The Panerai 1940 - is it a sin? (PIC HEAVY)

[pecu]

So, I've never owned a PAM (rep or gen)

I've owned a few watches from Rolex, IWC, Breitling and Bvlgari, some GENs and some REPs. When buying replicas, I've always been very demanding. I only buy the "super replicas", those that can pass as a gen even on an official dealer (of course, from a social distance).

And another thing is that I've never really liked Panerais. Once I thought about buying the Bronzo REP, but I gave up on it. And I know its a decent REP, but its not my style. Maybe some other day.

Anyway, I was reading about the 1940 series, and I'm completely in love with the PAM518 and the PAM520. They are, IMO, one of the best looking watches in the market today, and thats including my favourite brands.

I saw that the replicas have their flaws, but the GEN is too expensive for me, and I just cant stop thinking about it. It became my grail watch.

So help me out!

- The PAM 520 has an incorrect mark in the back, saying "Platinum", when it should be a white gold watch. To be honest, I dont care about that.
- The small hands in the two small dials are incorrect. I wonder, not under a microscope, if that looks bad.
- The strap is not good. Is it decent, at least? should I buy another one?
- The movement, of course. I know that its not even close, but I dont hang around with people that know a lot about watches. Is it, at least, well finished? Good to look at?
- I heard somewhere that the GEN beats at 18k, but the REP is 28k. Is that right?
- How is the overall finishing of the rep? Does it look high quality?
- What is the perspective for that REP? REPs like the submariner have new models everyday. Should I wait for a better version, or a watch like that wont have too much attention from the makers?
- The crystal on the GEN is actually a curved Plexiglass (wich I hate. It scratches too much) Does the GEN has AR coating? How is the REP? Sapphire? Curved?

- And finally, is it a sin to wear a replica like that? It has too many flaws, but that watch looks so good!

Please, help me. Im new into the Panerai world! Thanks!

Since every topic should have pictures:

 

[walkingcloud]

beautiful pictures! I'd like to know some more information on these three as well

 

[panermaniac]

This is from ALE's PAM guide:

October 2014- Just a bit after above commented version, KW-V6Fac released a rep PAM 518 correctly marked as Q-series and very nicely made too. Fitted with the same Venus movement Seagull ST-19 (wrongly called Lemania). This rep is very nicely made but has still important flaws in comparison with the gen.
Dial layout is good enough and inscriptions, printed markers are good enough, although PANEARI inscription is placed a bit higher. RADIOMIR and PANERAI fonts on dial are a bit narrower but accurate enough in practice. Subdials prints are accurate although have less recessed than previously commented version, but overall are better. Due to the Seagull layout crown, chrono pushers and subdials have a little different placements.
Hour and minute hands are way better than previously commented version but they are still inaccurate, mainly minute hand shorter and fatter. Lume is wider in both rep hands.
Central seconds blue chrono hand is also better than previously commented version, but the center of the hand is clearly smaller in rep (gen has a big center part).
The little hands on subdials are completely different on the rep with an arrow completely wrong. They were clearly better in previously commented version. This is a noticeable and serious flaw of KW-V6Fac version.
Lume of dots & needles markers are accurate in shape but are not as raised and spherical than gen and the colour is not completely accurate.
Crystal is wrong sapphire instead of Plexi but it is good and correctly domed. This crystal is way better than mineral crystal of the rep above commented.
Case has accurate cushion shape. Crown is accurate with nicely made crown “socket” in the case under the crown. Chrono pushers are not perfect but much more accurate than above version. Inscriptions between lugs are well made and accurate enough.
Caseback is correctly and nicely engraved Q-series and “Pt950” for the platinum material of the gen.
Of course Seagull movement is nice but completely inaccurate although has some inscription on bridges to match the gen. This is an obvious flaw but Seagull movement is nowadays the only and best option for this rep.
In the same way the material is a necessary inaccuracy of this watch since the gen is made of platinum and the weight of the rep will be smaller than gen.
Hence this is a very nice rep, extremely well finished, made with a lot of pretentions but it has still obvious flaws even on dial. I was initially tempted to give it a a First Class evaluation, and the quality of the manufacture deserves it, but after seeing the flaws in the main hands, the center of the big seconds hand, the flaws in the subdial hands, the necessarily inaccurate movement and material, this rep cannot get such a status. We would say it is a very Good watch and a good rep nicely made bordering a First Class rep status. It is a pity because the watch is extremely well made and the finish is awesome. Of course much better than previously commented version.

