Reps always have their issues. Over the years they have become less and less noticeable. The Super Rep of 10 years ago is today's Canal street $40 knock off. We are now in a place where more than a few subtle nuances make the difference between a bad rep and a Super Rep. With that said, I've always been highly critical of V6F or KW. Generally in any watch they release, they will have some elements of amazing quality and some issues that echo back to a decade ago. Consistency is also an issue plagued by problems that appear from batch to batch, parts that mysteriously change shape and size, dirty movements with extra jewels floating around in cases, you name it, I've seen it. Unfortunately for the long awaited next generation of PAM024 subs the PAM024R is no exception to the rule.
When you first glance at the watch it looks GREAT! It has major potential.
Bezel shape and knurling: Particularly the shoulder which seemed far too square on the recent PAM024C, has been improved and is almost perfect on this watch
Bezel pips, numbers and pearl: Wow! nicely done.
Lug Shape: Seems greatly improved over the PAM024C
Hands: Most rep hands, even alot of hands from V6F have blunt tips, this is a dead giveaway for a rep. Gen Panerai hands have extremely sharp tips all the time every time. These hands from V6F might as well be gen. Shape is perfect and lume is outstanding.
The Weak PointsCG: This is the thing that kills the watch for me and makes it a low grade rep. It looks like they used the same CG body as the PAM024C and just swapped in a rollerball lever. Wow...This is nonsense, they just invented a new CG because they had extra parts. This is the kind of thing that you would never see from high end makers like Noob or SF. Terrible... no excuses...
Crystal: Although it is a great crystal in terms of quality, this looks just like the PAM024C crystal with strong blue AR. This is good for A-J Series but colorless AR starting being used in the mid-2000s
Cannon Pinion Cap: Sloppy, but not as sloppy as the PAM024C, so I guess this is an improvement
Dial: Specifically the sub dial. Too shallow and too many concentric circles. The rest of the dial is quite good.
When you first glance at the watch it looks GREAT! It has major potential.
The Strong Points
Mid Case Finsh: very nicely polished. No sharp edges or corners. Transpose this with the refreshed H Factory cases that came out last year, that looked great but had edges that were way too sharp. I applaude V6F for nailing this detail
Bezel shape and knurling: Particularly the shoulder which seemed far too square on the recent PAM024C, has been improved and is almost perfect on this watch
Bezel pips, numbers and pearl: Wow! nicely done.
Lug Shape: Seems greatly improved over the PAM024C
Hands: Most rep hands, even alot of hands from V6F have blunt tips, this is a dead giveaway for a rep. Gen Panerai hands have extremely sharp tips all the time every time. These hands from V6F might as well be gen. Shape is perfect and lume is outstanding.
The Weak Points
Crystal: Although it is a great crystal in terms of quality, this looks just like the PAM024C crystal with strong blue AR. This is good for A-J Series but colorless AR starting being used in the mid-2000s
Cannon Pinion Cap: Sloppy, but not as sloppy as the PAM024C, so I guess this is an improvement
Dial: Specifically the sub dial. Too shallow and too many concentric circles. The rest of the dial is quite good.
