w0lf

And really, even if Panerai is not you main brand you have to have at least 1. I'm really hoping for a new run of 201/A and 202/A dials to drop into this case.

With the black on black datewheel action it doesnt seem half bad.. It's a good looking watch!

Did you end up getting it? Can't wait for the actual pictures

Actually, there is at least one PreA PAM55C on record. Could be a very fortunate PASC mistake but the fact that it's a brown dial makes me doubt that. I guess we'll never know. It belongs to a very lucky gentleman by the name Covac on 'Risti. FGD dials are black so in the end it still won't be accurate. However, if that's what you'd like to build than that's all that matters in my mind.

Thanks guys, a few more pics added to show the lug shape and lume. I can't take this thing off my wrist now P.S. Rolli, I think you were the first one with the PAM40 on the forums, after I saw your watch about two years ago I knew right then and there I had to build one too

Stunner, doesn't get much better than that

Awesome watches and great pictures

Thanks guys, your seal of approval is icing on the cake B, I'll take another picture of the case with lug profile showing level with the camera. It's a strange case, at first I thought it was EL too, the lugs are not as shapely and straight as JF or Gen for sure. However, while being too curvy, they're actually longer than lugs of my EL SS cases. I was scratching my head too but I doubt I'll be able to find a better case for this project short of going to a gen case set. I had 4 cases to pick from an this one is 90% there.

Hi Guys, One more project put away, and this time it's my grail titanium watch If I could only have one gen titanium PAM it would be this one. I'm very grateful to FGD for making the Marina PreA dial and to our own resident wizard The Zigmeister for putting this one together. I know there's only about 5 or 6 of these accounted for in the wild, and most likely the 'Risti know all the owners and millesimations by heart. But I just had to have this one. Special thanks to Kbiz for the EL buckle, it's pretty much as good as the gen Ti buckle. This is the watch I was trying to recreate - reference mill.#083/200 Parts/mods list: - FGD v1 PreA marina t-s-t dial, this one needs no introduction - it's a masterpiece, plain and simple. - 2006 PAM176 caseset with gen-like small and squished strap notch and elongated lugs - Oldschool Ti CG, lever tightened, pin flattened and beveled per ref., fitted to case snugly. (I went through 3 or 4 casesets before I found this CG, I don't know who made this one but it's the best I've seen) - OEM PAM Ti crown for 1.2mm tap - Custom crown tube mfg. by The Zigmeister - DSN's latest and very impressive 3.5mm thick A/R-less sapphire - DSN's latest Marina handset, really the best rep handset out there, masterfully re-lumed by The Zigmeister per ref. - ETA6497-1 w/ polished H3 CP - OEM Black semimat alligator, period correct - 2006 EL Ti buckle

Ok, then, to avoid further confusion I'll take those out.

...

Too much bevel makes the crown look 'rounder' so don't overdo it. That being said I disagree on 2 points - I don't think the teeth need to be sharper for one and I think the dish (counterbore) should not be concentrically brushed like the old crown. I think the polished look is better but not mirror shine polish, if I had to guesstimate I would say it's 2500-3000 grit finish. Just try look up some gen pictures, you can see the lever stub reflection in the dish if you find the right angle. I'll try to take a picture of my gen crown with closeup macro for you to study.

jacksontse / militarytime

AWESOME! Just what the doctor ordered

Though I'm not going to make this watch I have to admit if this a replica dial - it's a stunner, absolutely gorgeous! Paul, how about making some PAM50 dials, I know you have a gen one I'd be interested in 2.

I'd do it too, be careful with the T-hands, they're not easy to come by in decent shape.

As far as I know the crystal on gen is supposed to protrude a little above the edge of the bezel. Not quite as much as on PreVs but visibly so. I don't think the gen gasket will solve the problem. I thought I had a gen gasket but now I'm starting to have qualms about this whole crystal thing. I used to have a DSN crystal on this JF case, though I had to have it glued in due to no original JF gasket, the DSN crystal used to protrude above the bezel a little just like on genuine. I opted for the gen crystal when I saw one for sale on the board, but I will have to double check everything and make sure that this is in fact the right thickness crystal. I was told it came from 112G that had a problem with A/R flaking so it was subsequently stripped of any remaining A/R. However I know that 112G has a 3.5mm crystal for sure. The only non-cyclops gen crystals that are thinner, 2.5mm to be exact, come on chronograph PAMs and I really think there's a slim chance this came on a chrono watch and the seller didn't know about it. Here are some gen pictures I've collected and sent over to The Zigmeister to recreate the look:

Thanks Mir! W, I'm already a happy man. I know I'm not the only one who feels that this watch thing is all about connecting with like minded people. And I am blessed to have made so many friends and learned so much from the best. The hunt and the anticipation just spices the whole thing up, it's like you're looking forward to a Channukah, Christmas and New Years BUT all year round - there's always something to look forward to. Whether a watch, a part, someone's project, an awesome post or a new friend Sometimes it gets to me, the setbacks, the wait, lost or defective parts and I become a bit frustrated but only for a short time as ultimately that's what makes it special and worthwhile. When you get a finished piece it's over, there's nothing more to want...That's why I will never be quite as happy with a gen of the same watch In any case I learned that my next project - an FGD dialed, old cased PreA PAM40B should be on the way to me shortly. I'm telling you folks, this is shaping up to be a nice summer despite the miserable weather so far

Wow, this is pretty excellent guys! Mr.Meister you did make my day I don't know how to thank you enough After talking to you this morning the fact that we got 3 weeks of rain in 1 night, floods everywhere in the NW burbs and my 2.5 hour commute to work didn't matter... When I finally got to work and jumped in a meeting everyone was looking at me weird until i realized i had my idiot grin on for like an hour. I think my new manager thinks i'm mentally challenged now.

Ubi, that would be most welcome, I think many people are having this issue, and if a proper gasket can be found it'll make everyone's day a little brighter

Ubi, Hmmm, interesting it must be the original JF gasket then. I think I'll talk to JMB and find out if he can make one of these from scratch. I'm just not ready to take this baby off my wrist again yet.

I wonder if JMB can possibly manufacture a custom crystal gasket. He's been making them for Rolex reps for a long time so maybe he can do the same for PAMs.

Well, I believe the crystal is 3.5mm center and just a hair under 3mm at the edge.. It's a known problem with JF cases, if you don't have the original gasket (which I obviously don't )and sometimes even with the original gasket, you get this problem fitting any standard rep or gen sapphire crystal. I believe the original JF crystal & JF gasket is needed for a perfect fit. The problem with this scenario is that JF at some point was shafted by his supplier and got a bunch of tempered glass instead of real corundum crystals. If you do a search for JF crystal gasket you'll see several threads regarding the subject of fitting rep crystal to JF case. I don't think anyone has come up with a 100% solution to this issue and the probability of someone doing this today is rather low due to this case being rarer than a gen PAM case ATM.

Kbiz - the crystal is pretty much flush with the bezel, that's the only downside of this but its clarity more than makes up for it.

Thanks a million guys, your comments really make it all worthwhile! Special thanks to AL12 and Watchmeister for some impossible to find parts and support. P.S. I promise to try and make better pictures...