UNWRAPPING THE PRECISTA ITALIAN PRS20

In April 2008 I pulled the trigger on a Precista Italian and took pictures for posting on PMWF.com originally, but I don't wanna waste those pictures since the thread had already disappeared so I am reposting it here on my blog.

UPS delivered the package quite efficiently, only took three days from UK to Singapore.

The shipping box.

Cut it open.

An envelope containing the invoice.

Nicely air packed.

Ahh, getting nearer.

The watch box. One thing I really like about Timefactors is that Eddie Platts had done away with those useless traditional boxes and provided a useful travel box instead, bringing more value to the customer. This travel box will hold two big sized watches.

And here we've got the Eddie's name card and a nice little booklet providing historic information about the Italian Navy in World War 2, the specs and warranty of the watch. Also included is a strap changing tool and a polishing cloth.

This is the most exciting part, I took a deep breath and blew that polishing cloth away.

Yes! The Precista Italian!

I was instantly impressed!

Put it on and took a shot of it with PMWF.com on screen in the background.

Specs as follows:

CASE
Material: 316L stainless steel, polished
Diameter: 44mm, 48.5mm across including crown
Lug to lug height: 50mm
Thickness: 11.5mm to the top of domed crystal
Lug spacing: 24mm
Anti-magnetic: 4800 A/m
Water resistance: 100 metres
Weight: 100 grammes with strap
Features: Screw down crown, screw back

DIAL
Colour: Semi-matte black sandwich dial construction
Luminous: Hour markers Super Luminova C3
Day/Date: None

HANDS
Style: Blued steel , luminous filled
Luminous: Super Luminova C3

CRYSTAL
1.5 - 2.9 mm domed sapphire, A/R coating underside

MOVEMENT
ETA (Unitas) 17 jewel hand winding, calibre 6498-1 (18,000 BPH).

STRAP
Custom Banda strap,black calf leather. Signed buckle. (I received the Tan Ostrich Grain version)

After a few months of ownership, here's a few things which I especially like about this watch:

*Screw down crown has decoupling mechanism preventing problem of over winding the hand wound watch.
*Higher quality Fricker case.
*100m water resistance
*Sterile yet balanced dial.
*Sandwich dial, SL lume, blue hands, AR coated dome sapphire crystal, along with many other great features.

What I don't like about this watch:

*The wire lugs might wriggle out of position and turn downwards with the use of some straps, sometimes distorting the strap. It can be resolved by using lug tubes though. How I wish Eddie provide these tubes in the first place. Strap changing is hard and a pain for watches on half wire lugs. Fortunately I don't have to do it often.