I didn't expect to buy a Panerai, but...

adam78 · Oct 12, 2013

I have been considering a largish new watch purchase for an upcoming milestone B-day. For several months I have been looking at Breguet, Blancpain, G-P, Glasshuette Original, JLC...In Florence this past week we stayed near the Duomo, and couldn't help passing the Panerai boutique and falling in love with the "smaller" (42mm) Radiomir 1940 model in rose gold. Back stateside now I visited the boutique in Boca Raton today and also fell in love with the similar ref. 338 in titanium, also a rather limited production. This has an in-house 60 hour manual movement. it's being shipped to me back to Chicago, and can't post a wrist shot at the moment, but I'm too excited not to post a few photos from the Panerai website.

By the way, while there I also tried on the impressive JLC Master Calendar in rose gold (23K) and yellow gold Reverso 1931 (18K).

jud · Oct 12, 2013

Congratulations. Wear it in good health, and you know the rules. Pics or it didn't happen.

Did you get a chance to try on the 512? How did the 42mm compare to the larger models like those sized 44, 45 or 47mm? Definitely a stunning watch.

adam78 · Oct 12, 2013

No, the 512 (Radiomir 1940 in steel) was unavailable for me to see at either boutique. The 42mm case is the largest that I could comfortably wear. I tried on one that was 45mm and knew it wasn't for me. I will definitely post pics of my watch this coming week.

jud · Oct 12, 2013

Thanks for the answer. I've been thinking of a Panerai but am afraid of the size. I've been thinking of the 337, 338 or 512, all 42mm Radiomirs.

Gavin · Oct 12, 2013

Adam getting a Tudor I can imagine. But a Pam? Never saw that coming. Congrats.

ulackfocus · Oct 12, 2013

Geezus Adam, that's a lot more watch than I'm used to seeing you with. 👍 42 should be good, and I agree that 45 would have been too much.

adam78 · Oct 12, 2013

It is very light and relatively thin on the wrist...extremely comfy. My Tudor --also 42mm -- is a monster in comparison!

Hijak · Oct 12, 2013

Um...if you need someone to sign for it when it arrives and keep it warm while your away I'm happy to help out!😉

Archer · Oct 13, 2013

Nice one - congrats! Resale on the smaller watches is not as good, but to has to work for you.

I never thought I would own one either, but after servicing a lot of them I grew fond of the look, and ended up buying one from I client I was servicing if for.

I have a 104, and it does get a lot of wrist time!

Cheers, Al

adam78 · Oct 14, 2013

A not-so-good wrist shot from in the boutique. I hate the lighting in watch stores. Makes the case looks vaguely gold, but you get an idea of the proportions on the wrist.

adam78 · Oct 16, 2013

And a much better shot at home, having just switched to a honey nubuck strap! This must be the softest one I've even worn.

adam78 · Oct 19, 2013

Here is a pic of the movement, and a brief several-second movie of the movement running.

(Click on it for the link to open in another window)

And a cool lume shot...😎

Reintitan · Nov 17, 2013

Congrats! Titanium Radiomirs look great especially with the brushing finish on the case and polished bezel. IIRC, that Panerai movement is based on a Piaget handwinder. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

42 mm is also a rather large size for traditional watches, even though they are among the smaller diameters offered by Panerai. I have a PAM 232 and at 47 mm it is not an everyday wear watch.

GETS · Nov 17, 2013

I really love Panerai. I own a 241, which I am wearing today, but I definitely want to add another to my collection one day.

sprockett · Nov 28, 2013

Hey bro,
LOVE your 338. Mine is on the way. Can I check which size Honey NUBUCK strap you got? Is it a 27/20mm? Is it too big for the 338 (which has a default 25/20mm strap size)

I love the combi and hope to get one for my 338 too.

Thanks 😀

Matty01 · Nov 29, 2013

Very nice, I have a 176 which I love, defimately not at odds with a collection which alsp includes vintage Omegas

adam78 · Nov 29, 2013

S sprockett
Hey bro,
LOVE your 338. Mine is on the way. Can I check which size Honey NUBUCK strap you got? Is it a 27/20mm? Is it too big for the 338 (which has a default 25/20mm strap size)

I love the combi and hope to get one for my 338 too.

Thanks 😀

I thought it was a 26/20, but I'm not sure. It will fit if you squeeze a little harder to put the wire lugs back into the holes. Now that it's fit snugly it's hard to tell the pre-squeezed size!

Brent Kuz · Dec 12, 2013

Archer
Nice one - congrats! Resale on the smaller watches is not as good, but to has to work for you.

i believe this will be a short lived trend as watch sizes drop back down to a classic 36mm-42mm. Had a Seamaster PO XL and the large 45mm feeling wore off after 2 years.

Archer · Dec 12, 2013

This "short lived trend" has been going on for well over a decade - I think in the Panerai world, the trend to draw back to smaller watches is not nearly as great as it is with other brands. Certainly the 40 mm PAM's are considered ladies models by most, and they are not resold nearly as easily as the 44 mm versions are, or the 47 mm watches. The 42 might be big enough to buck this slightly, but there is no doubt the resale market for Panerai watches under 44 will be smaller than for 44 plus.

I make my own line of watches, and when I started out all were 42 mm in diameter. All of the Panerai guys I have ever met have told me they like the watches, but they are too small at 42. I specifically created a 45 mm model to satisfy these guys.

One of the reasons I opted for a 44 mm PAM myself was because I knew resale would be much easier than a 40 mm model, even though the 40 would fit me better.

The Panerai guys are a "different breed" to most other brand fanatics...

Cheers, Al

ulackfocus · Dec 12, 2013

Archer
This "short lived trend" has been going on for well over a decade

😜 It is short lived in glacial terms. 😁