and very good bracelet, but has the issue of concentric circles in subdial @9.

Therefore... to be correctet by H maker...

ALE

 

[PolonusTM]

Whoa! The gods of reps are willing to provide evidence I met a nice German guy having a training in our company today and he sported gen PAM 299N in late 600's serial. And guess what? CIRCLES! Not so visible as on the H-factory rep but definitely visible, especially when the guy entered sunshine. I had the gen in hand for a second, luckily having H-factory 005 on my wrist to avoid direct comparison.

Circles on the gen PAM 299N as seen in Paris last week were much less pronounced but it's serial was in 200's so maybe different batch. Now I like my H-fac 299n much more again

 

[ALE7575]

Whoa! The gods of reps are willing to provide evidence I met a nice German guy having a training in our company today and he sported gen PAM 299N in late 600's serial. And guess what? CIRCLES! Not so visible as on the H-factory rep but definitely visible, especially when the guy entered sunshine. I had the gen in hand for a second, luckily having H-factory 005 on my wrist to avoid direct comparison.

Circles on the gen PAM 299N as seen in Paris last week were much less pronounced but it's serial was in 200's so maybe different batch. Now I like my H-fac 299n much more again

Thanks Polonus and good chance to see that
It is possible that gens have different look depending on batches, for the same reasons as replica have.

I will include your two observations in PAM GUIDE

ALE