Short Review of Puretime's "Ultimate" Panerai 111E

[JOEJOEJOE]

I purchased this from Angus, who was very nice and professional throughout the transaction. Very quick delivery as well. I actually swapped out the caseback to make it a Pam 1B. This is an asian version of the "Ultimate" PAM 111E, but it's got a closed caseback, so noone will tell.

How good is this watch out of the box? It's really awesome, imo. But It does have flaws like all replicas.

EDIT: Wristshot added - (Scroll down for more)

Good:

1. FLAT CG Lever pin... it sits completely flush!! Pic:

2. It comes with polished CG, which is correct for this particular model. Well.. another pic of that beautiful CG:

3. CG Lever is brushed! (which is correct) Pic:

4. Very accurate standard rep dial with "L". much more accurate than sandwich 111 dial.

5. Thicker crown - well...

6. NO Recessed cannon pin

7. Correct 1B Caseback was delivered with the watch (30 dollar extra from Angus )

Bad:

1. Lume markers are greenish color. It's supposed to be more ivory-ish. This is a common problem for all standard rep dial. It's fixable however, through modders like Vaccum - the master of sausage dial lume. Pic of the flaw:

Next two aren't really flaws of 111E - but I bought this as a Pam 1B (which I am sure a lot of you are more interested in) - so for a Pam 1B, these are flaws.

2. Around the lug area, it has a little dimple - this is correct for Panerai 111E (I think), but I actually swapped out caseback to make it a Pam 1B... so it has the incorrect dimple.. Pic:

3. It has purple A/R coating. Well it's definitely wrong for Pam 1B (it shouldn't have A/R), but for Pam 111E, I believe it's supposed to be Blue.

4. Although it's nice and thick, the Crown is too stuck to the case... but at certain angles (from the left side obviously), it looks so gen, especially with the flush lever pin on the CG

Overall - I think this is one of the better and more accurate Pams out of the box and very few mods are needed to "perfect" it If you have this watch, please feel free to chime in~

Thanks for reading!!

Joe

 

[horologie_unitas]

Joe,
lets meet for a coffee....i need to have a look at your watches in person.
i bring mine, what you think ?

 

[taiji]

My very very old school PAM01B

Hi Joe,

I totally agree. The old school PAMs are really best made and need very little mods.

Here my PAM01B. I'm lucky that I found one of the very old school PAM01B during my trip to ShenZhen last year (probably the last piece). What I know is that this batch is no longer produced by the rep factory. they are indeed the best out of the box PAM reps.

I think the quality varied against different timing and batches

Mine comes with non-AR crystal, ivory white numerals ( Ithought it was incorrect at first), no recessed pin issue, Reasonable thick crown (I measured it before and it is 1.94mm thick almost same as gen), my crown do not stuck to the case but have a small portion of the stem reveal like the gen. Only set back is the CG with protruding pin (think I going to try filing it down to flush it) and the lume sucks. The bonus is mine has got the correct solid case back with the "B" production number engraved eg. B1700/3000.

Some pics

Sitting next to its borther PAM063 GMT

It is very hard to find the old school PAM reps now. If you ever find one in the sales section, grab it fast.

My next ambitious move will be swapping it with a lello's crown and get it lumed.

 

[jb]

Am I mistaken in thinking that a 111 should always have a sandwich dial?

 

[taiji]

@jb

Earlier gen PAM111 comes with sausage dial.

 

[jb]

@jb

Earlier gen PAM111 comes with sausage dial.

Thank you. :wink:

 

[azgjav]

it is worthwhile to age the dial and hands and remove the AR on the crystal. i did those mods on mine (in addition to a lello crown) and love the look..

didn't realise that the a/b series aren't supp to have the dimple on the case..it's useful tho. thanks for the info!

 

[sharpie12070]

Nice one Azgjav! that's very tastefully done. if you ever want to sell that one, please pm me in case you're not selling, care to share where did you source this from? thx

 

[drfcfighter]

So would "Vaclume" be the correct color for the 111E?

 

[JOEJOEJOE]

So would "Vaclume" be the correct color for the 111E?

yepyep He already did this mod for me twice on my 176 and 009B.

 

[babola]

Lume on gen 111E:

Also, the 'dimple' between the lugs is there, so 111E from Angus is correct in that respect.

