sssurfer

It looks as an advertisement site that:

- tries to trick you in believing that swiss replicas do exist and they are something superior to chinese replicas, and shit alike;

- drives you to their sponsors: thewatchprofessionals, eurekatime, freereplica, and so;

- posts pics of gens on their first pages;

- if it fails from driving you to their sponsors then it will get you lost in a mixup of gen and rep stuff that will drive you away, rather than let you report them.

An interesting design, on a psychological point of view. Confusion made to work.

vbarrett said it all.

Just get a VIP membership and you will be able to see what you are looking for.

I just wanted to add my congrats on your choice of your avatar. Nice and original. Why not having it in colors? (I seem unable to recall any Salvador's watch in B/W )

Member Pam is selling palp's crowns.

But to me.

Even after it is almost 1 year I paid for it.

Respectfully speaking, I have some doubts about what Angus said -- at last on his 'ultimate' 199. The pics in his photobook clearly show a cyclops with a thick white border, that is usually a sign of a sandwich crystal with a recessed cyclops.

Besides of that, a one-piece crystal+cyclops is no better than a recessed cyclops in mag power, rather the opposite. Actually, what critically enhances the mag power is the cyclops-datewheel distance, which in its turn is enhanced by the cyclops being recessed -- not being a unique piece flushed with the crystal.

Last but not least, the only movements known to have an added lens on the movement are the ETA 2892-A2 (not 2893) and the Seagull ST-2530 (aka TY-2530).

I would bet that this watch's excellent performance on the date look is due 60% to the datewheel font, 40% to a recessed cyclops.

Those are just clues, no evidence. Ready to change my opinion if any members who got an Angus 199 should post different findings.

@lanikai: email sent about the 000 and 005 logo (they are skewed, but that's not the only issue).

WOW, someone must have slept on the joke pillow last night!

Believe me, the words were very clear, there is no way of misreading that particular part. Plus I'm sure that particular dealer has english skills well enough to make himself clear, so even YOU can understand him.

Ok, so you are sure there is a cartel.

In this case, either one of the following two:

1. That dealer is in the cartel. In this case he must also be a masochist as there is no other reason for him to admit he takes part in a cartel 'whose goal it is to push the prices high'. (Other than a misunderstanding, naturally).

2. That dealer is out of the cartel. In this case his report about a cartel has to be taken all but for granted.

If you were not so anxious to embrace the oversimplistic thesis of a cartel, even YOU could have figured it out.

Just because people buy them, why should the price increase?

Are you serious?

If it is of any interest, I got confirmation by a dealer that there is indeed a cartel whose goal it is to push the prices high.

Wow!

I also got confirmation by a Martian that they are planning to invade Earth and suck the blood of mankind.

I just wonder if anything got lost in translation...

Great watch! Almost undistinguishable from the gen.

Merry Christmas!

Really thanks, Stephane, for this great review and gorgeous pics!

But especially thanks for sincerely sharing with us your feelings about this watch.

I too have similar feelings on the Ferraris... I know they are exceptionally good reps, possibly the best out-of-the-box Panerai (at least the less complicated models)... still I seem unable to fall in love with them.

And the opinions of several members here look the same as well.

I wondered what is the reason for that.

In the end I concluded that, in my personal feeling, I do not feel them as 'true' PAMs.

Then I asked myself why.

My final, personal, and provisional hypothesis is the following:

In spite of their growing popularity and success, what is most appealing on PAMs is their exclusiveness. Outside of the watch lovers environment, they are almost unknown. They may even need some time to get accustomed with their unique style and feeling (it is common here to read something like: 'Hey, I used to hate PAMs, now I feel them growing in me').

In the end, their major appeal was that they were an 'aficionado' thing, a connoisseur thing.

Now, mixing them up with an universally known icona, a definitely popular symbol like the Ferrari logo, well... this is a complete target changing.

