PatronSaintofChainsaws Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 I wont cover the major, well known flaws of this piece here. Here are the facts: Stainless steel case, 52mm diameter, 57mm with crown, 64.6mm lug-to-lug, 14mm high26mm lug widthLug bars with screws on both sidesScrew-down crownSeaGull ST-1901 2-register chronograph movementRunning seconds @ 9, chrono minutes @ 3, center chrono secondsBlue (painted) handsDisplay case-back The dial states: RADIOMIR PANERAI MARE NOSTRUM The case-back engraving states: OFFICINE PANERAI PB 0559927 OP 6731 STAINLESS STEEL <OP logo> 30m The crown engraving states: MARE NOSTRUM One thing I noticed that I haven't seen anyone else comment on so far is the fact that the bezel is sloped, with a high center that gets shorter as it approaches the edge. I've been looking at pics of various gens, and although I can't find a shot that shows the bezel profile, I think either they must be flat, or have a more subtle slope than the rep. This may be the other "off" thing about the bezel that couldn't be discerned from the pics posted by the dealers. The dial indices appear to be engraved, then filled with lume, so it gives a pseudo-sandwich dial appearance. The case-back engravings are nicely done, with a decent amount of depth to them. The case-back itself screws on and off smoothly using just a sticky-ball. The crown engraving is done to the same standard as the case-back engravings. One thing worth noting about that is that the blue plastic that covers the crown during shipment got wedged into the engravings and took quite a bit of effort to remove. The lug bars have screw-ends on either side, and you'll definitely want to check them after receiving yours, as the screws on this example were loose. Here are the pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sql_pl Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 Looks great! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mactower Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 Looks great, thank you for the review! How is the lume? Is it possible to get a lume photo? Cheers, M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatronSaintofChainsaws Posted July 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 Looks great, thank you for the review! How is the lume? Is it possible to get a lume photo? Cheers, M. I'll try to take one. The lume exists, but it's not particularly bright or long-lasting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txcollector Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 sorry but the bezel is very bad. I wonder how they were able to mess up so much and Josh's site said "PAM experts" helped with this. The so called experts must be blind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatronSaintofChainsaws Posted July 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 (edited) sorry but the bezel is very bad. As has been said many times. For the price ($200 + shipping if you know where to look), it makes a good base for modifying. Edited July 25, 2010 by PatronSaintofChainsaws Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 Great pictorial review. It is interesting because the thing that screams out rep to me first and foremost is actually the hands. This was my issue with the 253 as well. But it can be fixed using the same paint we used on the FM conquistador hands back in the day.I would be curious as to whether the dial lettering is the correct color as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txcollector Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 I'll be curious on how a new bezel/crystal assembly can be manufactured at a reasonable cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatronSaintofChainsaws Posted July 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 (edited) Great pictorial review. It is interesting because the thing that screams out rep to me first and foremost is actually the hands. This was my issue with the 253 as well. But it can be fixed using the same paint we used on the FM conquistador hands back in the day.I would be curious as to whether the dial lettering is the correct color as well. I thought the same about the hands...ugly blue paint, but they got the shape close enough, so it should be fixable with some effort. I was thinking for a vintage MS build, that perhaps they would look pretty good if stripped and cold-blued (assuming that they're steel underneath). As for the dial color, I think the lettering should probably a yellowish cream color and not the brown-gold that we have here. Check the MS related pics on WatchProSite: http://panerai.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-717/pi-3632116/ti-583566/s-0/ http://panerai.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-717/pi-3627666/ti-582876/s-0/ http://panerai.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-717/pi-3610091/ti-580616/s-0/ Edited July 25, 2010 by PatronSaintofChainsaws Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mastergod Posted July 26, 2010 Report Share Posted July 26, 2010 sorry but the bezel is very bad. I wonder how they were able to mess up so much and Josh's site said "PAM experts" helped with this. The so called experts must be blind. As far as I have come to understand, the experts were ignored as far as the bezel is concerned. IMHO still a good value piece and an opportunity to deepen our pam collection. mg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alant Posted July 26, 2010 Report Share Posted July 26, 2010 (edited) Have to agree for the price no fight. Looks like we'll be seeing more modded versions of this watch in the near future. Thanks for the review & pics, appreciate that! I like this watch! Cheers! Edited July 26, 2010 by alant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellons Posted July 26, 2010 Report Share Posted July 26, 2010 Have to agree for the price no fight. Looks like we'll be seeing more modded versions of this watch in the near future. Thanks for the review & pics, appreciate that! I like this watch! Cheers! great review. any mode planned? would be interesting to see this one vintagised! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted July 26, 2010 Report Share Posted July 26, 2010 Great looking watch nonetheless but surprised how they got the bezel wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subbiesrock Posted July 26, 2010 Report Share Posted July 26, 2010 What a tank of a watch... looks like it should be hanging on a wall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted July 26, 2010 Report Share Posted July 26, 2010 Thanks for the pics,except for the bezel nothing else really bugs me about this piece. I dont know If I could cary off a 52mm though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanya Posted July 26, 2010 Report Share Posted July 26, 2010 I like it The possibliity of running into someone who actually knows what a Mare Nostrun is let alone half the gens, Frankens and super reps we wear are so minute anyway I like the green strap too, but not in the web, a green olive Ammo would be killer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred123 Posted July 31, 2010 Report Share Posted July 31, 2010 Excellent pics, PSoC! Damn, that's a big watch. Whew! I'm tired just looking at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK471 Posted August 1, 2010 Report Share Posted August 1, 2010 It's a great piece, but a niche piece, I believe. The size alone makes it appropriate for only a few. Still, it looks as though the makers have done at least an admirable job trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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