jitai

Here's my first PAM review attempt. So, be gentle with me and I hope you like my review. Note : Some pics are borrowed from our forum members for easy reference and illustration. Please PM me if you want it removed. Otherwise, thank you very much Some history about PAM036 The PAM036 marina militare is one of the legend vendome watches after Panerai Firenze was sold to Vendome in 1997. Panerai Vendome launched PAM40 (a mysterious luminor marina model, black dial with tritium lume and titanium case) to test the some market in EU, USA, Japan with only 200pcs produced. PAM40 is like a prototype and they are no reference for this model. The PAM40 is like a preview to PAM036. Anyway, I guess the watches were well received by the collectors and PAM036 was created after that. It is the first marina militare after 5218-202A pre-v. PAM036 marina militare with titanium tobacco dial has a very nice patina to the tritium numerals. The tobacco dial looks stunning with a great vintage look. The PAM036 is referenced as a 1998 limited edition and only 200 units were made thus making this very rare. All the gen PAM036 have " T swiss T " marked underneath the dial. So, does the " L swiss L " dial really exist for PAM036? Yes but there are only 3 " L swiss L" dials produced for PAM036 but they used for photography purpose and not officially released. Some gen pics The tobacco brown dial tone amazingly changes under different lightings A : Tobacco brown B : Dark brown c : Black * Nice looking movt Standard version PAM036 reps from our dealers The rep factories release a few variants for this model. The old school / earliest batch of PAM036 reps which are no longer available are IMHO the closest in term of accuracy to the gen. There were 4 earlier versions to PAM036 reps. Let's take a look at the all these versions V1 pic * Swiss ETA 6497 with sticker decorative foil pasted on the movt bridge * Incorrect Nodivac shock protector * Incorrect straight balance wheel spokes * Comes with the incorrect matt finished winding gears as compared to gen * An example of a inverted CG pin +ve points - It was the most accurate version IMO. - Correct tobacco dial and correct dial font size - Do not have recessed cannon pin issue because dial was thinner - Thick Ti crown - Etched on BB and OP number behind the case near the lug - Nice and deep engraving details on outer area of the see thru caseback - Real titanium case and the watch feel very light as compared to SS PAM reps on the wrist. -ve points - V1 comes with Swiss 6497 movt - Because of the Swiss 6497, the straight balance wheel spokes and nodivac shock protector are incorrect. The balance wheel should have flared spokes and using incabloc shock protector as per the gen. - The tip of the CG lever is often badly shaped. It was like a lucky dip back then. Some got it with nice shaped lever tip and most do not. - Production number was missing on one of the lug corner - Font and spacing of the see thru caseback engraving are incorrect - Winding gears are matt and have rough finished surface. It should be using sunburst gears as per the gen - Although it comes with real sapphire crystal but the AR (blue or purple hue) are too heavily applied and gen PAM036 comes with non AR crystal - Words pattern on the Bridge are sticker not engraved - CG pin is inverted - Gold plating are missing from the jewels recessed areas on the movt V2 pics * Look at the CG lever tip. The shape of the tip is either sharp pointed or flat which are incorrect +ve points - Same as V1 -ve points - Same as V1 except V2 has the incorrect black dial - Most V2 have the recessed cannon pin issue V3 pics * The dial text font are smaller as compared to V1 and V2 * An example of a Swainese movt (combined usage of swiss and asian parts). Notice the ETA 6497 stamp? +ve points - Same as V1 but comes with a swainese (combined usage of both swiss and asian parts) movt with the correct flared balance wheel spokes and incabloc shock protector. The swainese movt look closer to the gen as compared to the Swiss 6497 with decorative movt -ve points - The text font and the font size are incorrect. They are smaller in size and the position on the dial are printed incorrectly - The tip of the CG lever is often badly shaped. It was like a lucky dip back then. Some got it with nice lever tip and most do not. - Production number was missing on one of the lug corner - Font and spacing of the see thru caseback engraving are incorrect - Winding gears are matt and have rough finished surface. It should be using sunburst gears as per the gen - Although it comes with real sapphire crystal but the AR (blue or purple hue) are too heavily applied and gen PAM036 comes with non AR crystal - Words pattern on the Bridge are sticker not engraved - CG pin is inverted - Gold plating are missing from the jewels recessed areas on the movt V4 pics +ve points - Same as V1 but comes with a swainese (combined usage of both swiss and asian parts) movt with the correct flared balance wheel spokes and incabloc shock protector. The swainese movt look closer to the gen as compared to the Swiss 6497 with decorative movt -ve points- The numeral and hour markers are bolder as compared to V1 dial - The tip of the CG lever tip is often badly shaped. It was like a lucky dip back then. Some got it with nice lever tip and most do not. - Production number was missing on one of the lug corner - Font and spacing of the see thru caseback engraving are incorrect - Winding gears are matt and have rough finished surface. It should be using sunburst gears as per the gen - Although it comes with real sapphire crystal but the AR (blue or purple hue) are too heavily applied and gen PAM036 comes with non AR crystal - Words pattern on the Bridge are sticker not engraved - CG pin is inverted - Gold plating are missing from the jewels recessed areas on the movt Latest version PAM036 reps The factory factories probably see a demand for this model and the newer or latest version was released. Instead of improving the flaws from the old school version, the latest version was a flop IMO. There are 2 versions for the latest release. V1 pics * Ugly capped hand. The silver color cannon pin should be revealed on gen * Incorrect movt and caseback Others; - Improved CG with flushed lever pin - The CG lever is too far from the case with it is closed. Looks weird - Although it was stated as titanium case, but the quality used for the latest batch are much more inferior as compared to the old school batch. I will be more aware to make sure it is not brushed steel to mimic the look of titanium because I thought that it feel heavier when I got a chance to try it on previously. - V1 use the completely wrong movt for gen PAM036 never use a E series movt - To solve the recessed cannon pin issue, V1 had the recessed cannon pin covered over by the "capped" hands. This is a total turn off as the silver cannon pin was supposed to be revealed as per the gen - V1 uses the incorrect see thru caseback as they are meant for H series PAM reps like the 111H, 112H. The engraving details are incorrect as it supposed to be titanium and not SS - OP and BB code are missing for both versions. - AR is a no no for PAM036 V2 pics * The cannon pin looks too big and look at the CG lever, it is too far away from the case when it is close * better looking movt but still incorrect, a incabloc shock protector should go with a balance wheel that have flared spokes not straight spokes seen in the pic above Others; - Same as V1 except V2 uses a slightly better looking movt but the word pattern on the movt bridge does not look neat and appealing like the old school V4 movt - Some V2 comes with incorrect over size cannon pin Davidsen's PAM036 reps If there is no luck in finding an old school PAM036 rep. The next best available option is from DSN. Let's see the good and bad about his PAM036 reps. * Notice the deep outlined surrounding the numerals and hour markers? The CG pin seem to be inverted too * Best PAM036 rep caseback ever made but too bad the details are etched on and not engraved. Sometime the etched out effect of details are unreadable. +ve points 1.) Gen Ti case 2.) The only PAM036 rep case with OP, BB code and production numbers etched on the 3 corners near the lug of the case back. 3.) Swaniese movt (closest in appearance and accuracy to the gen) 4.) No recessed cannon pin issue -ve points 1.) The deep outlined surrounding the numerals and hour markers looks quite turn off 2.) Dial Font are incorrect 3.) Details like the OP, BB code, production number and descriptions on the see thru caseback are not engraved but poorly etched on. Some are so bad that it is unreadable. 4.) The lume is too yellowish 5.) AR is a no no for PAM036 Summary Out of so many variants for PAM036 reps. Old school V1 beats the rest and it is the best version IMHO. 2nd best goes to davidsen's PAM036. Below are some mods suggestion for PAM036 lovers - Relume the sausage dial with aged lume - modify "L swiss L" to "T swiss T" on the dial - installed a T48 crown - Flatten the CG lever pin - Replace the matt winding gears with sunburst gears Hope you like my review. Thanks for viewing

