Pam01294 and 01572
 

Both are the 40mm Quaranta. They appear to be exactly the same. Does anyone know what the differences are. Also...early on the 1294 appears to be 30mm water rating, later on it seemed to change to 50mm. Anyone know the story about that either? TYIA

The reference number change was due exclusively to the water resistance rating change, nothing else.

Panerai, and most other luxury brands, follow the same regimen that any change what so ever to a model will generate a new reference number.

Three years ago Panerai discontinued PVC straps in favor of the new PET recycled material straps. As a result many Submersibles and Luminors went through reference number changes where the first digit "1" became a "2" i.e. a 1661 became a 2661 and a 1305 became a 2305.

Thank you for the reply! I've seen some 1294's for sale that reference 50m water resistance on the caseback. Seems odd that some of them retained the old reference number.

The 1294 was taken off Panerai's website when the 1572 replaced it. I've never seen a new inventory 1294 that said 50m, I can only guess that who ever posted one for sale grabbed a stock 1572 caseback photo for reference since they could not download the original 1294 from Panerai's website.

FWIW, I have one of the said 1294 with 50m. Its booklet is dated Dec 2023, and registered for their warranty as "PAM01294". The caseback also has the fish logo and "50m" engraved. The caseback serial and booklet # are matching, so doubt the caseback was replaced... but then again, who knows!?