Please don't fry me...

[TheDude]

I don't see a -ton- of them here in DC but they are out and about.

FWIW, I wore my 359 to a cigar event a couple weeks ago. The event featured a cigar maker and jewelry maker whose home base is LA (Matt Booth - Room 101). He immediately commented on my watch, knowing exactly what it was as did several other folks. I almost -never- get comments on my Rolexes - certainly not the deluge of attention the PAM got me that evening.

[HarryGoodman]

Originally Posted by brrrdn

I've only seen one wild PAM in Austin, and that was at the airport. I do see some Rolexes and a few Breitlings. Most Austinites don't wear a watch.

Ah but in my 4 years in UT in Austin, I met many wild PAM's and they all looked good as the beer flowed, I miss my youth and what my body could do, sorry but recuperating from a broken back in 2 places and a 3 1/2 month stay in the hospital, still walking around the house with a walker and I am getting mental missing going out like I use too.

[Nucengineer]

Interesting conversation. I live in SE CT. Here, you never see much of anything in the way of WIS collectors. Maybe a Sub date once in a blue moon. Our former VP of the Plant wore an Omega Seamaster, the 2254 if I remmeber the numbers. Anyhow, I have just recently been bitten by the PAM bug and bought my first one right before hurricane Irene, a 000 which really smiles at me. Then I bought the 025 Submersible and one of my long time buddy's who knows of my WIS tendencies, commented how much he liked the 025. He never commented on any of my other watches ever. When I first started wearing the PAMs I thought they were rather large even on my 7.5" wrist. Now my Sub 14060M, Speedmaster and Aerospace all seem on the small side to me. My point being I wear the PAMs now the most because they really smile at me, more so than my other keepers in my collection. I don't wear them because they are unique but because they really appeal to me. Maybe I would feel different if I lived in NYC and saw them everywhere. But, here in SE CT, I am setting the standard for the WIS community as there probably are only few dozen of us here.

[Schultzie]

I am definitely a wrist watcher and have only seen one PAM in the wild and that was in Honolulu. I've been all over the Caribbean and Central America this past year and have seen tons of Rolexes but never a PAM. Heading to Spain, France and Italy next year for my 50th and I'm curious as to what I'll see. BTW I live in Denver. Even in Vail and Aspen I have never seen a PAM in the wild which surprises me. I wore my Sub with Date daily for 7 years but since my 104 arrived the Sub has only been on my wrist once since then. I'll never sell my Sub as we have to much history together and I still love the watch but the PAM is what I always reach for now. Just ordered my 12th strap yesterday. I can change the look of my watch daily, and often do, which I love.

[rr-nyc]

Most watch buyers only know what brand they bought. If the model is a name like Submariner, they might know that as well. PAM's on the other hand, with their number designation, aren't commonly known out of the risti community. I can't blame them though

[Mosco]

What's scarier is that I'm seeing quite a few of them HERE in Cincinnati! That's OHIO for those who slept through geography classes

This is definitely NOT the horological center - although we do have a Panerai AD. But we also have a store that carries IWC, JLC, and AP - and I hardly see any of them here.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Mosco

What's scarier is that I'm seeing quite a few of them HERE in Cincinnati! That's OHIO for those who slept through geography classes

This is definitely NOT the horological center - although we do have a Panerai AD. But we also have a store that carries IWC, JLC, and AP - and I hardly see any of them here.

Those are the classy people Greg. Why would they hang out anywhere near you!

[Mosco]

Originally Posted by mfer

Those are the classy people Greg. Why would they hang out anywhere near you!

True, but I usually wear a disguise

[TSW]

But i bet you don't see these models that often

[cgjane]

Here in Miami, Rolex is king.

You see lots of AP in south beach from Euro Tourists

I saw a few Pateks in a Miami Heat season ticket holder event

The only Pam I've seen is on
Oscar(bodybump) wrist lol

[eric23]

Originally Posted by TSW

But i bet you don't see these models that often

I would like to see some of those in person!

[Mosco]

Originally Posted by TSW

But i bet you don't see these models that often

No, but neither do you

[TSW]

Originally Posted by Mosco

No, but neither do you

Actually almost everyday

[htc8p]

here in the philippines pams are getting popular. i see them once a week on average. and rolex is noticing. These 2 companies are probably going at it as we speak.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by TSW

Actually almost everyday

I see what you did there Thomas........

[TSW]

Originally Posted by directioneng

I see what you did there Thomas........

Just some misc pics taken at my local AD and a watch event I attended, but I do see some fantastic pieces now and then

[jvo300]

In TX, Rolex remains king. I have noticed a few PAMs in the wild over the last 3 years, but they are few and far between. I've haven't seen any fakes (yet), but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. The trends of the East and West coasts probably take some time to filter to us.

[Evan614]

Greg I thought you bought a PAM (or two) for personal use. You sold them all????
Your wrist deserves a PAM. Would your wife even let you be seen, in public, without wearing a PAM???

If PAMs gets more popular coast to coast and Panerai doesn't increase production-- supply demand economics dictates price increases. Good for present owners and not so good for future owners.

[Nicekettle]

In the last few years watches have become the fashion "accessory" of choice.That's why every Tom,Dick and Harry fashion company has liscenced thier name to a watch producer.IMO that's the reason bigger watches have taken over as a way of making a statement.It stands to reason then that Pams would be discovered by the mainstream and fakes would saturate the market (as Rolex did in the 80"s and the Gecko era!).
This too will pass.Twenty years ago I worked on Fith Ave in the mid 50's (NYC) and watched the undercover "watch police" play cat and mouse with the Nigerian watch sellers on the street.I was told that they were on the payroll of the AD's to clear the streets of these sellers in the vicinity of the boutiques.I don't know if that is true or not?
Popularity with the mainstream and proliferation of fakes can not help the brand,but with true collectors the Brooklyn Bridge fiasco will hurt the brand much more I think.
I just spoke to a local AD who stoped carrying them and asked why?She said that she thought Panerai were closing some dealerships to have more control,limit distribution and increase margins.