More info of both versions here:
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php?t=198771&p=2004342#post-2004342 by Ruski91
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php?t=198803 by Luke Warm
http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=240764&page=2 by Puretime
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php?t=199388by vader1

REPLICA links:
http://www.kuvarsit-watch.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=32346 KW-V6Fac version
http://pure-time.com/product/pam518-q-v6f-best-edition-on-brown-leather-strap-manual-winding-chrono-movement/ KW-V6Fac version
http://pure-time.com/product/pam518-o-on-brown-leather-strap-asian-manual-winding-chronograph-movement/ Wrongly O-series version
http://www.tswatchltd.com/15914-pa15914-pam520-q-v6f-white-dial-ss-lt-1-1-best-asian-lemania.html KW-V6Fac version
http://www.torobravos2014.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1230 Wrongly O-series version
http://www.asian7750.com/product_show.asp?p_id=3324 KW-V6Fac version
http://www.intime.co/product.php?id_product=1620 Wrongly O-series version
http://www.trusty-watch.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_45&produ cts_id=12531 KW-V6Fac version
http://www.trusty-watch.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_45&produ cts_id=12493 Wrongly O-series version
http://www.pf-818.com/pn518q01-radiomir-1940-ssle-white-venus-p-16374.html KW-V6Fac version
http://www.pf-818.com/pn51801-radiomir-1940-chrono-ssle-white-os20-quartz-p-15832.html Quartz Low grade version
GEN links:
http://www.paneraisource.com/watch_details/Special_356.html
http://www.panerai.com/en/special-editions-collection/2014/623-radiomir-1940-chronograph-platino-pam00518
http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/hands-on-with-the-three-minerva-powered-panerai-chronographs-from-sihh-2014-pam-518-519-520
http://panerai.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-717/pi-6404543/ti-928173/t-officine-panerai-panerai-sihh-2014-pam-518-519-520-the-epitome-of-panerai-chronographs/
http://www.luxify.de/hands-on-officine-panerai-radiomir-1940-chronograph-45mm/
http://thewatchlounge.com/panerai-pam-518-radiomir-1940-chronograph-platino-vintage-done-right/
http://www.watchalyzer.com/magazine/news-events/panerai-radiomir-1940-chronographs-watches/
http://www.watchcollectinglifestyle.com/home/sihh-2014-officine-panerai-radiomir-1940-chronograph-platino-limited-edition-of-50-pieces-live-pictures-and-pricing
http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=msg&th=2009381&rid=0
***

 

[fire007]

It will be funny in 6 months time to hear that you already own 5-7 PAM reps

You have been warned : the Force is strong here

Enjoy the ride !

 

[nalomb]

I bought the 518 on a whim on a m2m deal a few months ago. Its a really fun piece and built very well. The flaws are obvious to the trained eye, but a few things I've noticed: most people don't recognize Radiomirs as Panerais -- they tend to think of PAMs only as large, efficacious, military-style watches with the crown guard; the dial looks nothing like a "traditional" Radiomir dial, so there is not much context for comparison; anyone on the street looking close enough at your timepiece to inspect the chronograph hands is due for some corporal punishment.

That being said, the finish is very good and it wears great -- always get compliments on it. I bought mine without the rep strap, but for me, nothing screams rep PAM like a rep strap. Just so happens I wore mine today on a grey toad strap which is kind of fun for summer. That's another thing that is great about white dials -- almost any color strap will do. The crystal is curved plexi and I think it looks just fine. No scratches on it yet, but I don't rebuild engines wearing it either. I'd get it just to see if its for you and if you don't like it, the worst case scenario is you paid 1/100th of the gen price for an item that you can sell on here in 48 hours.