A-D series didn't have the 'dimple'. Ive seen a gen PAM010D without it.

cheers,
babola

 

[JOEJOEJOE]

Some wrist shots and a pic of the caseback - Correct B series with random # as serial

 

[JOEJOEJOE]

it is worthwhile to age the dial and hands and remove the AR on the crystal. i did those mods on mine (in addition to a lello crown) and love the look..

didn't realise that the a/b series aren't supp to have the dimple on the case..it's useful tho. thanks for the info!

It looks really awesome~~ I probably won't age the dial on my Pam 1B, but if I had Pre-V Pams, I would definitely have the dials modded to look just like that.

Was removing AR hard? I am going to try to get that job done somehow...

 

[hooligan]

Joe, I spoke with Jack at IWW (http://www.angelfire.com/blues/andcamey ... tpage.html). He said that automotive rubbing compound (a fine abrasive paste for removing scratches, etc, from a car's paint) will work to remove AR coating.

When I finally get around to getting my 009/004/202A from DSN, I'm gonna give it a shot. :wink:

 

[skcheng]

it is worthwhile to age the dial and hands and remove the AR on the crystal. i did those mods on mine (in addition to a lello crown) and love the look..

didn't realise that the a/b series aren't supp to have the dimple on the case..it's useful tho. thanks for the info!

The ageing on the dial looks good if the it's a T Swiss T version of the 01B. Otherwise, if the dial is L Swiss L, you wouldn't see the darkening of the lume.

I've been trying to find a nice T Swiss T dial without much luck.

 

[JOEJOEJOE]

Joe, I spoke with Jack at IWW (http://www.angelfire.com/blues/andcamey ... tpage.html). He said that automotive rubbing compound (a fine abrasive paste for removing scratches, etc, from a car's paint) will work to remove AR coating.

When I finally get around to getting my 009/004/202A from DSN, I'm gonna give it a shot. :wink:

Please let me know the result - that sounds very cool.

I am also afraid that i wiill mess up the case (bezel area) when I open this baby up... I have absolutely zero hand-eye coordination haha... perhaps it's best to leave it for the modders

 

[babola]

I am also afraid that i wiill mess up the case (bezel area) when I open this baby up... I have absolutely zero hand-eye coordination haha... perhaps it's best to leave it for the modders

You're correct J,
the xtal will have to be removed from the bezel before starting to rub the A/R coat, otherwise you're running into possibility of polishing the inner bezel area, which is meant to be of brushed finish. If you haven't done it before, send it to someone who did.

cheers,
babola

 

[isji89]

USEFUL THANKS ALOT!!!

 

[MK08]

I just recieved mine from Angus 5 days from placing my order to reciept of watch (flawless transaction as always)! All I can say is WOW this thing really has great feel and finish the texture on the dial is awesome, the crown guard looks great (basically echoing Joe's review) The Asian 6497 looks good with engraving and dagger swan neck and is keeping excellent time. I do have to say the lume on the sausage markers on mine doesn't seem to be as green they match the hand color and to my eye look closer to the gen (not sure if it's just me or perhaps there is some variation from the factory, I'll try to post some pics as soon as I get a chance). That being said it immediately got mounted on a Toscana strap and it will be going off to Vacuum to mod the crown guard lever. But you really can't go wrong with this one it is a great choice and will be seeing alot of wrist time from me.

 

[drfcfighter]

I just recieved mine from Angus 5 days from to to reciept of watch (flawless transaction as always)! All I can say is WOW this thing really has great feel and finish the texture on the dial is awesome, the crown guard looks great (basically echoing Joe's review) The Asian 6497 looks good with engraving and dagger swan neck and is keeping excellent time. I do have to say the lume on the sausage markers on mine doesn't seem to be as green they match the hand color and to my eye look closer to the gen (not sure if it's just me or perhaps there is some variation from the factory, I'll try to post some pics as soon as I get a chance). That being said it immediately got mounted on a Toscana strap and it will be going off to Vacuum to mod the crown guard lever. But you really can't go wrong with this one it is a great choice and will be seeing alot of wrist time from me.

Does the CG lever lock tight? Did you just want the extra-tightness with vac?