Strap bar detent pin jumped out from case

[JackTheBear]

The saga continues on the Puretime 359M - Pushed the detent pin to remove the band bar and the pin jumped out and is probably on the moon. Very tiny part - I did recover the pin - but not the spring. Any suggestions except throw the watch in the trash and write it off as a good lesson?

Not getting any response from PureTime - but maybe they don't work on the weekends.

Hey, how do you all like my cereal box Pam strap. (photo 1) Genuine cardboard. I made this so I could get some leather and make MY OWN STRAP. I refuse to pay $175 US for a watch strap. I could by a leather coat for that much. I checked out a YouTube video on how to make a strap. I made my prototype out of cardboard. Went to change out the original, too small strap that came with the watch and BOIIIIING - out came the detent pin. I found the pin - ( photo 2) sitting on the original strap - that little silver part) but no spring. Could be in orbit around the earth for all I know. (photo 3) is where this part is supposed to be residing. I hope this will be my worse experience with a rep - all have been good till now. I am sad Puretime has not contacted me since I emailed Nikki and Angus yesterday trying to get a bigger band and had questions about the AR and lume. I suspect they rushed this production on this watch - Again, I don't blame Puretime - but they are going to hear from other folks I suspect.
Looks like that bar pin is press fit into the case - so I guess I will have to send it back and with no communication - I think I may be screwed. Do any of you have experience with getting lemons and sending them back to be corrected with Puretime. I don't have a clue what to do, but I am out $263, have a watch I can't wear because the band is too small and now has actually fallen apart in two days.

JackTheBear

OK OK - on the lighter side of things - what do you think I should sell my custom made cardboard cereal box watch bands for? I could use the cereal box of your choice. Since the leather bands can go for up to $250 - I would think these should go for at least $150 - after all, there is the same amount of work. ha Cheers JackTheBear

 

[OiRogers]

Give Angus some time... I emailed em yesterday about a different watch with no response yet. They've always come through for me.

with the button reaching orbit... Consider the 24mm spring bars made for Pams. I haven't had a Pam rep yet that had the new strap release mechanism, but just from looking at it... I expected to see this exact failure.

Certainly keep us posted on the resolution of this matter... I've got two of the new relase type Pams coming from Angus shortly and would be curious to see how this plays out.

 

[JackTheBear]

I sure will - It looks like these spring push pins on the new model Pams are a disaster waiting to happen. I saw on a couple of other B Boards this happens with the GEN Pams (can you imagine paying $9k for a watch and the band falls off because a 15 cent pin is a cheap piece of crap) and that Panerai used to have screws in the place where these push pins are now. Sure it makes for quick strap change BUT if these guys are just pressed in or glued in - the can pop out.

I am trying to make a spring for them. Took one out of a tire valve - but it had too much tension - will try to go to local gun shop and see if they have some 2 mm coil springs - If that doesn't work - I can get some from Wolff on line.

I need a 2mm coil spring - I still have the pin - but not the spring. I really don't know what it looks like. I don't think there is enough friction to hold the push pin in and I suspect it will have to be glued in. The trick will be not to get glue on the sliding part.
Maybe Angus took off for Easter - ha
Cheers
Jack T Bear
Not sure if I will trust it even if I fix it so where do I find the spring bars for Paneri - They will have to be some fat ones?

 

[OiRogers]

As I said, I don't have a pam case that uses this release method (yet...)... but check the 'bay for "Panerai 24mm Springbar" and you'll find springbars that are exact replacements to the old screw types... if a screw from another pam fits in there snuggly, the springbar will fit. It's as wide as the older screw + a tube on it.
I use the springbars on all my Pams now... depending on how they fit these cases, I may use them on the new Pams as well from day one out of the box.

 

[JackTheBear]

I got an email from Angus and Doris in QC and they said they were going to send me a replacement pin and spring. In the meantime I did order the 24mm spring bars for the 359m and will use them when they come. Got to admit, I don't trust the push pins and just want to make the watch whole and then insert spring bars. If it is any consolation - gens push pins have been popping out too. Perhaps they will go back to the screw in method of securing strap bars or plug the holes and just use quality spring bars. Thanks for all your assistance - RWI comes thru again JTB

 

[alistairw]

Had same problem, it's a real pain, in my case, lost the spring earlier in the day in my car - found using a strong magnet, then the little insert broke, whilest trying to change a band..so can't wear the watch now- bummer!
I've sent a note to Angus requesting a couple of springs and inserts, which I happily will pay for.
Anyone else with a 359M - be warned - you need to be very careful with this mechanism.

 

[JackTheBear]

Just got a response from Doris at the PureTime Customer Service Dept - Here is here latest response :

Many thanks for getting back to us. We just have a pin now, but don't have the spring. Is the pin ok for you? If you only need the pin, we can ship it to you immediately; if you need the spring as well, we have to ask the factory if we can get it. Pls let us know. Thanks.

Best regards,
Doris

So now for a mere $268.00 I have a nice paper weight. Don't order this watch unless you intend to scotch tape the pins in since you never know when they are going to let go. Not happy with this answer. Angus did not answer either. Probably won't order from PureTime again.
Cheers
JackTheBear

 

[OiRogers]

Did you reply and let Doris/Angus know you need the spring as well? They've always been good to me in the past... As noted above.

I just landed my 329L, same pin lock setup, going to epoxy the edges of the outer "sleeve" to the lug and hopefully leave the inner pin portion free to move.

Shame they made such a nice group of watches and have such a weak spot in the design.

 

[trailboss99]

Are they not just fecking useless? Worst design EVER!
One of the one's on my Regatta jumped out the very first time I changed straps. It just missed my eye and hit the wall 10 feet away hard enough to bounce off another wall before landing lord knows where. I simply used a set of those screw look spring bars Watchbitz has instead. If one day I find the damn thing I'll epoxy it in as a dummy.

 

[ujin]

JackTheBear, could you share post a thread on your fix for this problem.
I just ordered my Pam359, and this problem looks like a potential bummer!

 

[timefollower1]

mine has just popped out of my new PAM329L the centre push button is also on the moon somewhere

 

[Del]

Like Col, I had the same problem with my Regatta and so fitted the custom PAM springbars - they work a treat.

Just need to glue in the button to cover up the hole!

 

[timefollower1]

mine has just popped out of my new PAM329L the centre push button is also on the moon somewhere

i also have contacted angus to try resolve this issue sending buttons are useless without the spring and also most people wont be able to fix these as they need to be glued inplace without getting glue on the button and spring

with mine just the centre part has come out which makes it even harder to repair i know i could use spring bars but doesnt seem very fair on everyone who paid out for a watch which really doesnt look same with spring bars fitted and holes left in the lugs.

 

[JackTheBear]

FLASH - After emailing me info that the spring is not available - Doris sent me an email last week telling me they found a spring and would send it to me. I will epoxy the pin in as well and hope the spring mechanism works - meantime I am using spring bars. This is Panerai's design and I hear the gens have the same problem. Cheers JTB