• Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!

VSF PAM 441/438 V2 reviews & comparisons

locvs

Active Member
Supporter
Certified
7/12/20
354
341
63
Germany
HI guys,
are there any decent alternatives to VSF for the 438?
 

KOT1917

Respected Member
Section Moderator
26/7/19
3,389
5,501
113
Russian federation
No, now there are no alternatives to ceramic luminor 1950 pams at all. The last ones were from VSF (438, 441, 1441, 1176) and XF (441 with seagull), they are not available now.
Older versions 438 and 441 from KW / V6F from 7750 have not been produced for a long time.
 

locvs

Active Member
Supporter
Certified
7/12/20
354
341
63
Germany
To bad. Missed my chance to get a 438 from hont a few months ago.

If anyone decides to part with a 438, please PM me. Willing to pay a reasonable price!
 

mrsullivan

Pink Replicaddict
Staff member
Moderator Sales
Certified
18/8/19
8,100
16,903
113
EU
Those are definitely collectors now, I SOOOO regret selling my VSF 438 a year ago...

Envoyé de mon SM-G991B en utilisant Tapatalk
 

superspark69

Respected Member
Certified
22/10/18
3,148
2,210
113
Sheffield, UK
C2-ABD017-1663-41-F9-91-BA-BD8-E024-A96-A2.jpg


I Love a ceramic PAM!!!

They are all collectors grails now!.
 

kramerica72

Active Member
Supporter
Certified
29/11/21
249
419
63
New England
Just put an order in with Sead for a 438! He's got a couple dozen different PAM models available as of this week...
 

Relos_Indios

Known Member
10/3/23
157
150
43
Asia
I just ordered from Steve (theonewatches.io). He has a handful left of PAM 441's and 438's. The 438 comes with a free strap.

I have a strong feeling these might be the last few stocks left.
 

trailboss99

Head Honcho - Cat Herder
Staff member
Administrator
Certified
30/3/08
43,349
16,275
113
I just ordered from Steve (theonewatches.io). He has a handful left of PAM 441's and 438's. The 438 comes with a free strap.

I have a strong feeling these might be the last few stocks left.
You need to take out a ticket at the Help Desk or your posts will not be visible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Relos_Indios

Relos_Indios

Known Member
10/3/23
157
150
43
Asia
Finally received my order today (ordered from theonewatches.io). Paid $488 (free shipping and free synthetic leather strap).






It's a lot heavier than I expected. Posting these photos here in case anyone needs them for future reference.

It's a great watch but it comes with a bit of heft. The photo below is a comparison of the free leather strap (in the middle) vs a gen Panerai strap (on either side of the rep strap) of the same color. The free strap looks fine it's just not as pliable as the gen. I would have used it had I not had the same color already.


 
  • Like
Reactions: @(^_^)@ and spongeh

spongeh

Getting To Know The Place
Supporter
Certified
18/2/23
60
99
18
UK
Thanks for the photos, it makes me even more excited to recieve mine.

It's one watch I've always lusted after, but the wife said I wasn't allowed to buy a GEN. Then I found RWI and that there was a rep, but that dream died when I saw posts saying there were no more available.

I've seen a number of the TDs have listed these, so they must have found a batch down the back of the sofa.

Anyway, I've paid my money, had QC photos and I'm now twiching everytime the door goes as it could be my delivery.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Relos_Indios

locvs

Active Member
Supporter
Certified
7/12/20
354
341
63
Germany
Afaik VSF is still producing these. Production has been quite slow lately and new bathes are available only once every two weeks. Probably focus on Rolex more, as there is more money to be made there.
 

Relos_Indios

Known Member
10/3/23
157
150
43
Asia
That's good to know. I do have a hunch that the factories will eventually move to the 1438 with its closed caseback and thinner profile. It's probably easier to make and easier to copy than the current 438's for sale now.

And btw, wanted to clarify here that the GMT hand on this rep is a 12-hour one and there is no quick date function. There is an earlier version with a 24-hour GMT hand but that is not what I got.
 

spongeh

Getting To Know The Place
Supporter
Certified
18/2/23
60
99
18
UK
Mines arrived and the first thing I did was take a lume shot for my profile picture :)

1st thing I noticed, it's a bit of a hefty boy :oops:

Will do a post a bit later when I've got more time, but I must say I love it
 
  • Like
Reactions: Relos_Indios

Relos_Indios

Known Member
10/3/23
157
150
43
Asia
I accidentally dropped my watch from about 4 feet straight to a tile floor. Naturally, I freaked out and was expecting the watch to get smashed to pieces as it landed with an audible ping. It sounded like when a marble is dropped and lands on marble tiles. Yes, I'm old enough to have remembered marbles and the sound they make.

I checked closely and there wasn't a single scratch anywhere; checked a second time with a magnifying glass on the crystal and the case and no blemishes were to be found. This rep is amazing.