auto vs. wind

[raf823]

greetings -- i am a long time Rolex owner and lover. looking at a few Panerai models for my next purchase however i am concerned that if i don't get an automatic that i will be disappointed - but i am not sure i want to spend the extra $$. is it a bitch to have to wind the historic models every two days or will i get used to it? or should i spend the extra $$ on a contemporary model? i will most likely swing between my Rolex SubC and whatever PAM i purchase.

contemplating PAM 000, 005, 111 or the 104. HELP... thanks in advance for your insight.

[MP5]

No way I would get an autopam. Pam's are manuals

[raf823]

can you expound on that thought? would like to know more about your opinion... i am learning.. and thanks for the reply.

[ocwatching]

The manual winds are Panerais' military dive watch history. Especially the simple dialed and LONG power reserve models.
Do some reading online and you will see.
Unless you absolutely need a date, I would stick with the 000/005/111/112 for your first luminor. Or the 210/183 for Rads.

[raf823]

thanks Phil!!

[nauticajoe]

Definitely has to be a manual.

[Cru Jones]

Pretty simple. Get what you like. There's something for everyone.

[nick c]

This one the cheapest and the best one 000

[TSW]

Panerai for me is a manual watch.

[esm]

Manual Panerai = DNA.

Just like an Omega Speedmaster Professional - it has to be a manual also

[HDHNTER]

Coming from Rolex I thought an auto & a date were must haves so I went for the 312 as my first PAM. Awesome watch but I look forward to winding my 372, a chore it is not. I would skip the auto & go with a 000 or 111.

[raf823]

thanks for the responses to date... very much appreciated.

[red1108nyc]

Originally Posted by raf823

greetings -- i am a long time Rolex owner and lover. looking at a few Panerai models for my next purchase however i am concerned that if i don't get an automatic that i will be disappointed - but i am not sure i want to spend the extra $$. is it a bitch to have to wind the historic models every two days or will i get used to it? or should i spend the extra $$ on a contemporary model? i will most likely swing between my Rolex SubC and whatever PAM i purchase.

contemplating PAM 000, 005, 111 or the 104. HELP... thanks in advance for your insight.

Base models are truly work horses and run great. I would also comment the 8 day in house movement on the 233 is also very accurate and reliable from my experience.

Best,

Fred

[raf823]

thanks!!

[B. Doggy]

You should dig the manual wind action, my friend.

[DiverAsia]

I too started looking at Pams thinking that I would only want an automatic.
I ended up getting a manual wind and find that it is not inconvenient to wind it every couple of days. I enjoy the process.
There are 8 and 10 day power reserve Pams if you would not like to wind you watch so often.

I joined the forum a short time ago as I started to want to read more before I purchased my next Rolex. I ended up here on the Pam side and got interested in Pams because of all the photos members post.

I still wear my Sub every day and my Pam gets my wrist on the weekend. I am more than happy with my purchase of a manual wind.

Have fun in your search for you Pam.
Cheers!

[Psmith]

Don't get caught up in the 'DNA' talk... if you like autos, then that's what you should get. There are some very nice in-house auto models, as well as some very nice in-house manual models (although imho with rather 'enthusiastic' price tags)

The 'Historic' Base and Marina models mentioned, such as the 000, 112, 005 and 111, are nice watches with ETA movements. Note that they do not hack i.e. the hands keep moving when you pull out the crown to set the time. They are not really nice to wind imho (the in-house movements are better in this respect). These models are fairly 'low risk' for the Panerai neophyte as they are relatively low cost and usually easy to resell

[rulessapt]

Having owned a Radiomir 287, I can attest to their being comfortable to wear, BUT won't fit under most shirt cuffs, if you need formal.
That "failing" aside, a pleasure to wear, the Valjoux 7750 base movement being decorated for Panerai and had outstanding accuracy, whether worn daily or not.

Coming from Rolex, you may well appreciate the reverse cyclops for the date, not being bump prone, yet still magnifying the date clearly.

DNA? To me it's more hype than reality. You'll be flat out finding and buying (affording) a 40 year old PAM, a Rolex of that age, easy!
I buy what I like and both the auto and manual have plenty to offer. What do I currently wear? A 141 which is an auto, though very thin and ONLY 42mm! Course it's 10 years old, which for most PAMS now is ancient.
Panerai didn't really kick off until 2000. Prior to that they made a handful of watches compared to what is on offer today.

Welcome and congratulations Richard on looking at what Panerai can offer.

Cheers
Richard

[Trailblazer]

Autos does offer convenience but if anyone is into Pam, it must be a manual and non date, some prefers bits of complications (ie the 233 with 8days manual) or jus a base with nothing else but 2 hands and some numerals...personally the latter gets my vote.

get into the preloved market, look for 111 or 0 for luminors and 210 or 183 for rads preloved ones to get a feel before you commit on more expensive ones. And you can sell those i mentioned in a flash should you discover your taste is going either way.

[guyrolex]

My first Panerai was a manual wind 111, but it was always stopping on me since I didn't wind it every two mornings. Plus not having a date function was a real negative. So I tired of it quickly and sold it to buy an auto 104, which I love and will never sell. Soon after I bought a 312- same thing. Many other banker friends got manual winds as their first as their first Pam's but sold them within the first yer to buy automatic Pam's like th 104, 88 and 312/328/320/329 and they are sticking with those

[raf823]

All great info. Thanks so very much...

[CoachRolexRyan]

I have an auto and love it. But would also love a manuel wind Pam as well.
That's why they make both, they both have their appeal.

[Rodentman]

I have an auto, and have no issue with it whatsoever. It's also a 40mm model (241) so I'm in the minority there too, but I buy what I like. FWIW the watch with a little experimentation with dial orientation, is exact after 3 months running.

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by raf823

...i will most likely swing between my Rolex SubC and whatever PAM i purchase... contemplating PAM 000, 005, 111 or the 104...

If you stick with one of the two more than a day at a time, your auto will stop first... guaranteed. The ~56hr PR 6497-equipped 000 / 005 / 111 will outlast the 42hr 7750-equipped 104...