TeeJay

Looks really nice, the strap especially sets it off nicely

If you try charging the lume from an LED torch, you might get better results (they always get a better result than bulb torches, the result would also depend, however, on the quality of the lube)

Wear it well

For the memoribilia aspect, I think it's worth 10K. Otherwise, yes, agreed not worth it.

You know...tastes are funny.

I always disliked PAMs with date-wheels.

(Have only the busted PAM 199 with one, other than the PAM Lion Purdey and 076, which aren't "seen" since they are covered)

I always disliked PAMs with blue-dials. Not sure why. Maybe I thought them too masculine.

I always disliked PAMs with GMT functions.

More and more I prefer base PAMs without second hands.

And I always disliked PAMs which looked "busy" because of all these details.

...so guess which Panerai watch has TOTALLY captivated me since I saw it on a Risti member?

:wub:

If anyone knows where I can find a good rep of the limited Firenze edition, PAM 228, please post it. I'm in love. I even have the Tootall Moroccan Sunset strap already!!

EDIT: Hang on guys. Let me post this last bit on a separate thread.

I know what you mean there, and quite agree about those features you don't normally like, but, I also have to agree and say that that is a really nice watch Would I wear one myself? Probably not at the moment, but maybe in 10-20 years when I'm living in Marseille writing my memoirs

I mixed Coke and Pepsi once.

It was goooood

I can only imagine the feeling if one would drop a $10,000 gen and have it smash.

My friends think I'm a jerk because I seldom do anything for myself.

Whether it be opening a caseback, sizing a bracelet or getting on a ladder. It's just not worth the risk.

To be honest, I think it'd be a comparable feeling. If someone can afford the $10,000 for the gen, they could afford the cost of a replacement case-back. Similarly, the cost of the repairs doesn't concern me in terms of amount, it's just a case of if it would be cheaper (always my favorite option ) to buy a replacement watch rather than obtain a replacement caseback and the cost of repairs. To be honest, although the watch quickly became one of my favorites, it held no sentimental value, as it was just 'a watch I'd bought'. My Omegas, on the other hand, were bought with inheritance money, so have sentimental value, as will the 127 my fiance has bought as my birthday present next week (should arrive the day after my birthday). She was going to buy it as my christmas present (so it would have equally had sentimental value) but following what happened, moved the schedule forward, so is buying it now I'd be way more upset about damaging a watch with sentimental value than one which was simply 'a purchase'.

Yeah in gaol they measure it for free

Ken

And several times, to make sure they get the right measurement How's that for dedication to quality service

= Person being measured

Have to admit, not my cup of tea... I don't like the sub-dial distinction for the second sweep, nor that it has a date window... Other than that, nice watch

The same thing happened to me a couple weeks ago...slippery little bugers.

Cheers

TWP

They sure are. At least I don't have to worry about the same thing happening with my 127

See my eloquently titled thread here;

http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?act=fi...&pid=328894

I have since calmed down, but I know what it feels like believe me... it's like you never wear a watch and don't plan on wearing it until it breaks, then you want to wear it all the time. Typical human psychology - always want what can't have!

Ahh. Hopefully a correctable malfunction Indeed, that's definitely typical psychology

Only thing I can suggest, is going into a jewellers, getting them to size the finger as normal, and then ask what that size convert to in mm. Even if the clerk gives you this look: , their manager should (one would hope) be able to answer the question.

Oh my goodness that is terrifying.

I feel so bad for you. You are not alone, my Day-Date broke the other day... nothing even remotely this bizarre or serious... but still renders it unwearable, so I can imagine how disappointed and frustrated you are.

Devastating.

Infuriating.

and

Unacceptable.

I guess that's the power of flying stainless steel and gravity...

What happened to the Day-Date?

I have to admit, I'm a little surprized myself at how well I'm taking it. I guess it's because I had another watch I really love that I could put on, and the knowledge that the PAM can either be repaired, replaced with an identical model, or, most likely, just rendered redundant when my 127 arrives. I figure why stress over a watch that might onlyhave 7 days more 'regular' wrist time...

