Pagani Design Meets Rolex
I had to. I mean…why not? Plenty of Rolex content exists. Plenty of Pagani Design content exists. But I am going where others have not, would not, or could not, by daring to show the watches in the flesh side-by-side. I compare my favorite general Rolex models with homage versions from Pagani Design. The Oyster Perpetual meets the PD-1690, while the Daytona meets the PD-1676. This was purely for my amusement and maybe to drive people crazy.
Special thanks to Perrywinkles for helping out with the Daytona! If you are looking for a top-notch jeweler and AD in the New England area, check out https://perrywinkles.com/. Their reviews are top notch.
You will need to watch the entire video to really get the point of this exercise. This is not a Pagani Design versus Rolex video. This is about taking an homage (some might call a knock-off or copy) and showing what it looks like next to the real deal. Both brands are loudly touted, one being the bang for your buck watch, the other being the end all be all of watches. Why not set them next to each other and discuss?
The Video
https://youtu.be/HFkUhA5dIz4
Timeline:
- 0:00 Intro 2:20
- A plug for my AD 3:26
- Teaser 4:10
- Pagani Design meets Rolex (OP 39 & PD 39) 6:32
- Rolex 114300 & PD-1690 8:32
- Side-Side 15:18
- Lume 16:15
- Dial Text 18:45
- Chronograph Time (Rolex and Pagani Design Chronographs) 19:47
- Rolex 116503 & PD-1676 24:27
- Final Thoughts
The side profiles tell a significant story. Although the heights are comparable overall, within a tenth of each other, the Pagani Design height is all on top, while the Rolex case back sinks into the wrist leaving a much slimmer profile on the wrist. Of course the materials in play are vastly different, with the 904L stainless steel having a luster that the Pagani just can’t compete with.
Important factors in wearability are lug-to-lug and lug thickness. The PD-1690 (P.t. Time) has a lug-to-lug 2mm longer and much thicker lugs which make it look closer to the size of the 41mm OP as opposed to the 39mm OP. Meanwhile, the lug situation on the chronographs is more comparable in terms of thickness and length (not height).
I will also say that the Pagani bracelets are terrible for the most part, which is why I put the PD-1676 on the dark red leather strap from Vario.
I chose to compare the slightly older Rolex 114300 with the PD-1690 because they are both 39mm models, even though the Pagani from 2022 mimics the newer 41mm Oyster Perpetual with color options and dial markers. Keep in mind that the Pagani watches are not fake per se, they have their own branding, but are clearly meant to give the wearer the option of trying out the Rolex look.
Do I really want a 116500 aka Panda Daytona? Well let me try something similar and see if I generally like it before committing a pile of money, if I can even get one at retail. (I have faith in my AD.) The visual is the important part under consideration since the materials and thus weight are quite different. For example, the 116503 two-tone Daytona has a mechanical movement and some gold, while the PD-1676 is all low-cost steel and a Seiko VK-63 mecha-quartz movement.
Whether that is good or bad is not something I debate here. My focus is on showing the watches side-by-side and talking specs.
As for the lume, the Rolex lume will last somewhat longer, but to be honest I generally prefer blue lume over green, and the lume application on the Pagani Design is quite sharp when looking in light and dark settings.
Final Thoughts
Seeing these watches in the flesh next to each other brings perspective. Considering pros, cons, materials, and design. Maybe comparisons like this will help build appreciation across the watch spectrum. Or I could just be trolling…
If you want the unboxing experience for the two Pagani Design watches, here you go.
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