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What's worth an Ultimate (!!!!!!) PAM183 nowdays?
- Thread starter FreddieS
- Start date
The tells are:
1. Straight spokes on the balance wheel and bigger teeth on the ratchet wheel (although, some of the new PAM reps are coming with low-beat A6497s, so this isn't a sure thing).
2. The dimple in the small brass block that connects the mainspring to the end of the regulator. I've never seen any Asian movement that had the dimple.
3. The Novodiac shock protection system instead of Incabloc. Not sure if the new low-beat A6497s are coming with Novodiac like the Swiss movements, though.
1. Straight spokes on the balance wheel and bigger teeth on the ratchet wheel (although, some of the new PAM reps are coming with low-beat A6497s, so this isn't a sure thing).
2. The dimple in the small brass block that connects the mainspring to the end of the regulator. I've never seen any Asian movement that had the dimple.
3. The Novodiac shock protection system instead of Incabloc. Not sure if the new low-beat A6497s are coming with Novodiac like the Swiss movements, though.
Yes, that's the location but that one doesn't look pronounced enough, Wiz. Look at the pics of the OP's watch. The dimple in that area on the Swiss movement is easily visible.
The mark in your photo could be dirt or something on the brass block or even on the crystal of the caseback.
The mark in your photo could be dirt or something on the brass block or even on the crystal of the caseback.
I'm sorry mate, I still don't understand what the "dimple" is 
But I checked the 6497s I have at home. An easy tell is the eta stamping near the balance wheel. None of the clones I have come with the stamping.
But I checked the 6497s I have at home. An easy tell is the eta stamping near the balance wheel. None of the clones I have come with the stamping.
Not as much as a dimple as a whole. You can clearly see it in the middle of that brass thingI'm sorry mate, I still don't understand what the "dimple" is
But I checked the 6497s I have at home. An easy tell is the eta stamping near the balance wheel. None of the clones I have come with the stamping.
Ohhhh, the little hollow?
You're right, asian don't have that little hole, even the newer versions.
But what if only the balance assembly is swiss? Replacing a balance assembly is not that rare.
You're right, asian don't have that little hole, even the newer versions.
But what if only the balance assembly is swiss? Replacing a balance assembly is not that rare.
Anything is possible, Wiz. In that case, the ETA stamp is a good check, although that's tough to see in most pics. I don't know why anyone would swap out the A6497 balance assembly with the less-accurate-to-gen Swiss assembly, though. Honestly, with as good as the A6497s have become, I wouldn't pay a premium for Swiss anymore.
The watchmakers I know have no idea where to source an asian balance assembly, so if someone brings any of them a 6497 with a damaged balance assembly, they'll probably use a swiss part as replacement.
FreddieS, could you please check your movement to see if there are stampings like the ones on the following pic?
FreddieS, could you please check your movement to see if there are stampings like the ones on the following pic?
The watchmakers I know have no idea where to source an asian balance assembly, so if someone brings any of them a 6497 with a damaged balance assembly, they'll probably use a swiss part as replacement.
FreddieS, could you please check your movement to see if there are stampings like the ones on the following pic?
Sure, I need to find the tool to unscrew the bottom...will let you know!!!
