Saw the "How it's made" episode..picked up my first Rep. Have a QC question!

[Sirch]

Hi All!

I saw the How It's Made video on Panerai and loved the look of the watch and had to have one. My wife flipped when I suggested picking one up for $3200 (used). Not at the cost, but at what I was spending it on. I don't think her watching the same video helped, as it seemed like much of what went into the manufacturing of the watch was done by machine, and very little hands-on manufacturing.

So as a stop-gap until I can convince her of the real thing, I figured I would look at replicas. After a long an arduous search I found these forums and the plethora of information they have. Thank you to everyone in the community for all the helpful posts they have provided. There are so many fake "helpful" places out there. There are many blogs talking about replicas and the majority I found ended up just being scam sites pointing to other sites to get your money. This was the first place I found with real first hand accounts by real customers. Until I came here, I was set on spending almost $500 on a replica from a site referred to by the "blogs". Glad I didn't go that route.

Anyhow, I made my first purchase for a 111M by H Factory a few days ago. I got the QC pics, but I don't know what to look for. The watch itself looks great, but can someone explain the electronic readout thing? I found some explanations on what they mean, but not really what a good readout should be for these movements.

The picture I was sent said:

Rate: -006 s/d

Amplitude: 309*

Beat Error: 0.3ms

I take it the rate is the seconds lost per day? Is -006 acceptable?

I have no idea what an acceptable amplitude is. I read the meaning of it, but not entirely sure I understand what amplitude is. It's not good to be on the low end, nor the high end? And it tops out around 315* I think? Again, I'm a little confused in regards to amplitude.

Beat Error I really could only guess at. 0.3ms doesn't seem like a lot..?

I already accepted the watch as is and it should either ship soon or already has. I'm looking more from an education standpoint. I did read the intro post in the general forum, but a lot of the links appear to be dead, and apply to the 7750 movement (whereas these are Asian 6497). If someone can point to a post regarding these movements and expectations, that would be helpful too.

If things work out as I've seen around the forums, I doubt this will be my last purchase. Thanks for the help in understanding. I can't wait for it to show up, even if it doesn't run perfectly..

[daniel8888]

u have to Post PICS of the Particular Watch if u want any help, and -6/s a day is very very accurate

[Sirch]

I didn't post a pic because the seller specifically asked not to post the pics in the forums (unsure as to why).

Here is the pic showing the readouts from the...whatever it's called.

[FxrAndy]

Rate: -006 s/d

Amplitude: 309*

Beat Error: 0.3ms

60 seconds a min, x 60 an hour x 24 hours=86400 seconds a day so -6 a day as a percentage is 0.00694% error, is not bad and infact good for any non chronometer movement

the amplitude is the degrees of movement that the balance wheel is moving and 309 is good for that movement

the beat error is the difference in time in milliseconds that the the impulse stone causes the paletes to lock and unlock the escape wheel, think of it as a limp, one leg is slower than the other by 0.3ms and 0.3 is nothing to worry about,

But remember that a mechanical movement is affected by many things such as:-

the power in the main spring, fully wound or low power reserve

the watches position and orientation

temperature

servicing and clenliness

[Sirch]

Awesome! Thanks for the explanation FxrAndy! That's exactly what I was looking for. I really liked the limped leg analogy.

This is also my first mechanical watch, and that's part of the draw to these. Something mechanical in a digital world. I'll have to read up on maintenance and what I can / can't do myself.

[FxrAndy]

glad i could help.

[Jkay]

For any mechanical watch, a service call every 5 years should keep you in good health. Oil inside the watch evaporates to gum over time, whether you use the watch or not. A service cleans out the oil gum and adds fresh oil.

Unsanitary conditions in the China factories almost guarantees your watch movement will be dirty upon arrival. If you really love the watch after you have lived with it for a month or two, go ahead and get it serviced.

[Sirch]

For any mechanical watch, a service call every 5 years should keep you in good health. Oil inside the watch evaporates to gum over time, whether you use the watch or not. A service cleans out the oil gum and adds fresh oil.

Unsanitary conditions in the China factories almost guarantees your watch movement will be dirty upon arrival. If you really love the watch after you have lived with it for a month or two, go ahead and get it serviced.

Thanks for the tips!

Do I get it serviced at any watchsmith? I wasn't sure what to do when needing to service a reproduction. Will they know how to work on this movement? I know, showing my noobness again!

[Jkay]

The movement in s basic Panerai rep is one of the most study, simple movements out there. The biggest problem you will face is the bias against replicas at a lot of watch shops. There are several trusted forum watch makers / watch smiths who can do this with no problem if you cant find someone locally. Expect a lot of funny looks when you tell them it's a rep.