Panerai Watch question
Discussion
My first post in this section, so go easy please! As you will see from this post my knowledge of watches is extremely limited. It is my big 4 0 next year, and having been asked by my wife and family what I would like as a present I have decided that I am finally going to get myself a "nice" watch (which I will make up the difference in price on). I don't wear a watch day to day, and this will only be used for special occasions.
Now my definition of a nice watch would be a brand I have heard of like Rolex, Tag, Breitling, Omega etc. Something better than a Casio/Swatch. I did once have a Tissot - but no idea where I have placed that! However I really wanted a square watch rather than a round one, and I came across a brand called Panerai. I have never heard of them, but a quick google suggests they are in the same league as the brands mentioned above, but possibly not as well known, and therefore (in my opinion) a little more understated. My thought being if I can reach the age of 40 having never heard of them, then so will others.
Anyway - I decided today to pop into the local Panerai shop and have a look. I spoke to a very nice sales guy, who without being pushy took the time to explain some details about the watches. I never gave a budget, so he showed me whatever I wished to look at. I was concerned over the size, but the 44 looked normal on my wrist. The 42 looked like a ladies watch, and the 47 was too big for my liking. After looking at many watches I decided that the watch for me was the PAM00297. The budget was not far away from what I was looking at either. I liked the extra timezone, the 24 hour face, and the magnified date. It is an automatic which I think would suit me better, and has a 42 hour lifespan (perhaps an incorrect term).
Is this one:-
http://www.panerai.com/en/collections/watch-collec...
This is a big spend for me and my family on something that I know little about, and have little appreciation for, so I would like to check some of the facts I was told so that I know I have done my homework correctly:-
1) The watch has now been discontinued, and is a P (which indicates is a 2014 model)
2) This is 1 of 500 made in 2014
3) There are 3200 of these watches made ever (I guess 500 over 6 years, and 200 in the first year - this is my guess - not what the guy in shop told me)
4) It comes with a stainless steel strap that can be changed for something else if I want later on.
He was talking about resale value increasing on a discontinued model, but to be honest this is not being purchased to make money. I just want to ensure that the price I am paying is fair.
Basically the price is approx. £5100 or £5450 with an extra strap - both with 2 year warranty. (£350 seems a lot for a strap). Looking on internet I have found this place - but not sure how reputable it is (or isn't). Is also a 2008 model as well (although appears unused)
http://www.chrono24.co.uk/panerai/luminor-gmt-pam-...
My wife is back in UK next week, so if the place does a VAT refund certificate - I could potentially get this for £3160. That is a big saving! Is there anywhere else I should be looking? I should add I do want a "new" watch, but not sure if this means I should go for the 2014 rather than 2008 model - I guess they are the same watch after all?
I suppose I am really looking for the wisdom of PH to try and offer this watch luddite some ideas. Wife is back in UK for next 10 days - so need to make a decision on if I buy this locally, or get her to purchase from UK and bring back with her.
Now my definition of a nice watch would be a brand I have heard of like Rolex, Tag, Breitling, Omega etc. Something better than a Casio/Swatch. I did once have a Tissot - but no idea where I have placed that! However I really wanted a square watch rather than a round one, and I came across a brand called Panerai. I have never heard of them, but a quick google suggests they are in the same league as the brands mentioned above, but possibly not as well known, and therefore (in my opinion) a little more understated. My thought being if I can reach the age of 40 having never heard of them, then so will others.
Anyway - I decided today to pop into the local Panerai shop and have a look. I spoke to a very nice sales guy, who without being pushy took the time to explain some details about the watches. I never gave a budget, so he showed me whatever I wished to look at. I was concerned over the size, but the 44 looked normal on my wrist. The 42 looked like a ladies watch, and the 47 was too big for my liking. After looking at many watches I decided that the watch for me was the PAM00297. The budget was not far away from what I was looking at either. I liked the extra timezone, the 24 hour face, and the magnified date. It is an automatic which I think would suit me better, and has a 42 hour lifespan (perhaps an incorrect term).