Tried calling him but his family member told me that he is off to Europe will be back somewhere in Jul.

Very nicely done black dial luminor base. Congrats Here's my 114F White face luminor base

Thanks guys I am surprise to see that the 40mm pams have its strong fans and supporters. Here's a wrist pic showing the 44mm and 40mm The 40mm is indeed much smaller but still have its own class

I never wear my 40mm eversince it came back from the datewheel mod. I always thought that it will look too small for a guy as compared to its 44mm brothers. I think I'm wrong cos it really looks great. - Love the bold date font and the improved cannon pin modded by the previous owner Here's a quick look at the gen... And here's a pic of mine again... - Looks pretty gen IMO Comments welcome

Will aprreciate if you can post a caseback pic

Nice work Mickey.

Nice Does it comes with the asian handwind movt? I mean the same asian movt used for FA Jones rep?

Thanks. The reason why I'm after the PAM24A was because the early series PAM24 reps had the correct caseback details like the OP, BB and production number.

Here's an example of a modded PAM24A Thanks to dluddy, Kruzer and sssurfer for their help

Thanks for providing us the information. V1 3717 is still the best and hard to beat version. Anyway, rep is afterall a rep and anyone who is treating their rep to The Zigmeister's spa should understand that The Zigmeister can only do his best for the requested mod works and in no way he can make it the same like gen.

