phaedo

Probably not the 'best' watch for heavy duty stuff, but since it was all I had for the last few months it was all I wore - asian 7750 BCE (not the latest release, the last one). I work in a reasonably physical job, and aside from the bracelet looking 'used', it still looks almost brand new. And still keeps great time.

Ok guys, I got a Pam 113 a couple of days ago, and it is a great watch in almost every aspect. Manual wind and it was still running when it arrived 10 days after being posted. However, I have started to have one problem - it stops on me. It still has power, but it is like one of the hands is sticking or something I think. It stopped dead on 12 yesterday, but then again that evening at about 10.15. Did it twice the day before in the space of an hour, but this is all it has happened. So far. Is it likely to be something very minor? Just from what it is doing I think so, not even something worth getting in touch with the dealer about really, when I could (hopefully) take it to a local watch guy and he has it fixed in 5 minutes. And the movement is Swiss 6497. Thanks

Just got a Pam 113, and given it is a white dial, it looks quite classy. Any time a chrono would be inappropriate this is the watch to wear!

Well, it arrived today. My first Pam. Not sure white was the best choice to start a Pam collection with, but I still like it. Looks classier than a black face I think. And it was still running. Which is amazing really, it has been boxed up for the last 10 days, surely it should have been out of charge by now I would have thought. Not complaining, more really impressed and pleased I spent the extra going for the Davidsen model with all the fixin's. No pics at the moment, though, as I have no digital camera.

I doubt there would be many people outside watch circles that would even have heard of AP, let alone how much they cost. And most people would be able to go into a AD and get a reasonably expensive gen on a '3 year low monthly payment' plan in these days of everyone wanting to lend money, so it would probably come down more to how frivelous people would see you spending your money rather than whether you can 'afford' it.

Cheers David, that was all I was really needing to know - you hear all these stories about USA shipping and EU but nothing down this way, thought I would just put the question out there.

Hey everybody, Just a quick question - I ordered a Pam 113 from Davidsen, and the shipping says it left Hong Kong on the 2nd of May. There is no tracking since then, just hoping this is normal for a start, and was thinking it shouldn't take that long to arrive in Australia from Hong Kong (unless it was on a dodgy boat...) has been 9 days already since it left the country, should I start to get anxious? I got a DVD box set sent over from China that arrived in about 7 days from when I placed the order recently, so I thought this length of time may be a bit long. Having said all this it will probably turn up in the morning (I hope, can't wait).

Wow, that second hand movement is badder than Leroy Brown!

I would quite like to learn how to service watches also - but looking at the timezone courses, they don't cover the chronographs. Any advanced courses (after doing the first ones that is, so I have a clue!)

Not bad items, bit high on the buyers premium at around 20% though... Adds up to quite a chunk of change on a $70,000 watch

Hmmm, cash in an envelope - you didn't also ask the dealer to whack a guy for you did you?

RWI no longer showing status down the bottom.... Does this mean it has been shut down by the feds?? :smilie3:

Hope it doesn't happen too much, or I will have to cut down to visiting the strip clubs to only twice a week...

sssurfer - thanks for giving me the answer I was looking for. It has helped - somewhat. Now I think I will go for a 113 still, but maybe also a 111. I guess the main reason for my initial query was would having the white face only not give a real entry into Pams, I would be looking at it wondering what the big deal was and how there are all these 'odd' people on the forum who can't get enough of them, and not having the 'right ' starting one leaves me out of that group. But as I said, maybe 2 will be better And yes, seeing all the extras on the Swiss version, I think it is the right way to go too.

In all honesty my thought is without the jeweller actually taking a watch from you to inspect it closer, with the quality we have these days, it would be almost impossible to actually spot a rep from a genuine - even one who knows what they are doing. They simply are not going to get close enough to your wrist to see that, for example, the 'swiss made' is in slightly the wrong place on the rolex you have on (for instance). And where I am, like the guys from Canada pointed out, most people are working there as a job, as sales assistants. I had a look at Longines a few months ago, and the assistant said she was pretty sure the movement would be quartz not automatic because of the price - it was one of the cheaper ones, and yes she was right. But given it was ticking and not sweeping, that should have been something basic she should have known - not just taking a guess based on price. And this store was the only one in the mall that stocked Omega. I am not saying go and flaunt your reps in front of the AD's, but I doubt there would be more than 5 AD's here who have heard of the brand 'Panerai'. They would mostly say 'that's quite a big watch you have' or something equally as idiotic.

Thanks for the reply Epoch, have spent the day reading about the Pams and straps... may end up with a lot of straps I think. And think I will spend the extra for the goodies on Davidsens Swiss version rather than a cheaper Asian one, yes it is hard to see the differences, but with all the other bits added, it will be worth it I think. Just still thinking about whether the white face is the right way to go for the first Pam or not.

Greetings all, I have not been too active on the forum at this stage, but have been reading as much as I can about everything I can. At first I couldn't see the point of the Panerai's, but they have started to grow on me. My question now is: Would I be best to start with the predictable 111, but I have come across the 113 with the white dial which I know I would like to have something with a white face. Not sure if they will end up being the type of watch I do like or not; I would rather make the first purchase count and know it is a watch I want to keep buying or not. Any suggestions? Also, as to a movement question: how good is the asian unitas movement? I have searched but not really come across an answer. So really the question comes down to is it worth the extra money to go with the Swiss movement or not, given it is not the 7750 movement, my hope is it is reasonably reliable and not much of a worry. I have the previous model BCE, with the 7750, and after 6 months of hard use, it is still brilliant and running really accurately; guess I am one of the lucky ones to get a good movement there. Otherwise, all I have to add is this will only be my second rep purchase, and want it to be a good decision!

Hey, if James Bond can pull off wearing a 45mm PO with a tux, why can't I?

Saw him a couple of years ago when I was in New York - fantastic. And then Roger Waters was here in Sydney a couple of nights ago. Need to spend less money on watches or I won't be able to see the next good concert!

I tried to send money with them online to MYSELF and they would not let me once. I was living in Australia trying to send money to pay my credit card in New Zealand, and they would not let me. Had been in Australia for 8 months, Aussie licence, etc and they wanted to verify my details and could not verify I existed!

We like our 'old fashioned' type of movements in watches here, using automatics, why doesn't someone come out with an old fashioned rotary mobile phone? Now there is a statement!

3 Christmas' ago working at a yacht club in Connecticut - now living in Sydney with 30 degree beach days. I miss the snow.

Not sure how accurate the scales were, but mine came in at 240 grams - a huge difference in weight from my previous watch, had what felt like a dislocated shoulder for the first week. But all is good now, just can't go back to my old watch, ian astina, had it 10 years, and after 3 weeks it feels too light now. Even has the circular patterns in the dials, a previous post in another topicmentioed they were missing, but you need the right angle to see them.

Given it is acknowledged the Asian movement should be serviced immediately, it should be thought of as a 'partially finished' piece and that the total cost will be what you pay plus the cost of service. And remember paying $500 including service for a rep of something that may retail for $10,000 is still quite cheap. Also something to be thought about is there may be rules to follow with regards to setting the date, but that only needs doing once every 2 months as long as it stays running all the time anyway. Will be getting my new one serviced soon, once I can find a local dealer that will do it

Got my one from Andrew a few weeks ago, being new to the brand I would not be able to say if the AR is correct or not, but going into a watch dealer today (they don't carry Breitling but do carry a few Swiss brands), she assumed it was a genuine. What I can say is it is a lovely watch, comparing it side by side with a Tag aquaracer chrono it definately looks worth a lot more, and looks better built also.