Is this one:-
http://www.panerai.com/en/collections/watch-collec...
This is a big spend for me and my family on something that I know little about, and have little appreciation for, so I would like to check some of the facts I was told so that I know I have done my homework correctly:-
1) The watch has now been discontinued, and is a P (which indicates is a 2014 model)
2) This is 1 of 500 made in 2014
3) There are 3200 of these watches made ever (I guess 500 over 6 years, and 200 in the first year - this is my guess - not what the guy in shop told me)
4) It comes with a stainless steel strap that can be changed for something else if I want later on.
He was talking about resale value increasing on a discontinued model, but to be honest this is not being purchased to make money. I just want to ensure that the price I am paying is fair.
Basically the price is approx. £5100 or £5450 with an extra strap - both with 2 year warranty. (£350 seems a lot for a strap). Looking on internet I have found this place - but not sure how reputable it is (or isn't). Is also a 2008 model as well (although appears unused)
http://www.chrono24.co.uk/panerai/luminor-gmt-pam-...
My wife is back in UK next week, so if the place does a VAT refund certificate - I could potentially get this for £3160. That is a big saving! Is there anywhere else I should be looking? I should add I do want a "new" watch, but not sure if this means I should go for the 2014 rather than 2008 model - I guess they are the same watch after all?
I suppose I am really looking for the wisdom of PH to try and offer this watch luddite some ideas. Wife is back in UK for next 10 days - so need to make a decision on if I buy this locally, or get her to purchase from UK and bring back with her.
Many Thanks to all for their responses, and to Dominic for his PM. Not sure that I understand what the ETA piece means - but I will have a google later and try and figure out.
Also not sure that I understand what the Panerai Power reserve is. I understand what it is on the wind up watches, but am confused what this means on the automatic that I am looking at.
Hopefully I will get this all sorted in the next week, and be the proud owner of a new watch (although won't be allowed to wear until January!).
Also not sure that I understand what the Panerai Power reserve is. I understand what it is on the wind up watches, but am confused what this means on the automatic that I am looking at.
Hopefully I will get this all sorted in the next week, and be the proud owner of a new watch (although won't be allowed to wear until January!).
Again - Many Thanks for those that have taken the time to respond.
I do have one more questions - with regards to the automatic that I am looking at and the explanation as to how this works above (I had asked the dealer if it was "kinetic" - which was probably the wrong phrase, hence him not understanding), and I understand now that this means it should not carry on working if worn for 42 hours. As per my original post, I do not plan on wearing every day. It will often be left standing past the 42 hours. So how long would it take to "catch up" after I wear it? Or is it the case I would need to reset the time, and date, and as soon as I wear it, it will start to move?
I did say I knew nothing of watches!
Dare I say it - this watch forum seems to be like the PH of old, with lots of helpful advice. Not a single dig about my choice, and yet plenty of advice on what I am looking at, and suggestions on other alternatives.
This could get dangerous for the old bank balance!
I do have one more questions - with regards to the automatic that I am looking at and the explanation as to how this works above (I had asked the dealer if it was "kinetic" - which was probably the wrong phrase, hence him not understanding), and I understand now that this means it should not carry on working if worn for 42 hours. As per my original post, I do not plan on wearing every day. It will often be left standing past the 42 hours. So how long would it take to "catch up" after I wear it? Or is it the case I would need to reset the time, and date, and as soon as I wear it, it will start to move?
I did say I knew nothing of watches!
Dare I say it - this watch forum seems to be like the PH of old, with lots of helpful advice. Not a single dig about my choice, and yet plenty of advice on what I am looking at, and suggestions on other alternatives.
This could get dangerous for the old bank balance!
Many Thanks for all the advice above.
