{*PCTeam*} PAM 359v3 from Perfect Clones review

[PolonusTM]

OK, now it is third release of infamous pam 359 rep. I was hesitated on previous releases since problems with AR and lume were just too much for me but decided to order this one since these problems are corrected. I don't know who is the maker, Joshua (Perfect Clones) wrote me it was from "another maker". Since there were several great reviews of previous releases of this rep on RepGeek or RWI, I will focus on differences or "what are details of this release".

New things:
- 28k(!) Asian 7750
- AR sapphire
- very good lume (not superlume though)
- new QR buttons

Pros:
- AR almost on par with H-factory AR on their Panerai reps
- lume is quite strong, let's say 3/4 of original Luminova power. Definitely You can stay with it without modding.
- very nice casework - high quality polished case
- new-quality quick release buttons on lugs (said to be of much better quality than in previous releases)
- better cut outs in dial (sharp edges of arabic numbers), no signs of numbers being punched as on previous versions
- good quality of CG machining quality with a nice "snap" when closing albeit wrong shapes when comparing with gen
- lime of hands and arabic numbers matches (when not active - in daylight)
- very nice, polished QR lug bars
- correctly engraved caseback in every aspect
- QR button centered on lugs as per gen

Cons:
- a bit wrong CG shape with lever tip too far from case
- too thin fonts on date wheel (I've been told it was chosen like that due to different thickness of 28k 7750... I don't have my own opinion about the reason)
- arabic digits on dial are too close to dial's edge due to seconds pin on 7750, which is placed a bit more to the edge than on in-house P.9000. So the maker moved all numbers outwards…
- tiny engravings on P.9000-like rotor
- holes in lugs a bit too close to the edge (as on previous replications)

Overall, after reading details about previous version of this replication, with weak AR, weak lume, weak QR buttons and so on - I must say I am quite happy with this one. The only thing really bothering me is wrong date wheel font. Since original strap is too short for me I put the watch on a custom strap I ordered months ago - and now it is a looker! I just need better date wheel... If I will still love the look of this watch after my own period of tests (about two months) - the hunt for gen will begin.

Now to the photos:

Engravings from various points of view:

Rep CG inner shape is just smooth curve:

while in gen (and previous rep of this watch) the inner shape is rather two edges meeting in one point. This is gen:

Shape of lever tip is different, too.

AR quality 359v3 vs H-factory PAM 005:

And two movies:

Pam359v3 - YouTube


and lume:

Pam359lume - YouTube

 

[Craig88]

Great review. Thanks for taking the time to do it. Def one of the best looking pams..

 

[Xman]

Looks great! Yes a few flaws but the best so far! Might have to give this a try

 

[Bonesey]

Definitely looks like a few minor upgrades from the V2 I had. Looks nice.

 

[JellyJoe]

Thanks a lot for the nice review and awesome pics, now I want another watch

:realmad:

 

[mykeos]

I also got mine a few days ago from Andrew.I must say it look great,really classy.I absolutely agree with PolonusTM regarding the date font.The thin numbers came to me as a surprise since puretime.co mentions thicker font as one of the updates in v3 and they even sell the improved datewheel separately.Now I don't know whether the versions from both sellers differ or..?

 

[PolonusTM]

Joshua told me it was yet another maker of this watch (so telling V3 is not exact description). I got the answer that they tried to support two attributes of gen date font:
- beveled
- bold

and they hit the rock since too bold font was too beveled at the same time. I replied that I really don't care about all that "beveled" stuff, just want this font to be of correct shape and color. We will see next version I suppose

 

[MMs]

saw this gen for sale at my local Costco for 7800.

 

[Rwolf]

Thanks for share. Looks very good imho. Nice quality.

 

[frigpig]

Nice job on that review!

 

[ALE7575]

Thanks Polonus for this good and interesting review

Of course it seems this is a new step for this replica watch PAM 359
We all have been able to admire the beauty of this watch by your fantastic pics.

I'm very busy at work nowadays. When I have time I will include this review and link in the PAM GUIDE with some comments.
Thanks again my friend

ALE

 

[nielsen]

Great review. Thanks very much.

 

[stonesix]

Great review PolonusTM. Thanks.

So has your hunt for the Gen begin?

 

[Whiteangel1974]

Hi, the hands and dial have different tone. Is the gen same?

 

[dhz]

Thanks a lot for the nice review and awesome pics, now I want another watch

:realmad:

:rofl: :arghh: :arghh: :arghh:

I'm right there with you.

 

[Spoon75]

I love the strap. Where did you get it, if I can ask?

 

[amoliying]

That's mine

 

[mysterio]

Can a correctly colored datewheel, say from Angus, be installed on the V3?

http://www.puretime.co/product/pam359-m-dw-v1-to-v3-upgrade/

 

[kaniel]

Nice review! Thanks for sharing.


It looks much better than the V1 I used to have. But still some flaws.

The movement on all these PAMs (312, 328, 359..) it's a pitty..

 

[Perry]

LOOKS to me that the V3 returns to the flaws of the V1. Thicker bezel rim and crowded dial (numbers too close to the dial edge). V2 although it has a poorer movement is still the best choice from my vantage point. The main issue with all the Pam reps from this factory is a horribly reflective crystal. As close to looking into a mirror you can get! Suggest if your in the market for a 359 buy the V2 and send it out for a movement service and AR coating on the crystal.