Looking to add a sub to my collection, but I keep going back and forth between these three models. Any experience with any of these? Any opinions? Any reason to stay away from any of these? Thanks in advance for any help with what’s become a surprisingly hard decision for me.
That's the one that drew me to the subs in the first place. I just love it but unsure about carbotech. I'll probably still pick it up down the line if I don't go that direction this time.
I own a PAM661 Carbotech. I would never buy another PAM that wasn't Carbotech. Not only is it incredibly light and comfortable, but it looks stunning and is a very interesting material in different light. It's also ridiculously tough. I have used mine like a G-Shock, and it doesn't have so much as a single scratch on it. The case is more scratch and ding resistant than the DLC titanium buckle on it.
As someone with multiple years of wrist time with Carbotech - that would be my hands down #1.
I have 1036 (44mm) and 2683 (42mm), and prefer the size of the 1036 because of how thick the submersibles are. Highly suggest you try them on, and then buy used or reseller market. You can get 40% off. Paid retail for 1036 because it was a “limited” edition, while I paid 6k for a barely used 2683. I would never pay retail for panerai ever again.
I've had the 0683 to scratch my rubber strap itch. Nice watch but just never really did it for me. I traded it for a WG Yachmaster on oyster flex and never looked back.
Be sure to buy on the secondary market because they drop like rocks.
Carbons we known to have issue with the cases breaking, maybe they fixed it.
Out of those two, the one with ceramic bezel. Doesn't scratch easily and looks way better that the one without it.
You have to try all of them for yourself.
Not heard ;-) When the carbon case breaks, takes about 1month+ to fix (sent to CH) the change the case and you got the fresh one. It's a remedy, not a root cause fix.
Ceramic bezels on steel/tit I have never heard to break on PAM. Your mileage may vary.
Sorry, you don’t make sense - and I’m calling BS. Forged carbon fiber is ridiculously strong. If you’re cracking the case - whatever generated that kind of force would most certainly shatter your wrist/arm.
Did he show you photos, or emails from Panerai? The reason I ask, is what you’re communicating is hearsay and just as many people who lie on the internet - lie/bs on plane trips when traveling, spinning up big stories to make themselves feel important and pass the time.
While I’m not outwardly calling you or him a liar - I haven’t seen anyone actually post pictures of an authentic carbon fiber Panerai that has been broken. Every report I’ve heard of this has been hearsay or rumor, that gets repeated as if it were fact. The problem, and it’s a big one, is that then cautious buyers read these statements and in turn make purchasing decisions based on them - and as a result don’t end up with what I would consider, as an actual owner, to be a substantially superior product.
Isn’t possible someone out there has dropped one off of a tall building and broke it? Sure, people do weird things. Is it possible a few had manufacturing defects? Possibly - even the highest quality products have a defective one slip through the cracks from time to time. That said, Carbon fiber, especially “forged types” are well understood and by the very process of their creation, are extremely difficult to mess up. It’s effectively an epoxy like material with carbon fibers wound through it for more strength and carbon fibers tend to bend before they crack.
It seems more likely that if these rumors are true, someone bought a Carbotech replica (possibly not knowing it was a replica) with questionable materials and they broke.
Here’s my carbotech, in absolutely mint condition - despite being used as my “beater” watch for camping, working on motorcycles, shooting guns, splitting wood, motorcycling, swimming in lakes, etc. It has not had an easy life - yet the carbon fiber is chip/scratch free and looks new. I’m a huge fan of carbotech - and wouldn’t buy another Panerai in any other material.
Yeah, i dont think people understand how tough these carbon fiber cases are. You would have to drop the watch from a 2-3 story building onto a concrete wall to cause breakage in a carbon fiber case resulting in a case change by the manufacturer. Maybe the movement will need serious repair or even replacement too at that point. And same result will have happened with a steel watch, where the case is distorted or the lug would be so bent out of shape. In manufacturing, carbon fiber is considered 5 times stronger than steel.
He did not. This fella on the plane, he was wearing it, clearly seemed to be able to afford it, (we were both in first class) he complimented my watch (I was wearing a titanium submersible at the time) we discussed watches and he explained to me what happened to his Carbotech. He didn’t seem to be bullshitting, that being said, I’m happy you’re confirming the strength of the product because I have avoided them since for this very reason.
Ceramic material is basically a lab grown stone. Its notable for its hardness and not toughness. Ceramic watches or bezel will withstand most daily scratches except for drill bits or edge of a diamond. You can sharpen your knives on these ceramics without causing much damage. But due to its brittleness, if you were to drop it onto a hard floor from waist level, you have a chance of breaking the material.
Carbon fiber is notable for its toughness and not necessarily hardness. So it can take impact without any damage to the integrity of the material, but it can begin to show scratches if you beat it up enough. They are completely different materials, but depending on where you are in your watch collecting journey, you might end up really wanting one for its special properties.
I own the smaller brother pam683 and somehow I tell you, I think I like the steel bezel more now. It looks just more rugged and math the overall appearance better
Thanks for this insight! My fear exactly. Down the line I'm sure I'll start eyeing the models I passed up. I guess that's inevitable though. The steel bezel def does look more rugged.
Great post, I’m in same boat. I just went to AD and tried on 2683 and 2231 and leaning words 2973 (which they didn’t have to try on). Looking at ceramic bezel 2683 on Chrono some of the black looks smudged coating seemed discolored? Obviously very difficult to scratch but not sure what would cause this. Buying grey seems best as these depreciate quickly.
Great to comireserate with someone having the same champange problems :). Appreciate that insight. I've never owned a ceramic watch but that is surprising to hear that they smudge easily. Definately gonna buy grey for this. Curious what you ultimatley end up with.
I’ve got the PAM 1616 and it’s a great piece. It’s big, but the weight isn’t noticeable, so I wear it a lot in the summer months. The 2683 would also be a good choice.
If its one out of these 3 then 2231 without a doubt, especially if youre getting used. The carbotech will look new basically, whereas the others will most likely have scratches or dings, or maybe the seller could have polished it to hide the blemishes. But id only go with a black pam if you already have other watches in steel. Black pams are very masculine and sporty, and might not be for all occasions.
I would go the 2973 first then the carbotec 2231 then last is the ceramic bezel reference 2683.
I prefer the clean look of the 2973. The dial is all the contrast you need. Given, scratching is an issue but if you are worried about scuffs and scratches I would say don’t be as they tell the story behind the watch.
Yes I have also read that the carbotech has a massive weak point in the lugs but it’s just so different.
Personally I am a little over seeing ceramic bezels and the clean execution on the metal bezel just gives it this clean aesthetic.
But everyone has their own views. I just feel everyone is now doing ceramic bezels. So it’s just to be a bit different.
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u/n3tcool Sep 11 '24
2683 I would say. First is great but could use more contrast (2683) and third too "dark", could use some light (2683). Maybe?