Panerai's are ok. But do be aware that they are using heavily modified Unitas and ETA movements. Personally, I won't pay Rolex prices for a non-manufacture timepiece. But that's just me...

Here are two of my recent acquisitions :

Ball Engineer Master II Diver with all black dial.



Ladies Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Automatic with Mother of Pearl Dial (for my wife)

Passions in Bangsar Village has a Panerai Black Seal with date window (the basic model) for sale at RM20,000 and a couple of other panerai's too. I think the Black Seal is a steal at 20K. As my wife would say " CHEAP!". I suggest you grab the black seal as the going price at the moment is around 27K used. You can't find it new anymore as it is OOP (Out Of Production). Also, since it is the basic model, it is also the cheapest. Plus, if you buy it from Passions of Singapore (in Bangsar Village), you can be sure it is genuine. You do know that there are a lot of replica Panerai's being passed around as the genuine item, right?

That's what I meant in my much earlier post. I, too, prefer Rolexes to Panerai's for that reason. When buying Panerai's, be prepared to pay Rolex prices for them. Panerai's never go for cheap as even the used ones cost more than brand new ones. Even more if they're OOP (Out Of Production). The Black Seal at Passions is selling at around 30% more than the MSRP (RM20K) so if you are a Panerai lover, you better get it. It is good value. The Black Seals should be going at RM27k now. When it was just launched a couple of years back, it was going for RM16K. But, I personally think that Panerai's are a rip off. So I tend to avoid them.

But beware, if the deal is too good to be true, then it really is too good to be true. Rule of the thumb : No Panerai is sold less than their MSRP, even 2nd hand ones. They usually go for 30-35% more than their MSRP. 50-60% more if the model is OOP. If you see a cheaper or relatively cheap Panerai, 99.99% chance is that it is a replica or counterfeit.

Nowadays, Panerai replica's (mostly from Russia) are so good that it takes a well-trained eye to spot that it is fake. And counterfeit Panerai's have NO SPARE PARTS. Once kaput, you can throw it away.

This post has been edited by friedricetheman: Dec 17 2009, 07:30 PM

Are there any pictures? I can verify them for you. My watchuseek username is friedricetheman. But problem with ebay is that they usually will show you pictures of a genuine watch but when they send it to you, they might send you a replica.

Better buy watches from a shop where you can inspect the wares before purchasing. I recommend Passions of Singapore for 2nd hand watches. They have a branch in Bangsar Village. I saw quite a number of Girard Perregaux's on display.

There are Russian Pammies. You just have to go to Hong Kong to get one. One of my friends (an air stewardess) got a russian one from a stall there. Or, you can head over to Russia to get one.

You can't identify a Russian Pammy easily. It is (to the naked eye) a 100% replica of a pammy, right down to the movement seen on the back. The only tell tale sign is that on some russian models the engraved words (Panerai) on the movement bridges as seen on genuine ones are actually very well made stickers (that look like engravings). You can spot the flaw with a loupe. Otherwise, it looks and feels (weight wise) like a pammy. Even the chronograph models uses Russian Valjoux 7750 movements (which are genuine movements used on brands like Poljot) and not chinese knock offs of the 7750 (which you can find on so-called 'high end' replicas found here in Malaysia).

Btw, the local 'agents' here have refuse to import in russian pammies because of the fact that they are quite expensive. A PAM black seal will cost you around RM2,500.

Here's a link to a post on russian made panerai's (the first link will take you to a guy who took it apart and compared it to an actual panerai. You will have to scroll down for the pictures.).

http://www.replicawatchreport.com/articles...a-movement.html

Russian Panerai

Russian made Panerai 1950

If you have never heard of something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Especially true when coming from someone who used to work in the watch industry in the States for almost a decade.

This post has been edited by friedricetheman: Dec 20 2009, 10:59 PM

Oops. Thanks. Yes. What I wanted to say was that it cannot be identified easily. Sorry. Typo.

Corrected it. Thanks.

Or you could find out more about President Obama's CURRENT watch. He's wearing the Vulcain's Anniversary Heart (going real cheap at only RM48,000 for the platinum model with leather strap).

This post has been edited by friedricetheman: Dec 22 2009, 04:39 PM

There was a picture of him in the Star newpaper not too long ago wearing the Vulcain.

There was a picture of Datuk Seri Najib addressing the parlimen wearing a Rolex Day-Date (the presidential watch) in white gold and platinum.

Get a Ball watch. The Ball Night Train with DLC in rubber strap looks gorgeous. Also, you can't go wrong with the Ball Hydrocarbon series. The best part about Ball watches is that you can resize the bracelet yourself. They use screws in place of metal bars on their links (ala Rolex).