The fact that a Ferrary car costs millions does not relieve it, it actually worsens it. Exclusiveness is a matter of taste and style, not a matter of money (we rep lovers may actually have something to tell about it ).

I read that Panerai ADs still have so many Ferrari models to sell, while more classic models are sold out, or one has to book for them.

To me, this is a sign that the whole Ferrari project resulted in a (partial?) flop. A poorly designed market operation, lacking of any serious insights about the PAM buyer psychology.

Or maybe I am just too self-conceited and they just wanted to intentionally and plainly change their target buyer. The most recent, overcomplicated models, might support this view as well.

Or OP simply had to design such overcomplicated models to fight the advance of reps.

Surely I have no need to say this, but please feel free to confute if you want to. It was for the sake of discussion, I am very interested on any different points of view.

Does anyone know whether the PAM's today are designed in Italy and manufactured in Switzerland or all in Italy?

As far as I know, several top members of the Panerai branch of the Richemont-Vendome house are Italians, and here is the only residual link of PAMs with Italy (apart from the Florence selling shop, naturally).

i thought the pam members follow here with their pam wrist pics.

ASAP

I also need to get Ar coat on four crystals.

Not sure yet which ones single and which one double. :cc_confused:

Hi lello,

if this can help, all PAMs from 2002 and on are AR coated, all single side. 1998 models should not have AR coat. Unsure about 1999-2001 models.

Thanks for sharing, cls! Very interesting.

Congrats! A very impressive collection and gorgeous straps!

And you are proof positive I want my children to be in the Italian gene pool. Che uomo!

Congrats on your Italian and your genetic choice.

A gorgeous watch and gorgeous pics!

I seem unable to find any reference to a 127H though. According with my sources (OP official catalogues and 'risti database) the 127 seems produced in the 2002-2003 years (E-F series) only. Possibly with a very few latest pieces in 2004 (G series) at most. No words about any H series.

Is it fantasy?

Wow, a great collection in less than five months!

Do you happen to know what the name of that rock is???

Great pics, and I like the hidden identity!!! I also do not typically allow photographs of myself to be circulated. Ya just never know who might be looking for you!

Thanks all!

The rocks are called 'The Five Towers', the one climbed on is the 5th and biggest one of the five.

Two years ago the 4th tower suffered a landslide and it broke in three pieces.

Here is a pic:

Quite doubtful a single 028 can make a collection, but honestly I could not take with me all my PAMs on this journey.

If this post does not belong to this section, please move it where you like, mods.

Hehe. Thanks, sssurfer. ...

Right now, I'm actually rather smitten with one of your paesan, and I have the great fortune that he's possibly even more smitten with me....so as you know, one of God's greatest blessings is to be in love with a good, decent person.

And to own a Panerai!

He he... naturally I know, V... it was just my way to tell you of my highest esteem about you.

In consideration of my poor English, that was the shortest way for an Eyetalian to make his thought clear...

I'll keep it short.

V, would you marry me?

All auto models don't have that flaw.

The 80K PAM most likely is the 203.... mmmhh, I love it!

Don't give up with hope, I heard rumors that someone is working on an improved 104.

Should they prove able to fix the datewheel font and cyclops issues, I bet that the 104 will sell again like butter.

It is a true classic, if they manage to get to a 99%+ version I can hardly think of any true PAM lover that will refrain from getting one.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) may help in getting rid of the bleach smell. It is also likely to furtherly modify how the leather looks.

To oil the straps I have been very happy with an oil made of macadamia, jojoba and almonds -- pleasantly fragrant.

I would strongly advice against line oil.

DON'T TOUCH A METTA STRAP! HERESY, OUTRAGE!

Completely agree.

Besides of what has been told, it is well known that the psychological effect of a black background is catastrophic. It usually cuts the number of users down to 50%.

No pun about the Dark Side intended.

I'm a PAM girl now, forever!

Good girl.

See what happens with other brands?