There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
Mind linking me where you bought this?
I managed to pick up a handful of these Parnis models from various ebay sellers, each for around US$60 shipped, from no-reserve auctions.
I suspect parnis.org is owned by whichever wag decided to register the Parnis trademark. However, the Parnis "brand" significantly predates that event, and the watches come from all over. I understand they first appeared as an attempt to legitimise fake Panerais.
I had a bunch of bookmarks for Parnis sellers from a couple of years ago, but the only two that are still alive are militarytimewatch.com and manbushijie.com (the others all had "parnis" in the name...!) I've used the former (when it was still known as jacksontse.com) but can't vouch for the latter personally. Manbushijie currently has variants of the watch photographed by Gugliermo for US$72 shipped, which isn't too bad. Budget for a new strap, though...
I'm happy to stick to eBay. There's the potential for good deals if you're patient, and it has better customer protection.
Parnis Watches From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaPARNIS Watches IndustryWatchFounded2005HeadquartersHong Kong, ChinaProductsMechanical watches, mechanical watch partsParentParnis Watch Co.Divisionswww.parnis.orgParnis Watch Co. is a watch brand sold primarily in Europe and the United States. Xiao Jian Hong (Guangzhou, China) owns the trademarks and has been responsible for the expansion of the brand since 2005. PARNIS markets its products through its official website (www.parnis.org) and through multiple other online channels including several resellers and distributors operating on eBay and Amazon. [1][2][3][4] Suntime Watch Company markets the Parnis brand through regional distributors, while Pa Jie markets to large clients and customers wanting to outsource watch production. The manufacturing facilities remain in Tong De Wei, Guangzhou while the main Office has been relocated to Hong Kong to support its international growth (2017).[5]Parnis Automatic with Power ReservePARNIS uses Seagull movements in their popular models.[6] With the exception of its domestic sellers in China, the company sells its products on-line primarily through its official website, as well as on eBay and Amazon, by partnering with multiple different resellers and distributors.[7][8]Parnis designs their watches, contracts for the parts, assembles the watches and plans quality control.[9] The manufacturing facility in Tong De Wei, Guangzhou assembles parts from various vendors. Fu Yuan Xin Watch Product Factory manufacturers the cases and movements are furnished by Sea-Gull, Miyota and Dixmont.[10]Parnis uses 316L military grade stainless steel cases made with conventional machine processes instead of metal injection molding. As a result, Parnis cases have the tensile strength of competitive watch brands. For example, only Rolex exceeds the 316L standard with its use of 904 grade stainless steel. Rolex's closest competitor, Omega, uses 316L military grade stainless steel. A majority of stainless steel watches follow the 304 standard, which are anti-magnetic, but lack the tensile strength required for use in high pressure environments.[11]The company has a unique distribution system. It wholesales watches and parts to its distributors, while providing services of a fulfillment house. Supply chain management professionals call this drop shipping.[12]Parnis does not maintain traditional brick and mortar stores or boutiques; however, you can find shops in manufacturers' outlets like the Guangzhou Watches Wholesale Market where Suntime Watch Co. Ltd, does maintain a mall store). It's located at Shop A026, NO. 61, West Station Road (ZhanXi Road), Guangzhou, China.[13][14]
https://parnis.org/products/force-mg
I wonder if it's hacking and windable.
Aragon's Evo scratched my "super heavy and thick chunk of steel" itch for only $160. It could use better hands and sapphire, but it's one of my favorite watches.
But I love the ridiculously tall bezel with the helical ridges on the side.
The ETA 6497 is used in the Los Angeles-made Weiss handwinder field watch, and Weiss also cloned the movement, hilariously doubling the price for the version with their clone. Only the mainspring comes from Switzerland.
But I was under the impression that the ETA 6497 was hackable.
Apparently ETA is cutting off supply of the 6497 and Weiss is thinking of becoming a movement supplier via a sister company.
From Ric Capucho's "Buying a Parnis?" thread on the Watchuseek forums: "Firstly, let's get something straight; Parnis is not a true brand, even if it's now been trademarked by a guy in Guangzhou. It's a group of Cantonese factories and competing dealers making similar watches, at a similar cost, using similar recipes. To talk of a Parnis is a bit like talking (forgive the parallel) talking about cakes. I love a black forest gateau, and often order it after a hearty restaurant meal. Sometimes it's great, sometimes not so great. On one occasion (in Munich, funnily enough) it was utter crap.
Same concept, same or similar recipe, different cooks in different restaurants, sounds the same, but the product differs dramatically. Parnis is not a brand; it's a class of watches, mainly made in the Guangzhou area of China, where there's a nest of different factories with the wherewithal to make almost any watch you care to imagine, simply by assembling freely available parts."
He does go on to recommend against buying on eBay, but all of the eBay Parnises I've bought were much cheaper than the recognised websites and are still operating just fine. You pays your money and you takes your chances.
Tom Adelstein's researched and sourced article on the Parnis factory and trademarks: http://www.asian-watches.com/2015/02/parnis-watches-company.html
And more detail in response to skepticism on a forum: http://forums.watchuseek.com/f72/how-i-found-truth-about-parnis-1706514.html
And also, back on topic, the above Parnis is one of my favourites. The blue-grey/silver panda version is a stunner too.