Pagani Design PD-1692 Review – A Bold, Dangerously Sharp Homage with Everyday Attitude

Pagani Design has never hidden its fondness for reinterpretation, and the Pagani Design PD-1692 embraces that philosophy unapologetically. It is a watch so visually assertive that, “I’d probably pull my sleeve down walking around London… it’s dangerously good-looking.” At roughly $80 before tax, the PD-1692 brings together a familiar aesthetic language, stainless-steel construction, a synthetic sapphire crystal, and the well-known Seiko NH35 automatic movement.

Far from being a quiet piece, this model leans confidently into its lineage, offering a sharp, modernised execution while keeping a firmly budget-friendly identity. Make sure to explore other homages in the Pagani Design line-up.

Pagani Design PD-1692 NH35 100m WR

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Design & Case

The PD-1692 presents its intent immediately: wide-stance lugs, a piano-gloss black dial, and a green seconds hand punctuated by a white lollipop. Green script above six reinforces the visual rhythm. Proportions are intentional — a 41 mm case diameter, 11.5 mm thickness, and an extended 51.6 mm lug-to-lug created by protruding male end links. Lug width is 20 mm, tapering to 16 mm at the clasp, giving the watch a confident top-heavy impression that lightens as it reaches the wrist.

Profile geometry is muscular yet clean. A tall, polished flank runs the entire length of the mid-case, assertive in presence but softened by lugs that drop steeply away, allowing the bracelet to fall straight down and removing any expected overhang. Beneath the flank, the lip of the screw-down case back catches light, while above it sits a fixed inward-sloping bezel holding the synthetic sapphire crystal.

Details matter here: polished bevels bridge the junction between glossy flanks and brushed lug hoods, preserving crisp transitions without introducing harshness. Brushed finishing continues onto the end links, producing a nearly seamless head-to-bracelet integration from above. At 3 o’clock, the semi-guarded, signed screw-in crown measures 6.9 mm, tall and deeply knurled. Its stance references the modernised evolution of the watch that inspired this homage, tying the case language back to its source while giving the PD-1692 a tool-ready personality at a fraction of the price.

Movement & Crown

Inside, Pagani opts for reliability over theatrics. The Seiko NH35 — hacking, hand-winding, 21,600 bph, 24 jewels, and roughly 42 hours of power reserve — is a sensible choice for this style of watch. It is straightforward to service, known to be robust, and well suited for a daily-wear field and sports design like this.

Crown operation matches the solidity of the case. The screw-in action is positive, and the semi-guarded design helps maintain proportionality while offering enough grip for confident handling. In practice, the PD-1692 feels purposeful and unfussy, built around components that favour longevity and functionality.

Bracelet

The PD-1692 pairs its case with a classic three-link bracelet that complements the design language. The male end links lengthen the effective lug span to 51.6 mm, but strong downward-turned lugs pull the first links straight down, preventing overhang and helping the watch hug the wrist. The taper from 20 mm to 16 mm works visually and functionally, tightening the watch’s profile and helping it wear slimmer than its numbers may suggest.

Brushing across the links is consistent and mirrors the finish on the lug hoods, producing a coherent transition from case to bracelet. Side profiles are neatly broken, avoiding any sharpness. Most impressively for the price, the bracelet uses screw pins, not push pins — an unexpected upgrade on a watch around the $80 range. Link articulation is smooth, tolerances are respectable, and the bracelet drapes naturally without looseness.

The clasp continues that theme of over-performance: a signed milled clasp, complete with a milled internal wing and a secure double-pusher system. It closes with a positive, confident click, reinforcing the sense that Pagani has deliberately pushed above category expectations.

Crystal & Dial

Front and centre is the synthetic sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment. Legibility is excellent, and at certain angles the AR coating reveals a subtle blue-purple hue. Below it, a brushed inward-sloping rehaut acts like a visual funnel directing attention to the dial.

The dial itself leans fully into its inspiration: a piano-gloss black surface, crisp minute track, and an interplay of applied and printed elements. Applied markers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 add dimensionality, with a downward-pointing triangle anchoring the top of the layout. The remaining hour positions use printed Arabic numerals representing minutes — 5, 10, 20, 25, and so on — creating a deliberate blend of information styles.

The handset is classic: chrome-framed lume-filled hour and minute hands, accompanied by a vivid green seconds hand with a white lollipop counterbalance. A restrained text layout keeps the dial clean — green script above six, printed branding under 12, and an applied Pagani Design logo in dark chrome.

Lume performance is a pleasant surprise. Applied evenly and charging brightly, it is visibly more usable than that of earlier Pagani releases. In low light it holds its own, reinforcing the PD-1692’s identity as a budget piece that refuses to behave like one.

Summary

The Pagani Design PD-1692 is, in the reviewer’s words, “dangerously good-looking.” It is bold, confident, and sharply executed, leaning into its homage roots while carving out its own tool-ready personality through finishing, proportions, and component choices. The screwed links, milled clasp, sapphire crystal, and NH35 movement collectively deliver a level of refinement that belies its low price.

It remains a budget watch — bracelet tolerances and certain finishing cues reflect that — but the overall package delivers genuine satisfaction on the wrist. For enthusiasts seeking a striking everyday piece with strong presence and surprising quality, the PD-1692 is easily one of the standout picks around the $80 range.

Pagani Design PD-1692 Specifications

Pagani Design PD-1692 NH35 100m WR

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