lfovco

This is a best post of the decade!!!

Nice, 005 is a a best historic rep anyway, so you may want to look at an alternative, 1950 cases like 312 are nice... quite different from what you have, visually the appear taller and just look "more expensive" in general. You may want to research other models as well. Have you looked at pam253L Regatta Flyback Chrono? That model looks mega sweet, I used to have standard 1950 version of it, not Regatta and I wore it for about 5 years. It looks amazing on your wrist and definitely gets noticed a lot. But it does not have a date. The only drawback as far as this particular model is mineral crystal that scratches easily so you would have to be extra careful. http://www.puretimewatch.com/product/pam253i-luminor-regatta-flyback-chrono-1951-ultimate-edition/

From the video it looks like low beat cheap asian auto, not the Asian 7750 for sure. It skips way too much and his chronos don't work at all.

That strap looks really nice FxrAndy. Thanks for the info!!

I have an original, first release of 42mm IWC Ingenieur (2006). I don't like the bracelet to the point I cannot even wear it for a full day. And I would like to get a nice leather strap for it. It would have to be custom sized so I'm looking for strap makers that do that. It is very easy to find countless makers for Panerai but I have a hard time finding anyone making Ingenieur straps. Please Help! Thanks a lot!!!

It's a though one if you discount accuracy to the Gen issues. 312 looks pretty awesome, I don't like the crown, the teeth on 312 and alternate models look so crappy - that's Panerai deal though, nothing to do with the rep. Panerai just really screwed up design of those crowns, they did not use the nice design of the "chunky" crown that 243L use which is based on PAM127 design but adjusted for 44mm cases. That's really my personal dislike, even when I handled the Gen I did not like that crown design at all. Besides that I think it is an awesome model. By the way the lever on the 312 rep is way off, the shape of it. I personally don't mind super small things like font is thinner 1/10mm or whatever all of us love picking on. But the big things that just scream rep are a deal breaker for me. 029M, I cannot really pick on this one honestly, looks awesome. I'm actually thinking of getting it just because it is so well replicated and it is a cool watch.

No idea where this one is from but it is extremely low end rep. It is very innacurate as far as today's rep standard go here. The chrono dials are in completely wrong position and so is date window, thin date font, etc, etc. But if you don't care about that, don't pay more then $50-$90 for it. Or wait for this http://www.puretimewatch.com/product/pam326-m-daylight-titanium-a7753-ultimate-edition-sample-preview/

005M Noob Factory is one of the very few best, most accurate Panerai reps you can buy today. It does feel like Gen in many regards, possibly high 95%+ like Gen which is really good, you cannot really go wrong with it. Just make sure you get the Noob factory one. The H Factory has more flaws, especially the annoyingly wrong shape of the Crown Guard's Lever tip which they get wrong on all their reps, that stands out really a lot to my eye, it's just horrible. And if you want something that's extremely close to Gen then 029M Noob is most likely the best to get. The new 243L Submersible Noob looks promising but it won't be out until Jan 15th. And make sure you use trusted dealer from here, you will not find the same quality for cheaper anywhere else and most likely you'll get scammed and receive not what the pictures will show.

See this and then figure out if 312 is good for you: It's not as close to the Gen like your new 111 or like the 005M is. Another good choice that's super close to Gen is 029M Or if you really like that 1950 style case and you think you can handle going from 44mm to 47mm then check the brand new release of classic 127 out: http://www.puretimewatch.com/product/pam127-e-n-maker-11-superlumed-ultimate-edition-on-soft-tan-leather-strap/ Overall the 005M and 029M Noobs are the closest to the Gen and that new 127 looks pretty close too, but no one has gotten one yet.

Whatever you get make sure you don't get a model with synthetic sapphire crystal like your watch was. And that GMT listed above has a synthetic one, the scratch very easily and are easy to break. Dealers list in their specs if synthetic or real sapphire is being used. Your best bet is to really spend a bit more then the Getat one you are looking at and get something that's actually quite well made and that will last you for a long time. If you like classic, historic Panerai look then check this model out: http://www.puretimewatch.com/product/pam005-m-noob-best-edition-on-black-leather-strap/ It does not get much better then that today. If you still want a GMT then currently PAM029 is a best GMT to get - http://www.puretimewatch.com/product/bez-pam029-m-n-maker-transparent-ar-best-edition-on-black-croco-leather-strap-updated/ And if you like the 1950 style case then check this one out: http://www.puretimewatch.com/product/pam312-l-best-edition-v2/ There are of course quite few other nice choices, spend time around the forum and do research, this is a great community with very cool and knowledgeable group of people.

atomic_doug@ That makes much more sense then anything else. I have been looking at PVD's for a long time now but nothing that's out today does it for me. What you just said is the best way to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NV6bSUH9t4 Just watched it, looks pretty nice. I guess this is a final version of the watch/ What do you guys think?

Looks great!!! Congratulations.

Hmm... $118 for a fake box seems a lot. I got a real Panerai box from an AD for a little more then that but it's genuine. I haven't been actually using it so I may just put it up for sale.

Relaxman@ Very cool, please post some pictures once you get and also what do you think about it.

I completely agree and I have a 7 years old Eddie Lee PAM111 serviced by Zigmeister running like a champ and keeping great time!!!! :-)

So it seems like it makes more sense to get an Asian movt version and put that $70 saved towards the initial service? And then hope it will run for many years? My main deal is to make sure I can get years and years out of the movement cause I keep my reps. And since this model is so accurate to the gen and so great looking it's kind of must have no matter how you look at it.

Yeah, those videos are pretty awesome!

I would not advice buying any Black Seal model with that screw down crown or any rep with a screw down crown for that matter. Because the quality of the materials used to make the threads on those crown is pretty horrible and they wear out completely quite quickly. They use some low great soft metal, whatever it is. If you are planning this to be your daily use watch then you'd have to unscrew and then screw in the crown once every 2 days. Even if you are super careful and do it really slowly, really pay attention to it, it won't last super long. Since the price is not super high and if you are ok with knowing that watch will endup in the trash within a year and a half maybe longer if you are lucky, but it also could be less then a year. I speak from experience. I was insanely carful about my crown, but could not make it last nearly as long as I hoped. I still managed to keep it working for quite a while cause BS was not my daily wearer. Also your two selections are not Noob factory if I'm correct. And honestly, looking at the quality and accuracy of the reps today (and I have been buying them since very early 2005) I would not buy anything other then made by the Noob, but that just me :-) Hope that helps.

Definitely looks like Noob release.

Looks really nice, both do...

Your 088 looks great. I like the design on that model better then 029M.

If you get a chance please post some pics of both next to each other.

@DMS; thanks for the info. I imagine everyone carries the same model from the same maker so there shouldn't be any weird differences. One thing I noticed on different pictures is that sometimes CG lever sticks out further away from the case and also it's tip shape looks weird on some pictures. I guess that's why you do QA...

Picking straps is actually more fun then a rep, you don't have to stress out how accurate it is, ha... There is so many choices in all price ranges you can imagine. http://cbstraps.blogspot.com/ http://gunnystraps.blogspot.com/ http://www.manifatturefirenze.it and some many more..