I've put this off for a couple of days, but here's the review of the PAM 089 that I just picked up from Davidsen. First, let me say that the communication was perfect...well, more perfect on his end than mine. With DSN no longer accepting PayPal, I decided to set up a moneybookers account. I couldn't seem to master the sketchy website, so I sent DSN another email requesting payment via Moneygram instructions. That one was a winner! Only $10 at my nearby Wal-Mart. Fairly painless.
Received an email, after sending him the confirmation number, within 12 hours stating that he would be shipping in the next day or two. Great. 24 hours later, another email stating that the watch had shipped and with EMS tracking number.
Now the wait was on. But not for long. Had my lazy ass walked out to get the mail Saturday, I would have realized that I had a missed delivery notice from USPS. This was only 4 days after shipping from China to Indiana! Sadly, I got the note on Sunday and pouted. Monday, first chance (lunch time) I shot over to the post office and picked up the watch.
Care had clearly been taken when packaging the shipment. The watch was within bubble wrap, within an inner box, within bubble wrap, within an outer box, within a shipping envelope. Very nice. After tearing the mess apart, I found TWO rep straps (thank you David San!), both with Ti logo buckles, and a beautiful watch head. I really like the rubber strap, and the 24mm buckle is on the other strap I picked up for this 089 from Panatime (also another pleasure to do business with!!). Oh yeah, and the watch was extremely impressive, as well.
Care had been taken with the lume and the dial was flawless.
The watch functions perfectly. The cyclops looks good IMO, but honestly, I'm not sure I'd know a bad one. The date font fills the window as I understand the gen does as well. The bezel has been improved and looks remarkably genuine. The second sweep is perfectly smooth. The GMT hand sets perfectly, jumping in 1 hour increments. And the watch keeps Impressive time. David must truly regulate his watches, as claimed, because this watch is within 0.5 seconds after 24 hours. It might even be deadnuts and the 0.5 was just my eyes jumping from the atomic clock readout to the watch. I assume the watch to be sealed and leakproof, as claimed, but I haven't checked. Let's face it, I'm not gonna jump in a pool with the leather strap anyway, so as long as it holds up to rigorous handwashing, than I'm good.
I won't say there weren't cons. There's a couple "scratches" at 1 o'clock on the bezel and just below the bezel. I say scratches, but they actually look more like the brushed effect was just polished in that area. There are a couple of light scratches on the caseback, but very light. Hell, this watch is supposed to be from 2002, so they certainly don't bother me. Finally, again, the caseback. It is acid etched vs. engraved, but still looks good.
So, for me, the good vs. bad ratio works out to be 97/3.
OK, I'll shut up and give you what you really came for:
Received an email, after sending him the confirmation number, within 12 hours stating that he would be shipping in the next day or two. Great. 24 hours later, another email stating that the watch had shipped and with EMS tracking number.
Now the wait was on. But not for long. Had my lazy ass walked out to get the mail Saturday, I would have realized that I had a missed delivery notice from USPS. This was only 4 days after shipping from China to Indiana! Sadly, I got the note on Sunday and pouted. Monday, first chance (lunch time) I shot over to the post office and picked up the watch.
Care had clearly been taken when packaging the shipment. The watch was within bubble wrap, within an inner box, within bubble wrap, within an outer box, within a shipping envelope. Very nice. After tearing the mess apart, I found TWO rep straps (thank you David San!), both with Ti logo buckles, and a beautiful watch head. I really like the rubber strap, and the 24mm buckle is on the other strap I picked up for this 089 from Panatime (also another pleasure to do business with!!). Oh yeah, and the watch was extremely impressive, as well.
Care had been taken with the lume and the dial was flawless.The watch functions perfectly. The cyclops looks good IMO, but honestly, I'm not sure I'd know a bad one. The date font fills the window as I understand the gen does as well. The bezel has been improved and looks remarkably genuine. The second sweep is perfectly smooth. The GMT hand sets perfectly, jumping in 1 hour increments. And the watch keeps Impressive time. David must truly regulate his watches, as claimed, because this watch is within 0.5 seconds after 24 hours. It might even be deadnuts and the 0.5 was just my eyes jumping from the atomic clock readout to the watch. I assume the watch to be sealed and leakproof, as claimed, but I haven't checked. Let's face it, I'm not gonna jump in a pool with the leather strap anyway, so as long as it holds up to rigorous handwashing, than I'm good.
I won't say there weren't cons. There's a couple "scratches" at 1 o'clock on the bezel and just below the bezel. I say scratches, but they actually look more like the brushed effect was just polished in that area. There are a couple of light scratches on the caseback, but very light. Hell, this watch is supposed to be from 2002, so they certainly don't bother me. Finally, again, the caseback. It is acid etched vs. engraved, but still looks good.
So, for me, the good vs. bad ratio works out to be 97/3.
OK, I'll shut up and give you what you really came for:
