Pagani Design PD1718 Review — A Panda Chronograph That Finally Gets It Right

Pagani Design has never been shy about ambition, but the Pagani Design PD1718 feels like a moment of clarity rather than excess. This is a watch that leans into the familiar panda chronograph formula while tightening execution across the board. From the moment it hits the wrist, the PD1718 feels deliberate—boxy, compact, and unapologetically tool-oriented, yet refined in ways Pagani Design models historically struggled to achieve.

At around $70 before tax, expectations are naturally grounded. And yet, the PD1718 immediately pushes past them. This is a fully stainless-steel meca-quartz chronograph with a box-style synthetic sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel insert, screw-down controls, and lume that finally feels functional. It doesn’t try to reinvent the chronograph; instead, it focuses on getting the fundamentals right—case geometry, pusher feel, dial balance, and wearability. The result is a watch that feels less like a budget compromise and more like a coherent design statement. Check out our other Pagani Design watch reviews too.

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Design & Case

The PD1718 adopts classic chronograph proportions and executes them with confidence. The case measures 39.5 mm in diameter, 13 mm thick, and 46 mm lug-to-lug, with the compact length aided by inverted solid end links. On the wrist, this keeps the watch planted and balanced, even on smaller wrists.

The case is constructed from 316L stainless steel and defined by tall, lean flanks. These flanks are mirror polished, tapering into lugs that carry a uniform 45-degree polished bevel. This bevel creates a crisp separation between the brushed lug hoods and the polished case sides, adding visual refinement without softening the tool-watch character. Along the lower edge of the mid-case, a slim polished lip from the screw-down caseback peeks out beneath the brushed surface, adding another layer of contrast.

Above the case rises a tall fixed bezel. Its vertical face is brushed, but Pagani has added a fine polished chamfer that transitions upward into a high-gloss black ceramic tachymeter insert. White numerals stand out sharply against the lacquered surface, ensuring both legibility and contrast. The entire assembly is capped by a slightly boxed synthetic sapphire crystal, gently domed and treated with anti-reflective coating. Under certain angles, the AR throws green-violet hues, improving readability under glare and reinforcing the watch’s premium aspirations.

On the right side, the controls dominate visually. The 5.9 mm screw-down crown is signed, deeply notched, and easy to grip. Flanking it are screw-down chronograph pushers, brushed on the collars and polished on the plungers. The choice is practical rather than cosmetic: the screw-down collars protect the chronograph module from accidental activation or shock. Overall, the case design feels purposeful, layered, and thoughtfully executed. Make sure to compare this panda style watch to other chronographs in this price range.

Movement & Crown

At the heart of the PD1718 is the Seiko VK64 meca-quartz chronograph movement, one of the most respected hybrid calibers in this category. It delivers quartz-regulated accuracy of ±20 seconds per month, paired with a mechanical chronograph module that provides genuine tactile engagement. The chronograph seconds hand advances in 1/5-second increments, producing a precise, mechanical-like cadence driven by coarse regulation rather than continuous sweep.

Pusher action is exactly what you want from a meca-quartz chronograph. Start, stop, and reset each engage with a crisp, defined detent—no sponginess, no rubbery resistance. Reset is instantaneous, snapping the central chronograph hand cleanly back to 12 with the decisive flyback characteristic of a cam-lever system. Battery life is rated at approximately three years, keeping maintenance low and reliability high.

Crown interaction is equally satisfying. The 5.9 mm crown unscrews with clean thread engagement. The first pull reveals a ghost position, as the VK64 in this configuration has no date. Pulling again engages time-setting, where the hands move with a buttery, backlash-free feel. There’s no slack between crown rotation and hand response, making precise setting easy and confidence-inspiring. Push the crown home and screw it down, and the engagement remains consistently secure. The entire experience feels far more refined than the price would suggest.

Bezel

The bezel is fixed and designed to frame rather than dominate the chronograph layout. Its most striking element is the high-gloss ceramic tachymeter insert, finished in piano black with sharply printed white numerals. The ceramic surface ties visually into the glossy dial beneath the crystal, creating a unified reflective plane that elevates the overall appearance.

The brushed vertical face of the steel bezel contrasts cleanly with the polished chamfer that leads into the ceramic insert. This layering prevents the watch from looking slab-like, even with its tall bezel profile. While the bezel is non-rotating, its execution reinforces the watch’s tool-oriented identity while keeping the focus on dial legibility and chronograph function.

Bracelet

The bracelet is a familiar three-link stainless-steel design, but it’s elevated by thoughtful detailing. Links are secured with screw pins rather than push pins, a welcome choice at this price point. Tolerances are solid—no rattle, no sharp edges—resulting in a bracelet that feels honest and wearable rather than over-engineered.

What gives the bracelet its character are the rivet-like recesses along the outer edges of each link. These details lend a structured, almost vintage tool-watch feel, breaking up the brushing and adding visual interest. Polished pips on the outer faces catch light as the wrist moves, creating subtle flashes without becoming flashy.

The inverted solid end links integrate smoothly into the lugs, keeping the effective lug-to-lug length close to the stated 46 mm. On a 6.5-inch wrist, the bracelet sits flat with no overhang, reinforcing the watch’s planted stance. The clasp is signed, using a double push-button deployant with three micro-adjustment positions. Inside, a brushed milled folding wing completes the assembly. Flip the watch over and the screw-down caseback shows deep, legible engraving with the PD logo, anchor motif, model number, and 100 m water-resistance rating.

Crystal & Dial

The dial is where the PD1718 truly comes together. Framed by the glossy ceramic bezel and viewed through the boxed synthetic sapphire crystal, the piano-black dial reflects light cleanly, reinforcing the watch’s premium feel. The rehaut is shallow and brushed, acting as a soft transition into the minute track.

Hour markers are applied and chrome-polished, with circular plots around the dial, a baton at six, and an inverted triangle at twelve. Under low light, they reveal a green lume that is notably improved over earlier Pagani Design efforts. Brightness and persistence are genuinely usable, marking a clear step forward for the brand.

The handset maintains visual balance: broad lume-filled hour and minute batons, paired with a central chronograph seconds hand tipped in red that reaches cleanly to the minute scale. Sub-dials sit at 3 and 9 o’clock, handling 24-hour time and a 60-minute chronograph counter respectively. These sub-registers feature a sunburst ivory finish, providing contrast without overwhelming the main dial.

Branding is restrained. The PD logo sits beneath 12, while the water-resistance rating appears above six, joined by a few restrained red accents that inject sportiness. The absence of a date window keeps the dial pure and symmetrical, though some may miss the added utility. Overall, it’s a balanced, legible, and thoughtfully composed layout where every element earns its place.

Summary

The Pagani Design PD1718 feels like a turning point. It doesn’t rely on novelty colors or exaggerated styling to make its case. Instead, it focuses on fundamentals: solid proportions, a tactile meca-quartz movement, improved lume, and a bracelet with real character. The result is a chronograph that feels cohesive and confident rather than compromised.

At around $70 before tax, this is serious value. The PD1718 won’t replace higher-end chronographs, but it doesn’t try to. What it offers is something rarer at this price point: a watch that feels intentionally designed from end to end. For anyone looking for a compact panda chronograph with real mechanical feel and everyday wearability, this is one of Pagani Design’s strongest releases to date. If you are finding this style of chronographs interesting, you may want to check out the luxurious yet functional IXDAO chronograph that comes with a rotating bezel.

Pagani Design PD1718 Panda Chronograph Specifications

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