thoughts on Panarai

[DiverAsia]

I have yet to see a 5 to 10 year old Pam sold for under what it initially cost new.
Pams hold their value. But I don't think many of us buy them because of that.
I came to the forum looking for a new TT Submariner and ended up buying a Pam 372. I'm more than happy with my new Pam.

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by yachty 1

What are your guys thoughts on Panarai? Yes or no. Any owner reviews will all be helpful.

Considering this is the PAM subforum, I assume you'll get more yeas than nays...

Google "Officine Panerai 233" and you should stumble across my review

[HDHNTER]

Originally Posted by Travelller

Considering this is the PAM subforum, I assume you'll get more yeas than nays...

Google "Officine Panerai 233" and you should stumble across my review

Those pics were too damn good not to hotlink. Please allow me...

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=252365

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by HDHNTER

...Please allow me...

Thx Allen
I do have a review "out there" too...

[p_mcgee]

I love my Panerai.

Omega? Nothing in the whole catalog that I find interesting aside from vintage models & PO, and even then I'd much rather have a Rolex sub.

[Watchcraze007]

Originally Posted by HDHNTER

I would love to own a 382 & 449 as well if funds allowed.

Man, should have a bet a million u'll say that. I knew it ;) Same here exactly.

[Watchcraze007]

Originally Posted by p_mcgee

I love my Panerai.

Omega? Nothing in the whole catalog that I find interesting aside from vintage models & PO, and even then I'd much rather have a Rolex sub.

Totally agree.. After I looked at Constellation a few years back.. I now say what was thinking!! They need new designers. But on movements, they have the Co-Axial, a very good movement, so I read! As for Rolex.. NOT for me. Every time I want to hit go, I can't!!

[travisb]

Definately NOT a fad. Long history behind Panerai. I thik some may think of them as a fad because of their big / bulky case style but realize that this is how they have been making their watches since day 1.
A quick read up on the history of Panerai and I think any of your reservations about the brand will be gone.
PAM isn't going anywhere. I absolutely love them.

[KeWa]

I bought a BNIB PAM177 and February and sold it again last month. I made 8 pct on it. Bought a PAM305 a couple of weeks ago and it hasn't been of my wrist since.

[Glenn422]

I hope I don't sound arrogant or anything but as a few cvstos, richard mille and AP owner, I just want to let you know I value and like my PAMs very much. So much I bought three in one month..They have amazing designs and is backed with history as well. I have never got so much joy from wearing my PAM 422 and I get more compliments on it than my richard mille..I love my RM 11 WG but a PAM with only a fraction of the price brings me the same joy!

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by glenn.onggara

I hope I don't sound arrogant or anything but as a few cvstos, richard mille and AP owner, I value and like my PAMs very much...

Not at all - in fact, quite the opposite! As a Paneristi in the making, it pleases me to know that someone that has the means to pretty much come out of an AD with anything he/she likes - has chosen OP as one of their favorites

[Glenn422]

Originally Posted by Travelller

Not at all - in fact, quite the opposite! As a Paneristi in the making, it pleases me to know that someone that has the means to pretty much come out of an AD with anything he/she likes - has chosen OP as one of their favorites

Thanks for understanding
I even went ahead and bought books of panerai's history, researched like crazy on the internet about their watch models..I think PAMs are just so appealing!

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by glenn.onggara

...I even went ahead and bought books of panerai's history, researched like crazy on the internet about their watch models...

That's the spirit! It's also the only right way to appreciate your PAM. Too many PAM owners didn't take the time / make the effort and I feel that they missed out on half of the enjoyment of owning their PAM. Of course, it's never too late

Speaking of books, I am since yesterday, the proud owner of The References. It is without a doubt one of the most complete works on vintage Panerai. Glenn, if it's not already in your library, please do yourself the favor. I have it on good word that it will soon be out of print... . Trust me on this, you will not be disappointed!

[zlin08033]

Very well said; same here, dozen rolexes have been collecting dust since I got PAMs.

Originally Posted by HDHNTER

I bought my first Rolex in 07 & several more along with a UN in the years that followed.... all were great watches I enjoyed wearing but that nagging Panerai itch lingered. At first I didn't get them, thought they were odd & too big but my opinion evolved & the desire to own one grew.

Finally picked up my first Panerai a year ago, a 312 & followed that up with a 372 back in June. To be completely honest, none of my priors (Bluesy, SS Daytona, Pepsi, SubC or the UN) came close to bringing the level of joy that wearing a Panerai does for me. The other huge upside is straps, they take the fun factor to a whole new sickening level.

