ATEspo 0 Posted November 23, 2013 Wanted to do a quick review on Kuvarsit and their Panerai 351M http://www.kuvarsit....roduct_id=32154 First things first, Kuvarsit's communication is amazing, the buying process is quick and easy and I will continue to do business with Kuvarsit. I was always in love with the 44mm 1950's case and ordered my first Kuvarsit watch back in April, it was the Panerai 312O. I was amazed when I received it and knew I would buy another Pam from KW in the future. Lets fast forward to earlier this month when KW announced their 351. I paid for it on Nov 11 and had QC photos on Nov 13 and it was trackable by the 15th. I had a slight delay with the USPS as they re-routed my package to the other side of the country, but it landed safe and sound this pas Thursday the 21st. Onto the watch itself. This is a review of my opinions of the watch, not a review how 1:1 it is with its gen counterpart. When I unpacked the watch I was amazed again how solid and gen-like the watch felt. I manually wound the watch a few times and proceeded to set the time and boy was I surprised how good it felt. I will go into details below: [Movement: I am not a stinker about 1:1 looking movements, I am more into how it functions. This clone P9000 movement KW does is top notch. The rotor is almost silent, winds very smooth and the time/date set functions feel very solid. It also keeps a great power reserve. Case: The case is very nicely finished, nice brush marks, no sharp edges. I was asked about the bezel, and to my eye it looks very very nicely polished. I did scuff it already, but I think that is due to how thick the watch actually is. I've also scuffed my 312's bezel but a cape cod takes it out pretty good. Crystal: The sapphire crystal has very clear optics and looks very nice at most angles. I am not sure if it has AR coating on it at all but overall its very clear (see my photos) but it does show reflections at some angles. Overall I think its great. Dial/Hands/Date: I've never seen a 351 in person so I cannot comment on the dial color and close it is to gen, all I can say is its very nice. The dial print and cutouts are all very crisp, the date font is nice and centered vertically/horizontally and the lume is outstanding. I do have a slight defect in the lume at the 8 o'clock marker, looks a little lumpy, I should have studied my QC photos better but in all honesty it does not bother me at all. The hands are one of the reasions I wanted a 351, I love the gold hands on a Panerai. These gold hands have a nice polish to them, the edges are also very nice and clean, but not 100% perfect. I saw a couple places that looked a little rough on the endges, mainly the second hand. Very hard to photograph because I do not have a macro lens with me. They look A LOT better than other rep pams's gold hands (aka both 390's i've had). Crown/Crownguard: It has nice engravings, has a good shape, nice polished pin, snaps closed and looks fantastic. Strap Quick Change: I am not a huge fan of this QC strap system, I prefer screws, but I will say this (as well as the KW 312) works great. It was a little tough getting the one pin out when I first got it but after a couple strap changes it loosened up. When reinstalling the lug pins, pushing the pins in while pressing the QC button, they make a nice 'snap' back into the QC mechanism. I feel very comfortable wearing it and knowing the lug pins will not come out. Caseback: Very nice caseback engravings, nice display back and I took the caseback off to grease the gasket and the threads are gold plated so the threads will never strip/back out since its Titanium. Weight/Size: The KW 351 without a strap or lug bars weighs 103.6g. Its stainless steel counterpart 312 weighs 135.6g. So the 351 being made of titanium is 32g lighter than its stainless steel brother. It is noticeable on the wrist too, the 351 doesn't feel too light as some other Titanium watches do, it still has wrist presence. I have a 6.75" wrist and personally think the 44mm 1950 case fits my wrist perfect. It is a little thicker than a Luminor but I like the wrist presence a lot. Also it feels different on the wrist with a thick 24mm ammo strap (5mm) vs a gen 24x22 strap. Overall: Overall I love this watch, I love it so much I am going to keep it AND my 312. I am actually going to send them out one by one to have serviced since they are keepers for me and always like to have my keepers running strong. I say if your on the fence with a 351 right now, I wouldn't hesitate to get the Kuvarsit. I haven't seen a review of the other factory's 351 yet nor have I had one in my hands, so my opinion is biased, but due to the fake jewels in the movement of the other factory's 351 and my track record with Kuvarsit, it was a no brainer which one I went with. Onto some photos: Some comparison shots with the KW 312O to see the difference in case material and dial/hands color 2 photos of the weigh in Couple wrist shots And lastly under direct florescent light Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnPilot 1 Posted November 23, 2013 Many pics and nice review :thumsup2: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eduardor 0 Posted November 24, 2013 Damn! i Love those tobacco dials, i just dont like titanium watches. Look super sweet on that asso btw. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waynacove 0 Posted November 24, 2013 very nice, wow. Thx for review and sharing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matjalee 0 Posted November 24, 2013 Ale, now I have big problem. My local TD brought me pam 351 and 386 V5 from KW to be chosen. Heelp me on this Ale.Which one first. I have in my hand currently 111V3, 388 Kw 183 H.. Your advised would be highly appreciate......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T222 0 Posted November 24, 2013 Great strap on the first pictures! I can see the little something on the Lumen at 8 o'clock, but only becource you said so. I would not have seen it othervise. I'm glad you like the watch, as I have one coming my way also. (track & trace - track & trace - track & trace ... you know) Nice review, thanks! Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtwc 1 Posted November 24, 2013 Lovely review and great pics. Like you, I'm a fan of the ti Pams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramirr 0 Posted November 25, 2013 This is it after my 417 KW! Congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
machiavegli 6 Posted November 25, 2013 Nice quick review! -Mach Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Dan 0 Posted November 25, 2013 Nice review. Very helpful. Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simey83 2,046 Posted November 25, 2013 Damn that's nice! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boneyjr 1 Posted November 25, 2013 the watch looks great.. it is my absolute 'next buy.' Does the date line up evenly? hard to say because of the angle of all your pics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mapman57 0 Posted November 25, 2013 Love tobacco and ti ?..and it looks like a Gunny Caitlin, another fave Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ALE7575 24 Posted November 25, 2013 Thanks Atespo for showing this watch so nicely This is one of my preferred PAMs I like the combo Ti Brown dial with gold hands. The gen is really nice and KW has get a thing very very approximate for an affordable price. Congrats KW. This will be my next purchase. I really was waiting for KW version of this watch to buy it. I hope the recessed CP is corrected in next batches. Thanks for sharing and make the review ALE Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ALE7575 24 Posted November 25, 2013 Ale, now I have big problem. My local TD brought me pam 351 and 386 V5 from KW to be chosen. Heelp me on this Ale.Which one first. I have in my hand currently 111V3, 388 Kw 183 H.. Your advised would be highly appreciate......... PAM 386 was never released as gen, PAM 386 is made of composite impossible to be repped PAM 351 is a watch in production made of Titanium like the replica Therefore no doubts. PAM 351 ALE Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NFleischer 4,355 Posted November 25, 2013 Both looking great, thanks ALE. I always loved the 312 from when the gen was first released. Silverspeed had one (Where'd he go BTW?) It's hard to get the KW 312, I may end up with a 320 GMT then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matjalee 0 Posted November 26, 2013 Ale, now I have big problem. My local TD brought me pam 351 and 386 V5 from KW to be chosen. Heelp me on this Ale.Which one first. I have in my hand currently 111V3, 388 Kw 183 H.. Your advised would be highly appreciate......... PAM 386 was never released as gen, PAM 386 is made of composite impossible to be repped PAM 351 is a watch in production made of Titanium like the replica Therefore no doubts. PAM 351 ALE Thank you ale PAM 351 its go......thanks for the adviced Share this post Link to post Share on other sites