Fri is gone
mini fiddy - mine!
This one is commonly known a fantasy watch, since Panerai has never produced this watch in this size.
A fiddy case, in 44 mm. currently, all fiddy cases from Panerai is 47mm.
After scouring the net for awhile, I decide to get one luminor one, I kinda like the fiddy shape more than the modern luminor shape.
Anyhow, the pictures of the watch.
This is not the strap it comes with, I have already notched the stock strap to fit my seiko monster. This strap is a Paros strap, cheap and easily replaceable and will be worn in nicely in a week.
This is manual watch movement which is fun (for now) to wind daily.
If you are getting a homage watch or watches of such nature, always get a manual watch. Manual watches are more durable, has lesser parts and problem than a automatic one. Plus, movement of Chinese nature tend to be more problematic. Notice I said Chinese, not oriental movements, because, Japan watch movement is as good as any swiss ETA movement out there.
The Cat and the Fiddle
Fiddy cases, for those who is not sure, is cases shaped similar to the Panerai luminor cushion case in the 50s.
A fiddy case, in 44 mm. currently, all fiddy cases from Panerai is 47mm.
After scouring the net for awhile, I decide to get one luminor one, I kinda like the fiddy shape more than the modern luminor shape.
Anyhow, the pictures of the watch.
This is not the strap it comes with, I have already notched the stock strap to fit my seiko monster. This strap is a Paros strap, cheap and easily replaceable and will be worn in nicely in a week.
This is manual watch movement which is fun (for now) to wind daily.
If you are getting a homage watch or watches of such nature, always get a manual watch. Manual watches are more durable, has lesser parts and problem than a automatic one. Plus, movement of Chinese nature tend to be more problematic. Notice I said Chinese, not oriental movements, because, Japan watch movement is as good as any swiss ETA movement out there.
The Cat and the Fiddle
Fiddy cases, for those who is not sure, is cases shaped similar to the Panerai luminor cushion case in the 50s.
Check out the side profile
^A vintage fiddy case^
^Modern Luminor case^
It all boils down to personal preference which case you like more. Fiddy cases, being thinner, has been known to be fitted with a high dome crystal/glass. In the ye olde days, 1950, plexi glass is used. Now mineral crystal and sapphire crystals are used instead. Although hardcore homage-ers still use plexi for the worn look and eventual aging to yellow-brown tint.
Anyhow, I like fiddy cases more.
Here my specs which I emailed Jackson Tse with:
- Mini Fiddy case (44 mm)
- Gold hands
- Seconds subdial at 9 o'clock position
- Sandwich dial
- Super lume (strong lume, in his words, guessing not superluminova like Getat)
- Thick brown strap
- Domed glass (wanted high domed, but no such thing)
- Marina Militare texts on dial (I got a sterile one to changed since I don't like the wording there making it look cheap)
The watch arrived in 2-3 weeks in bubble wraps and envelop.
How I Literally Got Screwed by the Watch
Problem with cheap watches, material. When buying such watches, the parts are liable to spoil and wear out compared to higher end pieces it is modelled after.
The wach is with a cool screw lug bar. One long bar on the entire length and the threaded end to screw into the 2nd lug it passes.
Top lug bar is missing its screw thread portion
The first time I tried to remove the screws to change strap, this happened. The threaded end is stuck in the lug holes (It is still there).
My options were as follows:
- Get a replacement case from Jackson, Thankfully he is helpful. But I will have to incur postage costs. *crush paper, throw!
- Get it drilled out and fit with 24mm spring bars. But where to find the drill?
Lucky thing is, the screws broken off did not seal the lug hole completely, instead, it just made it look like a regular lug.
Another issue I faced was finding spring bars. Most regular spring bars from NTUC and Old Mr Goh were thin ones. Mr Goh broke a few bars to help me fit them in. The hole was just too big and the spring bar will slide out.
Lucky for my Seiko Monster ownership, I'm aware of the existence of fat lug spring bars. Yippeeee!
Seiko produces 24 mm fat spring bars for their sumo (no puns intended) prospex watches.
I managed to procure fat spring bars after digging around. I asked Mr Goh to source for me as he is one of Seiko's AD. But it'll take a week or so to arrive.
I don't mind having spares, but I wanna get my hands on them fatties asap. After calling up a few places that I know of except K2 because I don't travel east much, I managed to find out that non of them have it, and it was fortunate that I manage to find some online in a shop based in Singapore.