Some members ask for a list of mods done for my 24A Here goes; - Old school PAM24 with umarked brush bezel - Convert the brushed bezel into polished bezel - Removal of all the metallic rings surrounding the dot hour markers by The Zigmeister - Relume the dial, hands and pearl with aged lume by The Zigmeister - Flattening of the lever pin by The Zigmeister - Flushed and polished cannon pin by The Zigmeister - Lello's Datewheel for A7750 at 3 o'clock position - T48 crown (you'll need a correct stem as the 0.9mm stem will not fit) This project took me a least a year to complete with the help from wonderful people here. I hope the information are useful. Good luck for those who are interested in building a PAM24A Some new pics

As dluddy mentioned, C3 lume for a L swiss L or L swiss made L dial. Very nice 29B. Here's mine... GMT brother with 29B. A Pam063.

Of course Can you post of pic of your PAM24A here? Maybe Kruzer, chinkiechunkie, FGD and dluddy can post your pic here too

Thanks to The Zigmeister, dluddy, Kruzer, spinmaster, T, Lello

I think your search is over. Checkout the linky below http://www.rwg.cc/members/gen-Panerai-box-t92248.html Good luck

Hi, I'll try ... 1 - PAM220 or PAM104, both are 44mm Auto pams with black dial under comtemporary line. Except for PAM251, 188 daylight chrono with white dial (both 44mm) and PAM49 or 51 (both 40mm). I don't remember seeing any white dial 44mm auto pams. 2 - It is possible to swap a white dial from (PAM49 or 51) if you have a PAM050 or 48 (both 40mm black dial) cos all of these used the same A7750 movt. PAM220 is not possible as Panerai do not have a white dial auto pam in the comtemporary line. 3 - The older low beat A7750 have usually reliability issue. However, the high beat A7750 are better but beware as the hands used on for the older A7750 will not fit the new A7750. It really depends on your luck, I have several ones with older A7750 and they are still running well. Another way is get it serviced so that it will last you longer. 4 - Not sure as I never try his service before If you really like a white dial PAM. You may want to consider PAM114,113 & 207a. All are using handwind 6497 movt (choice of swiss or Asian) which are reliable imo. Hope this helps

Thanks Kruz. The 170 looks very nice but the tone / shade of the dial looks like grey to me an sourcing for the Ti case with Bi-metal bracelet will not be easy. Anyway, it will soon become a PAM24A as I found a "Polished" unmarked bezel. Many thanks to duddly for your kind information. So, Can I join the PAM24A club now?

My orignal plan was to convert it into a PAM24A. But, due to the hash marks on the bezel (which is impossible to buff it off). My PAM24A plan cannot proceed unless I can find a unmark bezel and have it polished. So after sourcing for 2 months with no luck. I gave up. It could have been easier if I just relume the dial but as mentioned, I'm very much turn off by the metallic rings surrounding the hour markers. After doing some research, I realised that PAM24D is my next hope. It is a transitional series for PAM24 whereby it uses the old aged lume without metallica rings surrounding the hour markers and brushed bezel with hash marks. PAM24D gen pic Here's my PAM24D. - Metallic rings surrounding the hour markers removed by The Zigmeister - The Zigmeister's precise and creamy coloured aged lume on dial, hands and pearl - Old school PAM24 caseset - Lello's datewheel (improved version with bolder and whiter font) - Non-ARed crystal - CG lever pin flatten by The Zigmeister - T48 crown - All standard Auto pam reps come A7750 with extruding cannon pin issue. Cannon pin now flatten and polished as per gen by The Zigmeister Next and final challenge is to make a caseback with unique D series detailed engravings. Not sure how long it will takes but will update with pic once it is completed. Thanks for viewing

Look gen to me Good one S. Congrats

Hi, I think the lume applied on the lumedots are too widely spread that it cover up the black circle outline. Any pic of the caseback?

I think swapping the gears is a must if you really like this watch alot. It improve alot on the cosmetic look. I also find my sunburst gears from a cheap asian donor movt

Hi Mic, To be closer to the gen, -Strip the AR off coating as B serial movt pams do not have AR coating. -Flatten the CG lever pin -Relume it with aged lume -Convert "L Swiss L" to "T swiss T" as the latter is more common and convincing to own. L Swiss L dial only have 5 pcs made. - Use a T48 Ti crown and it is going to look like this

I think your 113 comes with a E serial movt. Hence the H serial see thru caseback is incorrect. I have 2pcs of E serial movt caseback from the cartel. It will help to make your 113 more accurate. PM me if you are interested. Nice gen dial BTW. Here's my white pam114F