Which Panerai?

[ATV]

I've been tempted by the distinctive look of the Panerai and just wanted to get some opinions on which one to go for.

It absolutely has to be the brown leather strap version and don't want a massive one as my wrist is quite small.

Can anyone post some pictures of their favourite Panerai so that I can decide which model and what colour face to go for?

Would also like it as an investment piece as well and would prefer brand new to pre-owned. Budget around a maximum of £5000 but I've seen a few in Paris that were around €3800. However would like to get you guys opinion first on what you think is best.

Thanks everyone

[deejuic]

Here's mine. White base. As far as investment, I'm not sure that Panerai is the right choice these days. There's definitely a surplus at the shops and the style isn't for everyone. I love them, but i don't consider them to be true investment grade watches ala Patek or VC.

[Toshi]

These are my 4. The 233 (on the far left) is my favourite



Waches are generally not a good investment however - especially if you want to buy new from an AD. Panerai are one of the strongest brands at this level for re-sale, but you can still expect to sell for around 25% less than retail price. Buy pre-owned is my advice.

[Mr MoJo]

Here's mine, bought it pre-owned in September. Pam111. Initially I wanted an auto but prefered simplicity of the 'manual wind' non date face.

[Gids]

Currently own a 176, but the 312 is my favourite at the moment.

[jpivey]

I've just bought one, really wanted a 88, changed my mind after seeing a 240 and that's what i went for,just love it...

[paddyhasneeds]

If you haven't already, go try one on first. I had a PAM000 that I swapped for a Sub because the PAM combined with my skinny wrists made me look like a little boy wearing my dad's watch.

Not to mention that the Sub seems to keep appreciating at a quite alarming rate.

[Agoogy]

I ended up getting a 40mm PAM0048.... new strap from Toshi

as I bought it used...

[996nick]

Great watches. I am not sure if it falls within the OP's budget but I like the Radomir black seal automatic.

[tomw2000]

I've a pam177 - the titanium Luminor, with sandwich dial. I have it on a black leather strap and love it.

Wife has a 40mm 00048, on brown croc strap. The 44mm sized ones we're pushing it a bit on a thinner wrist imo.

[M3John]

ATV said:

I've been tempted by the distinctive look of the Panerai and just wanted to get some opinions on which one to go for.

It absolutely has to be the brown leather strap version and don't want a massive one as my wrist is quite small.

Can anyone post some pictures of their favourite Panerai so that I can decide which model and what colour face to go for?

Would also like it as an investment piece as well and would prefer brand new to pre-owned. Budget around a maximum of £5000 but I've seen a few in Paris that were around €3800. However would like to get you guys opinion first on what you think is best.

Thanks everyone

I have a Luminor Base PMA00112 which i have with a black strap but, judging by your requirements they seem to produce one with a brown strap : PANERAI.
Now these are towards the bottom of the Panerai range but i honestly think that they look the best, i prefer the most un-cluttered look. For your budget though i honestly don't know what it is from the Panerai range that you could afford, at a guess i'd say not `that` much as prices do seem to escalate quite rapidly.
As for not wanting a massive one, my wrists are of small/normal ish size (if theres ever such a size ) and to be honest they are all rather big. Mine is 44mm. Hope the picture is of any help.

M3J.

[Spice_Weasel]

I'd suggest buying used if possible and not worrying too much about the strap colour it comes on . You can always order a Toshi strap and have it custom made to your requirements..

I'd go for a PAM 111 or a 177 (though titanium is more expensive) personally as I love the (relatively) uncluttered look of the dial and the visible manual wind movement.

[mcgus]

Interesting that the titanium models are popular here! I too have a 176 and love it. I also like the 312, the 233 and the 292.

As has been said, forget about what colour the strap is - you'll never keep it on that anyway as their is a whooooooole world of straps out there for the paneristi

[erics]

i' d say go for 44mm in any case. If it is your first pam, better get a 'regular' model (as in not a radiomir).
I think a watch has to have a date and be automatic nowadays (some people will want to kill me here)... Otherwise one can get tired of them very quickly.

I had a pam 48 but found it too small after a while so went pam 90 with power reserve. Really feels special everytime i look at it. Otherwise i would have gone pam 88.

If budget was there i would have gone for one of the REGATA with rattrapante etc... But these are much more expensive.

[EdJ]

I really like the ones with the power reserve, but they all seem to be so much more expensive than those without. Why is this? The one I'm thinking of is the 270 for example which is around £8k on the Blowers Jewellers website.

[jules_s]

Oh dear, oh dear, Oh dear....

I've lusted after a PAM 089 for almost two years now, did loads of research/bought the books etc.

Finally managed to get to a OD today and wrist tested a 088 (amongst others) and to be quite frank I've been left almost stone cold.

Panerai's certainly have 'presence' but I didn't get any sort of 'quality' impression. The 088 I tried on (about 10 times in an hour) just didn't do it for me. Big, thick, shiny and heavy it may be, but £4.2k?

[maddernj]

I have a PAM005, It was bought 2 1/2 years ago used from panerist.com paid about $3000 for it and it was perfect. As I bought it in $ and the £ was weak I have not lost anything in that time. One word of caution though its a large watch and can get easily knocked, I have broken it once (£540 bill) and scratched it numerous times (£340 service). Now I try not to wear it when going out drinking or I make sure its under a sleeve.....

[ATV]

When to an OD on Tue to have a look at the Panerai's for the first time. Yes they are very big and for my wrists a 40mm is the only option, the 44mm looked too big.

However all the watches I tried were stunning and I definitely want one now. A previous poster was right, it doesn't matter about the strap, they can be changed very easily.

Initially I tried on the 310 chrono but I didn't like it. Too much going on on the face and I didn't like the chrono push buttons, I thought it ruined the simplicity of the design. All the others I tried on had a date bubble on it and again, I thought it ruined the look of the watch.

So my requirements now would be:

-Simple face
-Automatic
-Without date bubble
-Currently being manufactured (ie in stock or able to be ordered from the OD)

Can anyone help me narrow down my search?

[ShadownINja]

I have started preferring the Radiomir styling. I like the simplicity of the dial on the PAM000. It only occurred to me that the case, while nice, is a bit too fussy when compared with the dial. I think I will have to buy a homage to test if my theory is true before making such a payment. I'd also prefer to buy a watch that has their own movement rather than paying over the odds for a bog standard Unitas movement that someone has taken a Dremel to. I think the PAM210 is the styling I would go for but I'd prefer an automatic movement (does one exist?).

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 1st January 13:01

[Gravy]

I spent quite some time trying a few on in an OD, right across the range. It turned out that the PAM00114 looked best on my wrist which suprised me because I wasn't too keen on it looking at it on the table.

My favourite is the PAM00320 which I tried on (but was pre-sold) and I also like the PAM00312 which I didn't try on as it wasn't in stock at the time.
The dealer rung me last week to say it had come in but I am trying to ignore that little nugget of info for the time being!
My preference would be for a "manifattura" versions but they do get pricey then (I think the 312 is the cheapest manifattura model at £4300).