Gnomon watches. The spring bars they sell are not from Seiko. They have those with thinner tips to fit regular watches lug holes.
Anyhow, the 24mm sold in Gnomon was competitively priced with Tung Choy and what not spares selling places with the added convenience others but it felt well made and solid so got it anyways for S$6.50 a pair.
Lug prob fixed, just I still have the lume problem, after exchanging plenty of emails with Jackson, we resolved at him sending me a Dial with better lume. Yet to come, hope it is bright, will update once it is changed out.
I visited Old Mr Goh once more to get straps, he kinda recognises me now and is better tempered than last time. Also he is one of the few person in Singapore that cheaply sells Paros Straps.
A word of warning on Paros Straps as much as I love them:
DO NOT PAY MORE THAN $20 FOR A 20-22 MM OR $25 FOR A 24 - 26 MM PAROS STRAP.
The strap is very value for money/durable/wearable/attractive to look/nice once 'worn' in but it is made to for value do not be victims of unscrupulous sellers. My friend paid $100 for the strap, partly his fault for not doing homework but still it is not right.
I tried looking for brown calf leather with stitching but to no avail or stock so I settled for a alligator strap with matching stitchings.
I don't mind having spares, but I wanna get my hands on them fatties asap. After calling up a few places that I know of except K2 because I don't travel east much, I managed to find out that non of them have it, and it was fortunate that I manage to find some online in a shop based in Singapore.
Gnomon watches. The spring bars they sell are not from Seiko. They have those with thinner tips to fit regular watches lug holes.
Anyhow, the 24mm sold in Gnomon was competitively priced with Tung Choy and what not spares selling places with the added convenience others but it felt well made and solid so got it anyways for S$6.50 a pair.
Lug prob fixed, just I still have the lume problem, after exchanging plenty of emails with Jackson, we resolved at him sending me a Dial with better lume. Yet to come, hope it is bright, will update once it is changed out.
I visited Old Mr Goh once more to get straps, he kinda recognises me now and is better tempered than last time. Also he is one of the few person in Singapore that cheaply sells Paros Straps.
A word of warning on Paros Straps as much as I love them:
DO NOT PAY MORE THAN $20 FOR A 20-22 MM OR $25 FOR A 24 - 26 MM PAROS STRAP.
The strap is very value for money/durable/wearable/attractive to look/nice once 'worn' in but it is made to for value do not be victims of unscrupulous sellers. My friend paid $100 for the strap, partly his fault for not doing homework but still it is not right.
I tried looking for brown calf leather with stitching but to no avail or stock so I settled for a alligator strap with matching stitchings.
The result was quite ok, still hoping for a ammo strap watch without the crazy prices. $200 a strap when the ammo pouch is max $50 each. Hand stitching is not even tight. Craftsmanship is great but quality of skill and materials does not equate to quality of final product.
<- Radiomir, Luminor->
Comparing the bubble dome crystal of the luminor to the radiomir's raised and ever slightly bulging crystal. The case makes this reflect alot of in daylight making it look cheapo, but its growing on me or I'm coming to terms with it.
Homage family photo, this watch is 44mm and the radiomir is 45mm, but this watch wears much larger than the radiomir. On me, it looks like stallone wearing 60mm egi case watches.
Will I get another homage?
Yes, but not in the near future. Or not.
Next hunt:
Homage family photo, this watch is 44mm and the radiomir is 45mm, but this watch wears much larger than the radiomir. On me, it looks like stallone wearing 60mm egi case watches.
Will I get another homage?
Yes, but not in the near future. Or not.
Next hunt:
In Tanjung Pinang
Me n my girlfriend went to tanjung pinang for a short get away..decide to bring with me black monster with the tan brown strap.
Looks quite nice, the local have a nice watch collection of Rep rollies they do have nice faded bezels that people crave alot for.
Hope I can have a good find. I think Rolex reps is same as homages..no difference anyways except for the source of the entire watch. Since it is just the look with a NATO watch I'm looking for, what the hell right?
