Panerai Luminor Due GMT PAM00688 Blue Dial VS Factory Super Clone

VS Factory Panerai LUMINOR 1950 PAM00688 — Hands-On Review

Hey guys, it's vsfwatcheshub here. Got my hands on a piece that's been getting a lot of buzz lately — the VS Factory PAM00688. This one's been flying off the shelves and honestly I can see why. Let me walk you through it.

That Blue Dial Though

First thing you notice. The dial. VS nailed the sunburst texture on this one — we're talking a sectored sun-brushed blue that matches gen spec. Not some flat, lifeless blue you see on budget reps. Totally different animal.

Under natural light or even harsh indoor lighting, the way this dial plays with reflections is genuinely impressive. Pair that with the rose gold hands and you get a combo that just works. Hard to look away from it honestly.

Size & Wrist Presence

42mm case. For most of us that's the sweet spot. Panerai also makes a 689 at 44mm which is their standard size, but 44 on an average wrist? Tends to wear chunky. Looks off.

The 688 at 42 sits way more balanced. Doesn't overwhelm your wrist, doesn't look undersized either. Thickness is moderate — nothing crazy, nothing too slim. Just sits right.

Strap Situation

Comes on a blue oiled leather strap, what the community calls "crazy horse" leather. It develops patina over time which is cool — changes character the more you wear it. That said, the stock strap is decent but nothing to write home about.

But here's the thing with Panerai. Half the fun is swapping straps. The cases and dials across most PAM refs are pretty much the same DNA, so a custom alligator or a bold colored strap completely transforms the watch. And the 688 has a quick-release system — just push the pin from the side and the bar pops right out. Takes seconds.

Small pin buckle too, not the big T-bar type that digs into your wrist. Comfortable for daily wear.

Movement: VS In-House P9001

This is where it gets interesting. The 688 runs VS Factory's own P9001 clone movement. Not a decorated Seagull. Not a 7750 with a fake plate slapped on top. An actual ground-up build based on gen blueprints.

If you've been in the rep game long enough you remember what the old "P9001" movements looked like. Basically a Chinese movement with a cosmetic bridge bolted on — made the whole thing thicker, broke down constantly, and anyone who flipped the watch over could tell immediately. One look and you knew.

VS changed that completely. Jewel colors match gen. The balance wheel sits at 7 o'clock just like the authentic. The pallet fork underneath actually moves. We're way past the "instant callout" era for PAM casebacks.

Real talk — a regular SA at a Panerai boutique, not a trained watchmaker, would have a hard time telling this apart on hand. The finishing is that clean.

One note on the power reserve indicator. It functions — the hand moves when you wind it — but the reading isn't always accurate. I sold a few first-batch PAM441s with this same movement and some of them had the PR display drift over time. Wouldn't decrease properly. It's a known quirk. Don't stress over it too much, the overall movement quality and decoration are solid for what you're paying.

Specs

Final Thoughts

The VS Factory PAM00688 hits a really good price-to-quality ratio. Wearable size, killer dial, a movement that actually holds up to scrutiny through the caseback. Lots of room to personalize with straps too.

Fair warning though — this ref moves fast. It's one of those models that tends to go out of stock without much notice. If you've been eyeing it, don't sit on it too long.

Hit us up on WhatsApp anytime. vsfwatcheshub is always here to help you out.