To continue in that theme,

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

Sorry, couldn't resist, one of my fave's

Probably my all-time favorite film. Can't wait till I can aquire one of the handguns for my collection

I don't see any harm in posting a comparison of prices, as long as they come from recognized dealers. (Those same dealers can monitor the posts, and update any incorrect or outdated information.)

This would go under the heading of "sharing information, and benefiting from the effort of others"...isn't that what internet forums are all about?

Why should prices only come from 'recognized dealers'? As Hyster pointed out above, some of those 'recognized dealers', have been shown to 'bend the truth', so why should they be kept on a pedestal as the only valid sources? These forums exist to protect the buyers, not the dealers... That's not to say that all the dealers here are disreputeable, the majority are indeed honourable and trustworthy, the point I'm trying to make, is that people shouldn't be scared to 'think outside the box'.

I think a thread like this is a fantastic idea The one suggestion I would make, is that any recommendations people make, should be ones backed up by their personal aquisition of said watch, not just " I saw this going cheap and thought it looked okay... "

If someone's actually gone through the deal, has the product in their hand and still feels they got a good deal worth sharing, then fantastic

Teejay,

That's a real shame to see your nice new toy all smashed, but I reckon it's served some purpose in it's short life (if it is indeed beyond 'economic' repair), by convincing others (myself included) that a bracelet looks brilliant on a 111h.

prof

(from Blade Runner)

The light that burns twice as brightly burns half as long...

Or something along that line

Fingers crossed, it will be repairable, I can't imagine that glass dust would be that damaging that a stripdown and cleaning of the movement wouldn't restore it

I suspect that you are right about it being a bad "fake". O.J. is slick enough to stash his genuine watch and hand over a "Canal St." Sub to Goldman.

'Slick'?? How about 'dishonest', 'manipulative' or 'sneaky'? They go well

Just saying though, because everyone knows that OJ was found innocent

O man, this s&%#ks!! I hope you can have it repaired. But I'm glad you realise there's more to life than PAMs or reps in general...

Well, I was a tad concerned when it stopped working after I blew on it, and, when I took my 2531.80 in for repair, they replaced the entire movement rather than fixing what should have been, a minor adjustment or repair (I'd done something while trying to regulate it, but nothing heavy-handed, just moved the beat and regulating arms) if that's their approach in this case, then this watch might have to 'take one for the team', and get replaced... Absolutely, they're just the sugar-coating, but hey, I've still got my Omegas to make me feel like a Big Man

I decided to get a new wrist shot afterall

@ Arty:

Looking good

I replaced the Fallen PAM with my old favorite

(Sorry for the old pic, I'm actually wearing a pink shirt )

On the original topic, isn't sombody selling a caseback or two in the trade area? Could be wrong.

If the movement works, and the balance area is clear, don't worry too much about glass getting where it doesn't belong. It should drop out of the balance fairly easily.

I usually 'test' my glue-work it seems by dropping almost every movement I touch--so it happens Been trying not to do that anymore.

Cheers.

I'm waiting on an email back from my dealer, but I am hoping they'll be able to send (even if I have to pay) a new back. If they can't, and, depending on the costs for repairs, I'll likely just order an identical replacement. I wouldn't mind paying the watchsmiths for a new movement if I'd actually done anything to the movement which could have killed it (like my attempts of regulation) but it literally only stopped working when I blew to remove the glass dust. At that point, I hadn't thought to use the 'rubber glove' method to get the back off. Looking back, it might've been an idea to try that first, but hindsight is always 20/20

Thanks for the comments, guys As posted in the other thread, I think that reading between the lines, as the 'expensive watches' are listed as having genuine Swiss movements, it's reasonable to say that it's unsaid, that the cheaper watches have the Asian movements. I took it into a watchsmiths for examination, and was wondering, could glass particles damage the movement beyond repair, or should a stripdown and cleaning be sufficient to get it working again? (It was working after the initial impact, and when the large chunks were removed, but stopped after I blew on it...)

