lefty47

Andrew, Here are two PAM Destros on my Wish List. One is a Lefty Sub-a proto-type I believe. The other is a Lefty Power Reserve-either Model 123 or 075. Thanks for asking.

Does anybody know where I can get an upgraded Crown Guard for my PAM 118 Ti Destro? It's getting a lot more wrist time lately, and attention, so I'd like to get a better Crown Guard with a thick lever. Any suggestions? Thanks.

I don't know. I didn't put it on myself. My local watch repair guy did, and he said it just "snapped rigtht in," and only charged me $10. A bargain, indeed.

You could be right about the holes, and probably are. But it doesn't really bother me. I like the watch and the green bezel-I only wear it with a green shirt-so I'll just keep it like it is. 99% of the population wouldn't catch that flaw...if it is one.

I wear an Under Armor wrist/sweat band. White or Grey to make the watch stand out and keep the rubber strasp from sweating on my wrist.

I really don't know the differences in the LV models. I bought this one about 2 or 3 years ago foe $400 before I knew about the RWG. It has an ETA movement, Sapphire crystal with the laser crown at the 6. holes in the case. It's been a good watch, but the insert got a little beat up and the pearl fell out so I bought a new bezel. I'm bery pleased with the Otto Frei. Looks like a new watch.

A couple of weeks ago I asked the board where to get a good Bezel Insert for my older Rolex LV Sub. Someone (I don't recall who) suggested Otto Frei at www.ofrei.com. I went on their site, ordered an insert for about $37 plus shipping and had my watch guy install it for $10. Perfect fit, it just snapped right in, nice green color, excellent pearl plus outstanding and fast service from Otto Frei. Can't beat them in my opinion. Here's their picture of this insert. They have other inserts and an amazing supply of other watch products. Highly recommended. LV_Bezel_Insert.doc

You are correct. It was Entourage. I knew that but didn't name it in deferance to our European members who might not be hip to HBO and Ari Gold. Great show and great episide. The crusty old Navy Seal was a riot. I tried to immitate him at my Health Club. Quite a streach for an aging hippie. Tang all the way.

Don't forget the rubber strap and the wrist band!

Sorry. No pictures. I do have one of my grandson using my PAM rubber strap as a teething ring...no lie. I told you, I'm old.

Who knew? I have an older PAM Titanium Destro, you know, the one with the thin Crown Guard Lever. Well, it doesn't get much wrist time lately, so I decided to wear it during my morning run-nothing too strenuous, about 2-3 miles. I'm an old guy you see. I wouldn't even respond to the Age Poll the other day because you are all young enough to be my sons....but I digress. My PAM Ti has a pretty nice rubber strap and it's hot here in the US so my wrist really was sweaty after the run. Then I recalled a TV show where there was a crusty old Navy Seal who was teaching a movie star how to dive, and the old guy was wearing a PAM with a Rubber Strap over a Sweat Band. Pretty cool look so the next day I tried it at my Health Club. So I'm doing my usual free weight reps and the next thing I know, this attractive young lady comes up to me and says, "Nice watch." Swear to God! I tell her it's an Italian Divers Watch that was used by the Italian Navy in WWII. "Are you a diver?" she asks, and I say, "Well, I was when I was in the Navy." Big lie, but so what, my wife was on the Elyptical Machine, this was going nowhere, right. The next thing I know, she's calling her two girlfriends over to check out my watch. It was one of life's great moments. I take the watch off and show them the see through back and the movement. They are dazzled. Then I tell them that many famous women wear Panerai, e.g. Heidi Klum, Charlese Therron, Nichole Kidman, etc., and one of them actually squealed. I wish I could tell you some torrid details to end this story, but I'm old school, and don't do that-tell, that is. All I will say is wear your PAM over a Wrist Band and go to your Health Club. You just might get lucky. You never know.

Be still my heart! I am on board as soon as this rep ins introduced. Let that be soon!

I have recently received two watches from Joshua-a Rose Gold PAM 231 Base Radiomir, for me and a Tag Tiger Woods Pro Golf for my golf nut brother. I won’t attach pictures because they are exactly as shown in Johsua’s website. Here are my opinions on both watches: The PAM RG 231 is a beautiful piece-my first gold Panerai. I chose the Asian movement because I didn’t want to spend the extra money on the Swan Neck. Same watch and strap, just a different movement for considerably less money. The gold plating is excellent and the brown leather/alligator strap really sets it off nicely. This combo will look great for dressy events or with a suit or sport coat. The Tag Tiger Woods Pro Golf is a huge improvement over the previous model. The presentation from Joshua and his extremely competitive price are also a major plus. I was at a Tag Dealer after I received this rep and it is almost exact in look, size, weight and shape. The Rubber Strap is very light and flexible, just like the gen. The only difference that I saw was that the reps face is smooth and the gen at the dealer had golf ball style dimples. I don’t know if there is a smooth face gen. But the poof is in the playing and my brother played 36 holes while wearing it last weekend. He says it is everything you would want in a golf/sports watch. So a definite Thumbs Up from him. As usual, Joshua was great to deal with. His communication and delivery were excellent. Tracking number in 2 days and delivery in about 9 days.