I made the decision last week that I was going to purchase in Dubai, rather than in UK. Cost wise there was not much in it by the time the shop threw in an additional strap of my choice and buckle. I didn't need the additional buckle and strap but I decided I wanted to purchase in Dubai, then it will not only remind me of my 40th but also my time in Dubai as I won't be here forever. Also (and I'm sure this is stupid) but the watch number was better from Dubai too!
A couple of quick (poor quality phone photos) before it goes in the safe for another 6 weeks til the big day (although I have negotiated a special wear on NYE and our wedding anniversary in Jan).
Was also pleasantly simple to change the straps!
I have just noticed that the guy in the shop has set GMT as +4 hours from UAE rather than -4 hours !! Gives me something else to play with !
I made the decision last week that I was going to purchase in Dubai, rather than in UK. Cost wise there was not much in it by the time the shop threw in an additional strap of my choice and buckle. I didn't need the additional buckle and strap but I decided I wanted to purchase in Dubai, then it will not only remind me of my 40th but also my time in Dubai as I won't be here forever. Also (and I'm sure this is stupid) but the watch number was better from Dubai too!
A couple of quick (poor quality phone photos) before it goes in the safe for another 6 weeks til the big day (although I have negotiated a special wear on NYE and our wedding anniversary in Jan).
Was also pleasantly simple to change the straps!
I have just noticed that the guy in the shop has set GMT as +4 hours from UAE rather than -4 hours !! Gives me something else to play with !
Edited by Fats25 on Saturday 19th December 16:18
shep1001 said:
Looks good, I still like the rubber or leather straps best. what did it cost you in the end? The straps aren't all as easy to change. My daylight has screw threaded pins but my GMT has the little push button underneath to release the pins which is equally as fiddly
This one has the pins underneath, but I found them quite easy to change. The awkward bit for me was getting the buckle onto the leather strap. Not sure about the leather strap myself yet - I prefer the metal bracelet - but the leather strap is growing on me for more casual wear. With regards to price it was priced at AED 29,900 for the watch, AED 950 for the buckle, and the strap I chose was AED 800. I could have got any strap and the highest priced (crocodile leather) strap was AED 1200, but I preferred the calf leather. No point getting a strap I wouldn't wear, just because it was worth more money.
So was a total of AED 31,650 for what I got. I paid AED 27000 for all. For those that are really interested you can do the conversion to £ yourselves!
I had a quick try on this morning with my work shirt. Cuffs are going to be an issue I need to figure out before I can consider wearing with a long sleeve shirt.
Fats25 said:
I had a quick try on this morning with my work shirt. Cuffs are going to be an issue I need to figure out before I can consider wearing with a long sleeve shirt.
I thought I would update this thread. The cuffs became a real issue with the watch, I could not get on with it, so I decided to purchase another watch for wearing with long sleeves (man maths?!). Unfortunately I had a function that required long sleeve shirt, and I really wanted to wear the Panerai, and was before I bought the other watch. I tried one more time to squeeze the watch onto my wrist - and disaster.............. I managed to drop the watch from above waist height onto a hard tiled floor....
First inspection I though I had gotten away with it. I managed to wear the watch that day, and it kept time.
I then put the watch away until the next weekend, and went to change the strap and I realised I had broken it. One of the lugs was bent, and that meant the pin could not be removed to change the strap.
This all happened at start of June, and was taken to Panerai on June 12th. The watch has been sent off for repair, and is currently somewhere in Europe. I am expecting a full case replacement, and a bill of approx £2500
. It is insured - but even so is an expensive mistake I made. I have also heard horror stories of the Panerai service when watches have been sent back to Europe of time taken, and how they are looked after. I am hoping that I can have a positve story at the end. However my fear is based on a conversation I had in the AD where the guy said they may have to cut the strap off to repair. I suggested that they pulled the strap back and dremmelled the pin out first to save the strap. I had to point out his fear of damaging the lug was not necessary as the case (and therefore lug) would be being replaced anyway!
Moral of the story is don't put your watch on at a height. Always do over something soft where it cannot fall more than a couple of inches. I have certainly learned my own very expensive lesson here.
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