Logan

Panerai still like to pretend that the 111 series is still a limited edition.. hence all the letters

Yes its the adjustor for the crown depth.. check out the photo review Puretime did a week or so back of the noob 111 for some good pictures. It's accurate to the genuine.

Puretime just listed a pile of IWC's. Mostly the seconds at six type, I've no idea if the movement is any better as those were a disaster last time, but there has been a trend to jewelling these transfer gear setups recently so who knows..

Well he's right about the Bulgari.. never did like those

The movement is definitely a rep.. the counter weight lettering is terrible..

This might be useful. Brembo brakes disc use essentially the same process as carbon watch cases. This video shows the production process. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrhVHA-3ZBU

I'm looking forward to hearing if it's really titanium. I hope they manage to make the ice bang king version.

I'd love to see the Bentley Super Sports in titanium done properly, Watcheden has a fairly good quartz version.

There was a rep version of this a few years back with a modded movement with the 30 secs sub dial.. I recall someone on the board buying one and reporting the dial was accurate, but it was never subjected to a The Zigmeister knock down review or anything similar

I take everything off and discretely put them in the laptop bag before security.. usually works except last time when I had 5 watches in the bag already.. bag went thru x-ray 4-5 times before they needed to look in person. Apparently clusters of metal parts are an issue.. must be a bomb profile I suppose.

I see Josh has listed a new Big Bang King and he's claiming a titanium inner case.. well "inner titanium holder" is the exact wording. It's a decent looking rep too. Lets hope they do the Ice Bang King version. http://www.1-pc8838.com/0hbk00108-bang-king-black-magic-p-11863.html If so this is quite a nice step.. I love the super light weight of genuine Hublot BB's, the heavy steel case inside the reps does spoil it a little.

Speaking of titanium.. I just noted Josh has a new Hublot that claims a titanium inner case.. now that would be cool, I'd love a Big Bang with a more accurate weight.

Personally I buy these watches with money I can afford to loose.. so I just enjoy the hobby for what it is, if a watch breaks I fix is at best I can, if it's terminal I'll keep it for parts. It's a bit like motor racing.. only drive what you can afford to crash. Having said that a GZ based parts dealer would definitely do well.. every better if the took requests and could track down specific bits.

Great review thanks Zig. I managed to achieve something similar in my early days to watchmaking (watch tinkering), didn't realize you had to let the power out of the spring first and removed a few parts anyway.. so say the hands spun fast is a under statement.

From what I understand the carbon can only be trimmed and finished part way thru the process. It's compressed first at moderate temperature, then removed from the mould and can be finished, then it's baked at high temp. Once baked it's pretty damm hard. The process is based on carbon brakes disks for motor cars so the end result is pretty solid. The first series of AP Alinghi's were given out to yacht crews in the Americas Cup, and those had fraying problems.. likewise the early carbon brakes tended to self destruct after a while

The IWC AMG chrono was a very well made rep.. it's too bad mine gets about 6 hours power reserve on a full wind now.. I'd love to resurrect that. May have to try the graphite trick sometime. The Breitling chrono avenger rep was also very good, I have the gen and the rep and with an A/R crystal treatment you really can't tell the difference.

Don't spend $1,000.. it won't be any better despite what anyone tells you. All chrono reps are around the $350 to $600 range, and they are all pretty much the same quality. Just buy the pure time one for $348 and be happy. It's as good as that model will get. If the $650 is still burning a hole in your pocket then buy some more watches.. you'll be a collector in no time.

If you want top notch service and free shipping the prices will have to go up to cover it.. simple economics. just build an allowance for this into the price you're paying. Personally I'd never return a watch to China.. I've seems dozens of forum disputes start that way. I either repair myself, or send to a non china based service person.

9 hours less running per day.. so hacking will help.. still not ideal. Another options is just hand wind the thing up to full every morning, gives it enough grunt to run for the full day. Mind you with the 3135 being replicated maybe the 4130 will get done.. it would be a fairly easy movement to copy really, (as copying movements goes), it's built for volume production and reliability.. so all the parts are nice and big.. and there aren't too many.

I would imagine some of the original Big Bangs are getting quite affordable.. of course you're past 5 years now so you'd have to budget for a service. The original ones still look pretty good if you swap the old waffle style rubber strap to a new flat or ribbed one.

Excellent review, thanks for taking the time to do this. I've had one of the these on the short list for a while. I have a good 187 but it's just too big to wear. I hoping the 243 feels a little smaller For me the fit and finish being to genuine standards is more important than a detail that only shows on a mega pixel macro shot.. so the cloudy crystal would be a major problem. I guess I'll wait for the updated noob and make a decision between the two.

I doubt many Panerai end buyers are aware of the super high end reps that we get, 95% of genuine owners still thinks fake watches are the crappy street market type. Having said that the fakes must have some effect, even if only amongst the internet watch scene members.

I really wish the makers would do a decent JLC replica or two, the brand seems to get ignored.

I know one of the high profile dealers has about 8 full time staff.. so I suppose that gives some guide to the size of the business, if not the profitability

I was thinking the same.. entirely machine made, designed on cad and milled with hardly a human touch.. even the oiling is done by robot.. The actually unit cost of production must be next to nothing. It makes the whole exclusivity and limited production thing seem pretty contrived (as if we didn't already know that of course)