OMG. I am so sorry, TeeJay. Bracelets are cursed. Look what they did to my diamond scratch on the PAM 111h crystal.

Okay, not cursed. But bloody inconvenient things. Meh.

P.S.: I read about the Fiddy! Yay! If you confirm, I can change one of the straps I was going to throw in extra, to a Fiddy strap.

I guess these things happen, it's not worth me getting too angry over, the movement will either be repairable, or I'll just buy another watch (whichever is the cheapest option) and either way, (once I hear back from my dealer) my fiance's said she'll pay for the 127 (can't bring myself to use The 'F' Word ) as my birthday present (should arrive either on the day, or the day after ) I'm sure whatever you send will be fantastic, and place my trust in your judgement

Note to self: Move work bench to carpeted area of workshop!!!

As everyone else has said, you are taking this very well. I stripped a screw the other day (easy fix, just replace the screw) and swore for two hours!

Cancel the note to self... The watch landed on carpet. One end of the bracelet was attached, and, when I removed the leather strap from the other lug, the weight pulled it from my hand. The damage was caused, not by the watch hitting the floor, but by the strap whipping the clasp into the center of the back...

As I said, it wasn't worth getting mad over, and, the promise of a 127 for my birthday more than makes up for the temporary loss (as I am sure it is repairable )

Just to clear up a few points, I know there were some inaccuracies to the genuine 111h specifications, but these are the things that I can guarantee about the watch:

The watch does have a sandwich dial. I admit, the top layer is very thin, and my photos do not really capture this aspect well, but it does have a sandwich dial.

The case is brushed. The bezel and the crown guards are polished. I know this is inaccurate, but, I like the contrast it makes, and it blends better with the SS Bracelet.

The movement, is as identified in the other thread, an Asian copy of a Unitas movement. Now, the sale did not specify that the movement was Asian, but, there were other watches of much higher prices, where the movements were specified as genuine Swiss. I admit, it is reading between the lines, and deducing one thing from something else, but by pricing, it was never suggested by the dealer that the movement was genuine Swiss, ergo, it had to be an Asian copy.

I've taken the watch in to have the movement examined and hopefully repaired. It was working after I dropped it, and when I shook the 'chunks' out of the case, it was still working, however, it stopped working when I blew into the case (not realizing I could remove it) and potentially blew glass dust into the works. Hopefully, a strip down and clean, and it will work. If the watch smith says the movement needs replacing, I will likely not have any work done to it, as I do not believe that blowing glass dust would have ruined the movement beyond repair...

That is an Asian 6497-2 copy. Higher beat. It has the flared spokes on the balance wheel. I've seen nicer finished versions of this movement with polished, beveled ratchet/crown wheels. Also, are there two screws underneath the balance wheel? I can't tell for sure from the pics??

It's a decent movement. But nothing someone should pay "extra" for.

Indeed, this was the 'base line' movement, there were others more expensive. I've never had a problem with the dealer or doubted their honesty, I just figured that as the caseback had to be opened, it would be interesting to see if what was inside actually was as described

Only accurate insofar as it is a Unitas design. The current Swiss ETA is also described as a 'Unitas' but that is not strictly correct as the Unitas company no longer exists.

The only movement that could accurately be described as 'high quality Unitas 6497' would be an older movement actually manufactured by the Unitas watch company which was bought by ETA / Swatch. However, to most people the description best fits the current Swiss ETA although this one wasn't described as Swiss.

Sharp practice at best.

Ahh. On the dealer's listings, there are watches for about 2-3 times the price which are then identified as having Genuine Swiss ETA movements... So would it be fair to say that it was a reasonable description?

I would say that is one of the first asaim 6497 copys but waht it is called i dont know, i wonder is cousins uk sell them, if they could you could just restick the engraved plates on the new one. Did tourby have some asian movements for sale a while ago?

So would the listing:

"High quality Unitas 6497 Movement"

be accurate?