So this is what, the fourth? :lmao: I worry that you guys would be tired of reading reviews from me by now. But I'm sure there is at least one member who could still find this review interesting and heck, maybe even helpful, so I hope you'd find this one or the other. 
So here goes my review of the...
The PAM389 was first released in 2012 and is still currently in production (although it is expected to cease production once the PAM1389 has been released, as per the standard OP strategy). It is a 47mm Submersible with a full titanium construction, making it very wearable for a 47mm watch, as such with similarly constructed submersibles. It has the added feature of the ceramic insert on the bezel which gave the watch a much needed contrast with the monotone appearance of the brushed titanium finish. It was fortunate to have come out with the important milestone of the P.9000 decorative plated movement in the same year for replicas. Although that point was an academic issue since the PAM389 had the closed caseback, thereby hiding any inaccuracies with the balance wheel @6 for the Seagull ST2555 based movement and @11 for the A7750 based watch. The rep's release was received well, with many calling it a super rep, without considering the lack of any gen P.9000 functions. Fast forward to a few months ago with VSF and then XF coming out with the newly modified P.9000 movement with the balance wheel @7, same as gen, first with the PAM441, VSF's initial outing, with the PAM312 and the PAM359 coming in several weeks later. It was inevitable that all reps using the P.9000 based movements especially those with open casebacks at least, would be receiving this upgrade. Along with the replica of the newly announced PAM1389, XF also will be releasing the PAM389 which is the version that I will be reviewing right now. I am debating whether to review watches that have not been released officially yet (although I did preview the original PAM682 which had the wrong lume, which was relayed to XF and subsequently corrected prior to release). Also this is not a new watch, just an updated one to have the new P.9000 movement clone.
Edit:
The watch I was provided photos of isn't using the P.9000 movement but a Seagull ST2555 like the previous generation. But we'll proceed with the review with what we got.
Crown and crown guard - Usual good quality, with the slight chamfers at the sides of the half-moon shape, same as gen. REG T.M. engraving is where it should be and font is correct. Crown is thick as it should be, no skinny crowns here. CG pin is stainless steel as it is on the gen and contrasts nicely with the titanium crown guard. Lever tip has the correct shape,
Dial - Stick markers all around with larger single stick marker @6 and double stick markers @12. Date window @3 and seconds subdial @9. You may see a different image on the Panerai website where the font is noticeably thicker and more patinated (brownish). I believe this is for the later years as I've checked other O-series gen PAM389s and they all have the thinner and closer to white font for the LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE text. The Amagnetic text is still a light gray.
Bezel - Bezel has the nice matte ceramic insert. The bezel minute markers from 0-15 are sharp and legible and the circular hour markers just slightly protruding from the ceramic insert.
Bezel pearl is flat like on the gen but it seems to be sunk a bit deeper than on the gen.
Bezel chamfer is nicely done, very smooth and polished. Bezel teeth are well defined.
Case - Well done case, brushed titanium with short lugs which is expected for a watch with the P.9000 based movement. The case has already reacted to the environment which is why the titanium case looks darker.
You can also see that there is a chamfer on both top and bottom sides of the bezel.
Caseback - The usual engravings on the caseback, with the correct millesimation (I have seen the incorrect 800 on SF, versus the correct 1000 for O series PAM389).
Movement -Nothing surprising here, with the P.9000 updated movement installed. The movement used is the Seagull ST2555. Not accurate for the P.9000 movement but since this is a closed caseback model, it's not that critical (although it does mean this particular rep is cheaper than the usual A7750 based version).
Lume - Also nothing surprising but you can see the lume is all green (as to be expected on a current model, the PAM1389 in comparison has dual lume).
In conclusion, the XF PAM389 is every bit as good, if not better than its sister factory's release several months earlier, even though this particular watch still does not use the P.9000 movement (it may still come out later). If you haven't gotten a PAM389 yet and are thinking about it, this is a very good time to get one.
Thanks for looking!
So here goes my review of the...Luminor 1950 Submersible 3 Days Automatic PAM 389
The PAM389 was first released in 2012 and is still currently in production (although it is expected to cease production once the PAM1389 has been released, as per the standard OP strategy). It is a 47mm Submersible with a full titanium construction, making it very wearable for a 47mm watch, as such with similarly constructed submersibles. It has the added feature of the ceramic insert on the bezel which gave the watch a much needed contrast with the monotone appearance of the brushed titanium finish. It was fortunate to have come out with the important milestone of the P.9000 decorative plated movement in the same year for replicas. Although that point was an academic issue since the PAM389 had the closed caseback, thereby hiding any inaccuracies with the balance wheel @6 for the Seagull ST2555 based movement and @11 for the A7750 based watch. The rep's release was received well, with many calling it a super rep, without considering the lack of any gen P.9000 functions. Fast forward to a few months ago with VSF and then XF coming out with the newly modified P.9000 movement with the balance wheel @7, same as gen, first with the PAM441, VSF's initial outing, with the PAM312 and the PAM359 coming in several weeks later. It was inevitable that all reps using the P.9000 based movements especially those with open casebacks at least, would be receiving this upgrade. Along with the replica of the newly announced PAM1389, XF also will be releasing the PAM389 which is the version that I will be reviewing right now. I am debating whether to review watches that have not been released officially yet (although I did preview the original PAM682 which had the wrong lume, which was relayed to XF and subsequently corrected prior to release). Also this is not a new watch, just an updated one to have the new P.9000 movement clone.
Edit:
The watch I was provided photos of isn't using the P.9000 movement but a Seagull ST2555 like the previous generation. But we'll proceed with the review with what we got.
Crown and crown guard - Usual good quality, with the slight chamfers at the sides of the half-moon shape, same as gen. REG T.M. engraving is where it should be and font is correct. Crown is thick as it should be, no skinny crowns here. CG pin is stainless steel as it is on the gen and contrasts nicely with the titanium crown guard. Lever tip has the correct shape,
Dial - Stick markers all around with larger single stick marker @6 and double stick markers @12. Date window @3 and seconds subdial @9. You may see a different image on the Panerai website where the font is noticeably thicker and more patinated (brownish). I believe this is for the later years as I've checked other O-series gen PAM389s and they all have the thinner and closer to white font for the LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE text. The Amagnetic text is still a light gray.
Bezel - Bezel has the nice matte ceramic insert. The bezel minute markers from 0-15 are sharp and legible and the circular hour markers just slightly protruding from the ceramic insert.
Bezel pearl is flat like on the gen but it seems to be sunk a bit deeper than on the gen.
Bezel chamfer is nicely done, very smooth and polished. Bezel teeth are well defined.
Case - Well done case, brushed titanium with short lugs which is expected for a watch with the P.9000 based movement. The case has already reacted to the environment which is why the titanium case looks darker.
Caseback - The usual engravings on the caseback, with the correct millesimation (I have seen the incorrect 800 on SF, versus the correct 1000 for O series PAM389).
Movement -
Lume - Also nothing surprising but you can see the lume is all green (as to be expected on a current model, the PAM1389 in comparison has dual lume).
In conclusion, the XF PAM389 is every bit as good, if not better than its sister factory's release several months earlier, even though this particular watch still does not use the P.9000 movement (it may still come out later). If you haven't gotten a PAM389 yet and are thinking about it, this is a very good time to get one.
Thanks for looking!
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