Yet another Pre-V build:
- SD 5218-203/A -
- SD 5218-203/A -
The Panerai 5218-203/A model followed closely the release of the first Pre-Vendome models 201/A and 202/A, released in 1993. Differently than previous models this watch had a seconds subdial at 9 o'clock.
According to Paneristi millesimation datbase 200 watches were produced with this reference in 1994.
This is surely one of the most famous Panerai, the one that has been on Sly's wrist in Rambo and on Arnie's wrist in Eraser movies.
The legend says Stallone, while in Italy for the movie Daylight, saw a Panerai and fell in love it. He wanted to wear one during the movie recordings, and asked Officine Panerai to make a few watches for him and his friends that were named SLYTECH after him. In the following years this lead to some glorious models like the 205/A, 207/A, 218/A and others.
This is the watch that started the legend.
Original advertising:
For this build I had the opportunity to reach out to one of the few 203/A dials made by Steph Dexter, possibly the last one around. It is a great dial, with beautiful rich color of indices and numbers, good resin application and even better printing than his 202/A dial. The font is still not thin enough though, but has a slight serif.
Apart from that, depth of indices, color, shape of numbers are amazing, just look at that "12", essentially perfect.
SD
GEN
Just like with my 202/A I decided to use a Davidsen case set.
Although not perfect, I am still convinced it's a very good shaped and finished case for a reasonably priced Pre-V build. Of course, the best option is having a noob case reshaped and then custom PVD coated, but that would raise the cost of the build sky high and I need to keep things as low-budget as possible.
As a matter of fact the only thing I can complain about this case is the DLC coating being too gray and too matte. It does look great under certain light conditions, but most of the time it's plain lighter colored compared to a gen case.
Crownguard is universally known to be the best available, DSN's new sapphire has an impressive clarity, casebacks are noticeably improved: thickness is now correct, engravings are crisp (although some fonts are still off, but I think in some batches this has been corrected), hands are the best available option afaik.
After seeing these pics on a website I decided to go for a similar look, worn but not as "beaten to hell" as this one. You can see here how the coating has faded over the years leaving a shiny gunmetal look, besides I do really like the effect on most of the edges where the coating is completely gone: they outline the shapes of the case very nicely imho.
I worked the coating with a semi-fine sandpaper with the purpose of giving it some shine without making it too light.
I think the result is acceptable, but let me know what you think about it.
Finally, I wanted to try Grimlocktime's tip on burnishing the CG pin after the radial brushing. It worked a charm, thanks Grim!
Parts used for the build:
- DSN case re-worked by me
- DSN new No-AR crystal
- DSN crownguard re-worked by me
- DSN case back
- Asian 6497 movement with swiss CP + HW. Cannon pinion flattened and polished by me
- DSN hands
- Orloff vacchetta Pre-V strap in "noce" color
That's all for now, hope you enjoyed the pics
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