My next purchase

[Arthur1]

Hi guys,

In the hunt for my next purchase after my Bre SuperOcean from lufcmattylad.

I have narrowed it down to these two:

http://www.watcheden.com/zenith-el-primero-fondroyante-1-10th-of-a-second-working-chronograph-with-silver-dial-leather-strap-i-56215-p-1.html

or

http://www.watcheden.com/panerai-luminor-marina-unitas-6497-movement-with-black-dial-s-s-lefty-version-i-56004-p-1.html

Thoughts/experiences/alternatives welcomed.

Ideally would be going for a Tudor Monty on the retro grand prix feel but the Zenith may fill that gap for a while. The pam would make a nice compliment to my Ploprof. How does the new style bracelet look in the flesh?

[Ronin]

You don't see many Zenith's in the wild, so maybe go that direction. Seems like it will be a good budget/compromise and be reliable with the quartz movement. This would be a good grab-n-go worry free chrono.

IMHO the cheaper PAM reps are, well, cheaper. I consider DSN the starting point for a PAM Rep.

[txcollector]

IMHO the cheaper PAM reps are, well, cheaper. I consider DSN the starting point for a PAM Rep.

Yep, DSN should be the way to start of the cartel auto ultimates.

All these <$350 PAMs look like Canal St. junk. I'd stay away from it (CG, AR, crystal, canon pin, crown, dial, lume, bracelet - all bad).

[Arthur1]

Are they really that bad? I'm not looking for 1:1 likeness ( do Pan even make this model?). Is it solid? Is the Unitas mvt not a bit of a workhorse?

[txcollector]

The closest Panerai model would be the PAM115 but the movement would be incorrect, the dial is incorrect, the bracelet (should be a leather strap) is incorrect, the crown guard is incorrect.

Plus when you actually see it in person they look cheap (the AR being the worst part). Like I said, these kind of watches feel/look like Canal St. stuff.

As for the movement, the 6497 is a workhorse. Easy to replace if necessary as well.

I know nothing about Zeniths so I can't comment. I don't get quartz models but that's just a personal opinion.

[lufcmattylad]

Glad you liked the SuperOcean Arthur1

Interesting choices. I went through a Zenith phase once - but I couldnt make my mind up on a model to go for. Now im completely off them :-)

For Pams, everything said above is true. The AR is shocking and there are incorrect features as compared to the gen, which might make you think twice if getting a rep close as possible to the gen is your thing (it is for most of us!). The DSN is the best choice, but I see you are looking to pay at the lower end. In this case, why not try out the lefty pam from the link? - you may love it. You'll get an idea of what your money can buy and might want to upgrade in the future.

try it out and see - good luck

as for me, ive been deciding for months what my next rep should be... It'll either be a SINN U1 (eta), DSN PAM 111, or EBEL BTR 137 (I've trialled the quartz - nows the time for the upgrade to A7750)

[Arthur1]

Thanks for the input guys. I think however I'm going to go against the grain and go for the Pam. Not wearing anything with a leather band at the mo and also had a few battery changes so that's put me off quartz. So the manual wind on steel gets the nod.

Has any one had experience with the same bracelet or have a wrist shot? Definitely prefer this to the old style pam bracelet.

Will update when it lands.