 

[kilowattore]

No sin at all. Buying "only super reps" deprives you of a ton of fine watches, and this is one. Unless you go at a 'Risti.GTG, no one will ever realize it's a rep except you, provided you mount the right strap.on it, so why bother?
I would def buy it

 

[pecu]

so yeah... I decided to buy the 518, the 520 and the Bronzo.. Oh, well..

So I know that the forum has some TD's for straps.. Should I look for something specific? Panerai is a new world to me, and I never bought those aftermarket straps. Do we have good real leather? Good fake leather (lol, if that exists)?

Are those Panerai aftermarket straps universal? I know that we have different widths, but for the same one, would it fit any watch with that measure?

 

[pecu]

I bought the 518 on a whim on a m2m deal a few months ago. Its a really fun piece and built very well. The flaws are obvious to the trained eye, but a few things I've noticed: most people don't recognize Radiomirs as Panerais -- they tend to think of PAMs only as large, efficacious, military-style watches with the crown guard; the dial looks nothing like a "traditional" Radiomir dial, so there is not much context for comparison; anyone on the street looking close enough at your timepiece to inspect the chronograph hands is due for some corporal punishment.

That being said, the finish is very good and it wears great -- always get compliments on it. I bought mine without the rep strap, but for me, nothing screams rep PAM like a rep strap. Just so happens I wore mine today on a grey toad strap which is kind of fun for summer. That's another thing that is great about white dials -- almost any color strap will do. The crystal is curved plexi and I think it looks just fine. No scratches on it yet, but I don't rebuild engines wearing it either. I'd get it just to see if its for you and if you don't like it, the worst case scenario is you paid 1/100th of the gen price for an item that you can sell on here in 48 hours.

You look like a man with good taste!

How about the movement? Is it well finished? Good to look at? I live amongst very rich people, but they know NOTHING about watches and they are not curious about the science behind it, but they will probably look at the back sometimes.

 

[nalomb]

Movement is complicated enough to look impressive, but nothing special if you've been around the block a few times. I give it a C+ / B-. For straps, I would recommend Simona di Stefano or Donerix for exotic skin type straps. Leather or ammo type straps are not my bailiwick, but there are plenty of vendors on here with great reputations. Enjoy your new acquisitions!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[J.Prime]

so yeah... I decided to buy the 518, the 520 and the Bronzo.. Oh, well..

So I know that the forum has some TD's for straps.. Should I look for something specific? Panerai is a new world to me, and I never bought those aftermarket straps. Do we have good real leather? Good fake leather (lol, if that exists)?

Are those Panerai aftermarket straps universal? I know that we have different widths, but for the same one, would it fit any watch with that measure?

You chose some good models!! Congrats. For strap sizing you're set with 24mm or 26mm straps. The 44mm Panerai watches all take 24mm straps. Genuine straps often taper down to use a 22mm buckle, however us strap makers offer 24mm buckles so the straps can keep their straight width if you prefer. The 47mm Panerai models use 26mm straps, and they also taper to 24mm buckles and even 22mm buckles. I prefer mine straight so 26mm buckles are a must for me.

There are many different choices for leather and the TDs on here are all using good quality stuff. I have never seen anyone use vinyl or 'fake' leather, that really isn't something that happens. Some people use embossed cow leather that has a Crocodile or other reptile pattern embossed, but it is normally stated that it is cow leather and not real Crocodile. But that is not very common at all because real Crocodile is way more beautiful!!!

 

[walkingcloud]

I'd recommend a croc nubuck strap from peter.watchacc for these radiomirs

 

[winz]

I want pam 572 to rep because it use 24mm strap, so i can use mu strap collection, heheheh

 

[pecu]

Do we know anything about that REP?

The small hands look better here. Maybe a new verson is going to be released soon?

 

[Chel]

It looks like old "O version": http://www.pure-time.com/product/pa...ap-asian-manual-winding-chronograph-movement/

KW/V6f isn`t really upgrading their watches (excl. some subs, like 382), so I`m really thinking about ordering 520 Q. First thing to mod - remove blue paint from screws.

 

[pecu]

Funny... so they made the small hands wrong for the latest version...

 

[walkingcloud]

The open caseback is a disaster on this model lol I wouldn't mod it

 

[tchockie]

man these are some beautiful watches... the one with the california dial is calling out to me.