I have searched for reviews of the PD-1644 on WatchCrunch before writing this, but I couldn't find one, which is surprising since most of us already know about these watches and they get mentioned all the time.
Maybe it's because it's so difficult to take a picture of this watch without the dial coming out all blurry due, in part, to there being no anti-reflective coating on the sapphire crystal. Maybe it's just because all the watch snobs hate a homage and won't admit to buying one, but that's their loss.
If you don't already know the specs of the PD-1644, you can probably guess that it's an all stainless steel 40mm/20mm configuration, with a claimed water resistance of 100m (though probably only 30m like the original models), and the quartz chronograph is powered by a Seiko VK63 movement.
Unlike some of the other Pagani Design "Daytona" models with the same mecha-quartz gimmick, they've included the date window on this dial even though it's too small to read.
The pushers and crown (and the caseback) all screw down, which is a good thing because once set, you won't ever fiddle with any of them again. Nobody uses the chronograph on these things because it's impossible to read, and the tachymeter scale on the ceramic bezel is another useless decoration. If there's any lume at all on the dial or hands, it's still a waste of paint because it's also neither use nor ornament.
Apart from the lack of legibility, the worst feature of the PD-1644 is the bracelet. It's perfectly wearable, but it's sharp in places (although not sharp enough to cut you), the clasp is unreliable, and I needed to file the diver's extension to make it work properly. Why there's a diver's extension on this bracelet is another matter, based entirely on Pagani Design simply reusing the same components on every watch.
You can also buy the same watch with a jubilee-style bracelet, a leather strap, or a rubber strap, so it's not much of a niggle. It's very easy to replace with something else from AliExpress if you make the wrong initial choice.
The PD-1644 is all very shiny except where it's brushed, and even the brushed parts are quite shiny really. The finishing is a lot better than you should expect for the money, but it's exactly what I expected, and I wasn't disappointed.
You can see why the Invicta Speedway, Zenith Chronomaster, Rolex Daytona, Seiko Speedtimer, and to some extent the Omega Speedmaster were all inspired by this superior design. Think I'm joking? After the apocalypse, future generations of horologists will pick these up and compare the various watches thinking that since homages must be inferior to the originals, the quality and specifications of this watch far exceed the obsolete mechanicals with their various misaligned components.
Saying this watch is better than similar looking watches that sometimes cost hundreds of times more isn't any laughing matter. If Pagani Design can make something like this for a few dollars or Yuan, what the hell are you paying for other than a name and marketing when you buy a so-called "luxury timepiece" now?
But that's where the praise ends, because this isn't the perfect watch by any stretch of the imagination. I find it uncomfortable to wear for long periods, and telling the time is often frustrating except when I'm outdoors in natural daylight.
If you can find the PD-1644 on sale for £30 or £40, it's definitely worth buying, but don't pay any more than that.