Saw a gen PAM029 today...argh!

[alfajor]

Hello guys,

Visited the local Panerai dealer today for a couple of straps for my recently acquired 029 and 111.
This guys have a used watch section where I saw a mint PAM 029 M for sale (they didn't let me take pics for security reasons ???)
I inspected this beauty for a few minutes and let me say that under my inexperienced eyes, my Noob 029 v2 looks almost identical to this gen, it has the same build quality, case, tux dial, crown guard, engravings, finish, weight, feel, etc , very very close to the real thing.

My one and only but huge disappointment was the color of the numbers and markers, they looked way too different from my rep. Gen markers are of a subtle mix of light green and cream color, Rep markers seem to be much more green, some kind of goofy neon lime green, all the time, under any light, even uncharged.

I can't tell how many times I've used ALE's guide, I honestly respect his fantastic work and opinions, but I think it should be noted that later batches of this rep are way too green, I don't know why, but it's a dead give away, very noticeable flaw, a relume will make a big difference and bring the 029 to a super douper rep status, but for now, this is no -out of the box- best PAM replica.

On a side note, I didn't notice a difference between my 111 rep and the gen. I ended buying an OEM strap only for the 111, it really deserves it, what a great replica!


My 029, lume uncharged





029 gen , not my pic.

 

[Thrasher]

Yep I was just looking at my BK 029 that's maybe 8 months old and its not as pronounced as yours but still its the same but lighter and no cream to be seen. I think yours is glowing a bit so that makes it seem worse

 

[Aluminum]

How much are the straps?

 

[lmmo]

In your 029 the CG pin is also a tell (compare it to the one on the gen picture), but easier to fix than the lume

 

[Natas78]

How much are the straps?

A new OEM strap is about 300 - 400 EUR, depending on the type of leather used, and the size I believe, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[alfajor]

How much are the straps?

Paid US$280 for a Monte Carlo gold calf strap.

In your 029 the CG pin is also a tell (compare it to the one on the gen picture), but easier to fix than the lume

hmm, your right, think I can live with any other flaw but the neon lime green markers, huge tell 15 feet away.

 

[ALE7575]

Many thanks alfajor for your comments and observations

As far as I know gen lume is greenish like rep lume. We cannot bear in mind an used watch (unknown origin) to make a comparison and less making a decision.
Rep lume usually is very strong, and in some conditions, if it is a bit charged, can even increase the greenish colour of the lume

I have NO trusted news about this difference of colour

Thanks again
ALE

 

[dood]

Are you certain yours is a V2? I remember reading somewhere that one of the V2 improvements was correcting the lume color to the creamy yellow-green.

The pictures BK has in his product offering pictures seem to have the correct color:

http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/...fering-Noobfactory-PAM029-with-Swiss-Movement

 

[alfajor]

Are you certain yours is a V2? I remember reading somewhere that one of the V2 improvements was correcting the lume color to the creamy yellow-green.

The pictures BK has in his product offering pictures seem to have the correct color:

http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/...fering-Noobfactory-PAM029-with-Swiss-Movement

Mine is a recently delivered Nood V2 and I wish it looked like the one on the link above.
As I said before, IMO the latest 029 batch has the wrong lume color. (Exactly like your QC pics)
Already sent it to VAC for a full lume job, will post pics when I get it back.

 

[dood]

Already sent it to VAC for a full lume job, will post pics when I get it back.

Please do!

Not going to reject the watch for wrong lume color if there's a good possibility the whole batch is like that and they will all be the same. Will probably end up doing what you did and send it off for a re-lume, so really interested to see the results.

 

[dood]

I got my 029 and have been wearing it for a week.

To me, the color of the lume changes color depending on the lighting. In some lighting it looks creamy light yellow. In other lighting it looks incredible hulk green.

I'm having a really hard time capturing it with my cell phone camera but you can sort of see in this picture how it is more yellowish between 9:00 and 3:00 in the direct sun where there is no shadow. Then just before 12:00 where there is a shadow the hue starts to look more lime green (compare the 12 marker with the 6 marker)

And in different lighting with a different camera setting looks almost white.

Not sure if I'm going to bother with a relume. In some lighting it looks completely accurate and in other lighting it looks neon green. Possible that gen has the same characteristics.

 

[Papi]

How much was the used gen you saw? Just curious...

 

[alfajor]

How much was the used gen you saw? Just curious...

$6,000

 

[alfajor]

The Rep lume is completely wrong. Gen lume glows brightly all the time in a very subtle green color on all light conditions. I guess the reason that the rep 029 has this goofy neon green lume color is to imitate the effect of the dial lume being constantly glowing.

I sent mine to VAC for a full relume and service and he did a fantastic job, lume color and intensity indoors/outdoors is spot on.
Bought an OE Monte Carlo gold strap and it looks great.

 

[Maraach]

I don't think it's just this watch, I've noticed the same with my kW pam 321. As you said it's a dead give away because it's always bright green. Perhaps it's the type of superlume the factories are using nowadays. I'll be posting a full review of gen vs kW vs ZF soon for reference pics.

 

[blass12]

Anyone with a newer batch of the 029? Has the green lume changed at all or is it still the same?