On that topic, I have an uncle who had a Rolex Rep for 8 years already and it works fine without servicing only till recently. There is always a diamond in the rough, you'LLC never know.
some things
firstly, the excitement is keeping me up making me unable to sleep. I will be going the post office to collect my 2nd pam homage..
before anyone starts booing me or anyone wif a pam homage...
before anyone starts booing me or anyone wif a pam homage...
from a rolex submariner
to a sandoz
to a alpha
invicta
jap orient
microbrand mkII
from deutschland, steinhart
My point, its not wrong to have a homage..but If u buy a watch with the word panerai on the dial, I believe u are also paying for that brand to be on the dial and that costs significantly more money.
I have already had the Radiomir homage that I've worn for awhile and it is starting to grow on me..so for under $150, no harm done buying up another pam homage...
This time round, I wanna get a luminor, but I like what the cushion casing is doing to me, it takes a rugged watch and simplifies it..
things I requested for the watch...
a mini fiddy case size, 44 mm, 1950 cushion case
gold hands
maybe a sterile dial, I don't know if this got through to Jackson or not...
Super lume, Jackson doesn't call it superluminova (like Getat), perhaps his is a blend. Wouldn't know till I see and try it out myself
probably also I asked for a sterile crown guard, no 'REG.' or 'TM'. So hope it gets through too.
another day
People might find Paros leather straps cheap and tacky feeling. I beg to differ.
Being a cheapskate, I just keep buying them. Comfort wise, some do have the burn ends of the stitch pricking your precious wrist.
Right from the purchase, Paros straps all feel stiff and seem to feel like a unbroken light stick. You have to flex it, twist it and shake it like a polaroid picture.
A few things to note when buying Paros straps:
- They are dirt cheap quality strap, I'm talking about ~S$10.
- Shops may have stocked that piece for months or even years so you never know.
- Like any strap/leather, you need to break-in to get a good feel of what it really is
- Like anything dirt cheap, it might have those prickly burnt end threads, nothing a nail cutter cannot cut out
- They might not come with a buckle, so you might wanna recycle your own
- It has its brand and logo embossed on the back of the buckle side of the strap which is quite a nice touch I feel, my friend who didn't know this brand got hustled for a hundred or so for a Paros strap (true story)
A nail cutter has trimmed bit of the moving keeper as it has a small corner of leather jutting out.
Strap is 26mm btw
I have had this strap for about 2 weeks already, I can say, it has been wearing nicely, getting soft, flexy and all. It became darker in colour, has nice lines worn it. Good to look, touch and wear.
Reason why I got this strap is because of Jules Verne Strap or Nubuck alligator strap. I feel that JV straps is considered a hall of famer in strap history.
Google up Nubuck alligator yourself see what sets it apart from other straps. Apparently it feels better and is more resistant to wear and water and knives what not. Another thing about this strap is the gold colour of it, the colour not found in any other alligator strap, that sweet spot.
Being a cheapskate, I just keep buying them. Comfort wise, some do have the burn ends of the stitch pricking your precious wrist.
Right from the purchase, Paros straps all feel stiff and seem to feel like a unbroken light stick. You have to flex it, twist it and shake it like a polaroid picture.
A few things to note when buying Paros straps:
- They are dirt cheap quality strap, I'm talking about ~S$10.
- Shops may have stocked that piece for months or even years so you never know.
- Like any strap/leather, you need to break-in to get a good feel of what it really is
- Like anything dirt cheap, it might have those prickly burnt end threads, nothing a nail cutter cannot cut out
- They might not come with a buckle, so you might wanna recycle your own
- It has its brand and logo embossed on the back of the buckle side of the strap which is quite a nice touch I feel, my friend who didn't know this brand got hustled for a hundred or so for a Paros strap (true story)
Strap is 26mm btw
I have had this strap for about 2 weeks already, I can say, it has been wearing nicely, getting soft, flexy and all. It became darker in colour, has nice lines worn it. Good to look, touch and wear.
Reason why I got this strap is because of Jules Verne Strap or Nubuck alligator strap. I feel that JV straps is considered a hall of famer in strap history.
Google up Nubuck alligator yourself see what sets it apart from other straps. Apparently it feels better and is more resistant to wear and water and knives what not. Another thing about this strap is the gold colour of it, the colour not found in any other alligator strap, that sweet spot.
Rain is coming
This are the seasons of emotions,
And like the wind, they rise and fall..
- led zeppelin
Day out
Went out wif a monster today n bought home a fine piece for my dad..
Orient Bambino
This watch nods in the direction of madmen era. Only thing that this watch has is the crazy dome casing. In case anyone is squinting their eyes, there is not a single lume on this piece (bummer).
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