I have but one Rolex these days, my SubC, which I held onto for the sake of diversity... flipped the rest due to a lack of interest in wearing. I broke down & wore the Sub for the first time in a long time for an out-of-town wedding last month. Figured I would give it some time out of the safe & see if I still liked it enough to justify keeping, bad call... cool watch but I regretted not wearing a Panerai the entire weekend. Long story short, for me.... Rolex was a learning phase that helped me figure out what I like & don't like... turns out I was a Panerai guy all along... it just took me 5 years to figure it out, YMMV.

[DiverAsia]

X2

Originally Posted by HDHNTER

I bought my first Rolex in 07 & several more along with a UN in the years that followed.... all were great watches I enjoyed wearing but that nagging Panerai itch lingered. At first I didn't get them, thought they were odd & too big but my opinion evolved & the desire to own one grew.

Finally picked up my first Panerai a year ago, a 312 & followed that up with a 372 back in June. To be completely honest, none of my priors (Bluesy, SS Daytona, Pepsi, SubC or the UN) came close to bringing the level of joy that wearing a Panerai does for me. The other huge upside is straps, they take the fun factor to a whole new sickening level.

I have but one Rolex these days, my SubC, which I held onto for the sake of diversity... flipped the rest due to a lack of interest in wearing. I broke down & wore the Sub for the first time in a long time for an out-of-town wedding last month. Figured I would give it some time out of the safe & see if I still liked it enough to justify keeping, bad call... cool watch but I regretted not wearing a Panerai the entire weekend. Long story short, for me.... Rolex was a learning phase that helped me figure out what I like & don't like... turns out I was a Panerai guy all along... it just took me 5 years to figure it out, YMMV.

[DiverAsia]

Originally Posted by glenn.onggara

I hope I don't sound arrogant or anything but as a few cvstos, richard mille and AP owner, I just want to let you know I value and like my PAMs very much. So much I bought three in one month..They have amazing designs and is backed with history as well. I have never got so much joy from wearing my PAM 422 and I get more compliments on it than my richard mille..I love my RM 11 WG but a PAM with only a fraction of the price brings me the same joy!

No not at all. I also think that if you can walk in to any watch dealer and pick out what you like and afford to buy it, that shows you appreciate the OP brand. You could have any watch on your wrist, but you made a conscience choice to wear a Pam.

[Chaos]

Originally Posted by DiverAsia

I have yet to see a 5 to 10 year old Pam sold for under what it initially cost new.
Pams hold their value. But I don't think many of us buy them because of that.
I came to the forum looking for a new TT Submariner and ended up buying a Pam 372. I'm more than happy with my new Pam.

May I present some personal experiences?

I bought brand new the following - 161J, 104K and 250K. I took advantage in 2008 of sharp devaluation of Canadian currency, got also nice 25% off from AD in Toronto. It seemed quite good, isn't it?

Now , any of models above are at least 20% off what I have paid , in terms of US currency -- taking CAN instead, it would be much worse.

There are a lot of other PAM's that really do not go well, just average or lower.

There are the SOME SEs that, on the contrary, got lots of attention, and being limited, have high demand and therefore higher market values.

The tricky part is to get ahold of one of that hot cakes -- I'm sure they are all accounted for before we, normal Joes, ever think about one.

On the older models, some examples are contradictory -- the Tritium dials should be more desirable, but it only happens if they were scarse -- for instance, the subemersible 24A or 25A, both tritium dilas, were much more expensive than the 1A when new -- and now, the subs are one third of market price of 1A.

Let's get one very recent - 372 . It was a quite important issue and was immediately adored by PAM fans. But now, having more than 6,000 pieces coming this year time to the market, it's impossible to think selling a LNIB and just acquired 372 for at least the same $ 10,400 + tax you've paid for at AD. Infact, the average discount on secondary market considering the tax, is amost 30% now.

IMO, Panerai is all about low availability and high marketing actions -- combine both and you may have a winner. But only if you got acquainted with "the guys" up there, whatever it means.

On other hand, comparing the less limited PAM's with, for instance, Rolexes ( that have much higher availability) , then you can have an idea of the devaluation -- and it's undeniable that all PAM's in that class do not hold their values like Rolexes do.

best

[Glenn422]

Originally Posted by Travelller

That's the spirit! It's also the only right way to appreciate your PAM. Too many PAM owners didn't take the time / make the effort and I feel that they missed out on half of the enjoyment of owning their PAM. Of course, it's never too late

Speaking of books, I am since yesterday, the proud owner of The References. It is without a doubt one of the most complete works on vintage Panerai. Glenn, if it's not already in your library, please do yourself the favor. I have it on good word that it will soon be out of print... . Trust me on this, you will not be disappointed!

I'll definitely look into it :) by the way Traveller, what's your name? Nice meeting you

[Glenn422]

Originally Posted by DiverAsia

No not at all. I also think that if you can walk in to any watch dealer and pick out what you like and afford to buy it, that shows you appreciate the OP brand. You could have any watch on your wrist, but you made a conscience choice to wear a Pam.