Good question. I have no idea. The Watch Repair guy was impressed though.

I have found a cooperative Watch Repair Guy in my town who will work on my reps and I've been taking some of my collection to him. He doesn't know Panerai, as I have already stated in another posting, so he wasn't all that impressed with them-no point of reference. But today I took a Tag, Andrew's 4th Gen Po and three Rolexes to him, and he was Blown Away! The Tag is a Tiger Woods Link with a Japanese Automatic Movement. He tested it on his Witschi Timing Machine and it tested at 21,000 BPH-pretty impressive for used a $90 Rep. Thank you Thor. He couldn't believe the quality and weight of Andrew's PO and it tested at 28,000 BPH-the same as his genuine Sub. When I told him the price I paid, all he could say was, "How do they do it?" Then he tested my three Rollies, which I bought before joining the RWG and paid way too much for: Swiss Valjoux Daytona-22,000 BPH, top quality SS and perfect stop watch function. ETA LV Sub-22,000 BPH, he's replacing the Bezel Insert with one I purchased from Otto Frei. He loved the look, the SS and weight and especially the lazered Rolex crown at the 6. ETA Yacht Master, my "Bling Watch." TT with genuine MOP Dial with Diamond and Blue Sapphire Markers. Solid 14K Links and Bezel. Cost me $700 three years ago, from a private collector. It was running too fast to accurately measure on the Witschi, so he's going to keep in over night to check it out. All in all a well spent hour, especially for the reaction to Andrew's latest PO.

I have purchased the Sapphire Crystal from Davidson for my 1950. I took it to a good reliable watch repair guy in town and he is stuck. When he took the Bezel off, it has an inner ridge holding the crystal in place. The attached poor quality picture should show you what I'm talking about. Anyway, my question is How do you get the crystal out of the Bezel? My watch guy is afraid to push too hard for fear of breaking the old crystal. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I have purchased the Sapphire Crystal from Davidson for my 1950. I took it to a good reliable watch repair guy in town and he is stuck. When he took the Bezel off, it has an inner ridge holding the crystal in place. The attached poor quality picture should show you what I'm talking about. Anyway, my question is How do you get the crystal out of the Bezel? My watch guy is afraid to push too hard for fear of breaking the old crystal. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

OK, I looked at the valve with a magnifying glass, and there is a very minor gap between it and the case. Barely noticable to the naked eye. I wouldn't have noticed it if it hadn't been brought to my attention. My son will never notice it and I won't bring it up. He will know it's a rep though and will send it to me for any future repairs. Very nice piece.

If I were you, I'd go for the PAM 177h Titanium Swiss Swan Neck. Josh and Andrew have it. I'm waiting for a Destro model of that one myself.

Responses to various questions & comments: 1. The Helium Valve looks good. I tightened it a bit, so it looks good to me. The only minor flaw is the spacing between the Omega Logo and the actual word Omega. Not a big deal. He won't even notice. 2. He will know it's a Rep, b ecause he knows that I sold my genuine Rolex Datejust 2 years ago when I started seriously collecting nice reps. He's not really a watch guy, but he knows I am and won't be surprised that I got him a Rep and one this nice should be a good one for him. 3. I agree that the 42 mm is better for business, although I usually wear a 47 mm PAM, but my business career is over. 4. The box set is a nice touch for a gift. Presentation is important. Bubble wrap and a padded envelope don't make much of an impression.

Here are my pics of Andrew's 42mm Latest Version Planet Ocean. I am giving it to my son for his 30th birthday. An excellent piece for the young businessman, IMHO. I bought the wooden Omega Box on e-bay for $25. Everything they say about this version is true. It is an outstanding rep and the "smaller" size is fine with me. As always Andrew is a pleasure to work with and very accomodating. Sorry about the glare in the pics.

River doesn't get much ink on this forum, but IMHO he is an excellent dealer in all regards. I ordered a Vintage Marina Militare Destro last Monday morning via Paypal. Received a Tracking Number that same evening and received the watch in the US on Saturday morning. From Order to Wrist in 6 days. Of the 30 or so transactions I have had with various dealers over the past year, this was the smoothest. Plus the watch is great and the price was excellent. Thank you River!

Hey, thanks for all your responses. They were all very good and appreciated. I especially liked: Dadog13 "Sorry...but who cares?" No argument from me,nobody should. InfiniteTime "...must not have been close" True, only met the old guy once. I went for the wife and in-laws. FP Journe, a fellow Kentuckian form Owensboro, "it doesn't matter, nobody will notice." It doesn't and they didn't. I just made the post to give me something to think about during a long day. The answer is, of course a Fiddy, but not just any Fiddy- a Destro Model I bought from River last year. I am a Lefty, you know. Nice watch, with a Russian movement with a Swan Neck. I scratched the mineral crystal the first week I had it, but I have a Sapphire from Davidsen on order. Thanks again.