Omega SA is a lot like Rolex. They don't give discounts. Any AD that is caught giving discounts will have their dealership revolked. So, if you sweet talk the Authorized Dealer, you might be able to get 5% off the retail price.

Ball on the other hand is still going at 20% discount here in Malaysia. Ball Watch USA has already stop giving out discounts beginning of 2009. So, we WIS (watch idiot savant) are actually anticipating this to happen soon in malaysia.

Sorry. Can't help you there. But generally, when you are talking about resale value, it depends on the buyer. If a buyer is willing to pay RM1 million for it, then the resale value for your dad's watch is RM1 million.

Resale value is a very subjective matter. You can't pint point the actual resale value of a timepiece. It varies from buyer to buyer. Like they say, 'willing buyer, willing seller'.

As a rule of thumb, most watches have a resale value of around 50% of the original price. But, of course, you have to factor in market forces, demand and inflation.

Sorry. No idea. I'm not an expert on Japanese watches. Maybe someone here might be able to help.

Anyone know if the Tissot T-Touch Expert can be used for swimming? I know that it is rated 100m WR but have heard of older Tissot Touch models dying after owners took it swimming..

Also, since the T-Touch Expert is only 100m WR rated, why is there a diver's extension on the bracelet? I see no point in a diver's extension unless you are able to take the watch for diving trips, which obviously you can't given the low Water Resistant rating.

The Sea Touch is also not very suitable for diving as it is rated to only 200m. Serious tool watches are rated to at least 300m and above.

This post has been edited by friedricetheman: Jan 11 2010, 05:25 PM

I was thinking of buying a T-Touch Expert but need to know whether if I can get it wet (eg. swimming or water sports). They should fix their WR problem instead of jacking up the prices with every new model.

Umm.. I already know that 100m WR is suitable for surface swimming. BUT, even though the Tissot Touch Expert is rated 100m, the Tissot ervice center ADVISE AGAINST swimming while wearing it. But the manual specifically wrote that it is safe for swimming.

Also, 50m WR is not good enough for swimming. You need at least 100m WR. I washed my hands in the sink while wearing my Ball Trainmaster Pulsemeter (WR 50m) and water droplets seeped through the back. The accuracy was off and I had to send it to the service center before the parts rusted and played havoc on the movement.

200m is also not recommended for dives of 30m depths and above. A 200m WR watch is good for recreational divers. But it's a no go for technical divers like me. I have a 200m Tag Hueur watch dying out on me at the 50m mark (I checked it on my primary dive watch - a suunto dive computer watch). Water seeped in much earlier at probably 30m mark. As for my Ball Engineer Master II Diver (rated 300m), I have encountered no such problem.

The WR ratings are done in lab conditions and are not standardised. Every company will perform their own testings and so, a 100m WR watch from one company will have different tolerance than the 100m WR watch from another company.

Treat the WR ratings as only a guideline.

I hope not. With the prices that they are charging, it should be fully assembled in switzerland. But then again, even Ball outsourced their bracelet and straps to be made in Asia (hence no swiss made stamped on their bracelets and straps).

Nothing wrong with outsourcing your bracelets and straps but when a company outsources completely to China, then there is bound to be problems with piracy. I've heard of replicas coming out of factories that make the genuine stuff.

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Added on January 18, 2010, 12:38 pmHey, that's the James Bond Seamaster. Nice!

Noticed the date window in black instead of white, which means that it is a limited edition James Bond seamaster.

8K is a really good deal. Congrats!

This post has been edited by friedricetheman: Jan 18 2010, 12:38 PM

Passions are very reputable. I have dealt with them before. They are registered with the Singapore government as a licensed 2nd hand watch dealer. Their prices are a bit on the high side but at least you know the watches are genuine and have not been tempered with. Highly recommended.

Put it this way, an ETA Valjoux 7750 ebauche cost $200 but the Ball Trainmaster Pulsemeter (non-cosc), which is fitted with a 7750 is going for RM7500. But among us WIS, Ball watches are still comparatively cheap. How do you explain that?

It's not only the watch movement that determines the pricing but other factors like the level of finishing, brand recognition, and marketing. Take Rolex, for instance. We all know Rolex produce their own in-house movements. But did you know that the 3310 hasn't changed at all since the 80s. So, why are we paying inflated prices for essentially a 20 year old movement? Again, it's the brand recognition and marketing. A rolex today isn't much different from a rolex 10 years ago. The only difference now is that they use silicon main springs and kif shock absorbers. Two minor tweaks and they increased their prices by more than double? Where's the logic in that? Would you buy a rolex now after what I have told you?

Take it from someone who has been in the watch industry for way too long.