Today, I'd like to show something a bit more serious, and more expensive. I agonized many months on buying it, for reasons which will become immediately obvious, but I feel totally vindicated now.
THE WORD IS "HOMMAGE"... wink wink
If you take a look at the "watch enthusiasts" plying their trade on Youtube and social networks, you will end up hearing sooner rather than later with the words "PAGANI DESIGN". It sounds Italian, it sounds fancy, and totally unknown to 99% of the people, but it is quietly becoming HUGE in the "hommage" watches. "Hommage" is the word these people use for watches which base absolutely everything from their models on pre-existing (Swiss mainly) watches, and re-craft them in Asia for a fraction of the original price tag. Pagani Design is not the only Chinese company doing this, but it has become probably the most common and - more importantly - the most reliable.
There are 3 reasons why i hesitated for so long before to buy it. First, even if everyone seemed to have good things to say about the model they received, it seemed that the finition of the watch could vary wildly and i was scared to receive a bad one. Second, Pagani Design proposes a wide array of the watch, in colours, as well as with metallic, rubber, or NATO strap, and it took me a while to make my choice... And third, I decided to wait for the Christmas sales in order to get some good offer. Always delay gratification!
A PROPER STUNNER
In the end, it was worth it: the watch feels like a proper beast, heavy, with durable material, a sapphire crystal (the hardest possible), and a Japanese automatic movement which is very well noted in the business and provides 40H of reserve. Even the rotative bezel, which is the main complaint from people, aligns perfectly at 12 without too much bother. As for the lume, it is quite OK in low-luminosity.
I only have two small complaints about the bezel actually: first of all, the indices are really rough. You can't see that on the photo of course, but I expected them to be polished and smooth, but no... they are really sharp. And also, a couple of them are slightly chipped. It does not bode well if i wear it too much. But anyway, the good news is that I can always replace the bezel.
CONCLUSION
The Pagani Design PD-1651 is fast becoming a legend in the "grey market" of "hommage" watches. It is sturdy, but design, it looks and even like the real (Rolex) deal, but without breaking the bank. It is hugely flexible and will accept all types of straps. I will not take it for a swim, it is a perfect deal if you wish to enter the horology market without breaking the bank.
If you do fall for it, my advice is to go directly to the source: AliExpress. I have seen some European shop re-sell the Pagani Design products for almost twice the price, and when they break the 100€ barrier, in my opinion, they are much less enticing and worth it.
DETAILS
| Brand | Model | Movement | Year | Diameter | Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pagani Design | PD-1651 | NH35 | 2020 | 40mm | 13mm |
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LORUS RXN31BX9 The little one which shines through the night.
I totally get where you're coming from with the Pagani Design PD-1651 hype. It's crazy how they nail that "hommage" vibe without breaking the bank.
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It's impressive how they capture that "hommage" essence without costing an arm and a leg. Took me a while to decide, worried about quality and picking the right style. But when it arrived, it felt solid, with its sapphire crystal and Japanese movement. A few rough spots on the bezel, but nothing major.As for sourcing, AliExpress is the way to go. Some places charge way too much. Oh, and speaking of alternatives, I recently stumbled upon https://replicarichardmille.io. Might be worth a look if you're still hunting for that luxe vibe without the hefty price tag. Just a heads-up for anyone interested. Cheers!
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