Please don't fry me...

[Mosco]

Are Pam's becoming too mainstream?

In NY last week - every 3rd wrist was a Pam. I complimented a guy on his 270 at Catch restaurant (sweet place, BTW - worth a visit), and he said 'What's a 270?' Seems that people are wearing them because they saw it on TV (or movie, or music video, or whatever). Similar to the place Rolex occupied for years. Sidenote - I actually saw less Rolexes than Pam's. Few Breitlings, AP's, IWC's, Hublots, even a very nice Glashutte and an Urwerk (sorry, I am a wrist-watcher). But I digress.

I love the brand, but don't have one at the moment in my personal collection. The large, robust niche has been filled by my IWC 5005 with a 7-day PR to boot. Of course, nothing can replace a Panerai shape, but sacrifices have to be made, as I cannot own every watch I own.

Granted, there will be another Pam in the stable eventually. The 382 is different enough for me, but I refuse to pay over list (or =list, for that matter), will have to wait out for a nice pre-owned one. No rush. But at the moment - I'm drawing a blank.

[Cru Jones]

probably depends on where you are and who you are hanging out with, i guess. with the very limited numbers produced, at least in comparison to rolex, i don't see how it could be more "mainstream" for the foreseeable future.

[FeelingTheBlues]

I think we should be careful when we talk to other people about watches. As much as I may understand some TRF fellows could be ashamed of that man with his 270, we can't think that everybody will buy a high-end watch for its movement and the passion of it, some people just want to have a nice watch they like and for them sometimes Rolex does the job while others will prefer Panerai, Breitling or VC. We all have different reasons to buy a watch (or any luxury item for that matter).

This being said, I have to admit I don't see a lot of those watches around so I can't say I think they're too mainstream. Perhaps it depends on the place where you live!

[Mosco]

What's very limited? And for how long?

[ocwatching]

Greg,
In LA and OC, PAMs are more common than Rolex!
Every 3rd watch I see at South Coast Plaza, where there is a Rolex and Omega boutique, is a Panerai crown guard.
The brand is upping their production and gone are the days of something unique.

[mastermixer]

I agree, 5 years ago it was pretty rare for me to see anyone wearing a Panerai in LA now I see them pretty often. Not nearly as many as Rolex watches but still much more then before.

[Mosco]

Originally Posted by ocwatching

Greg,
In LA and OC, PAMs are more common than Rolex!
Every 3rd watch I see at South Coast Plaza, where there is a Rolex and Omega boutique, is a Panerai crown guard.
The brand is upping their production and gone are the days of something unique.

Originally Posted by mastermixer

I agree, 5 years ago it was pretty rare for me to see anyone wearing a Panerai in LA now I see them pretty often. Not nearly as many as Rolex watches but still much more then before.

Exactly. I am referring to the rapid increase of Pam's in the wild.

[bicismith]

i live and work in manhattan and see them all the time, nearly every day, but submariners still take the cake, easy.

[MrTito]

It's not so bad in the UK, I rarely see Pam's except maybe in the banking 'City' within London. At the same time, whilst it isn't the reason I buy a watch, I'd love someone to one day notice one of mine and make a comment - obviously a positive one and not a "gimme your watch bitch" type comment!

[canwatchco]

Hey Greg, are you sure they were real? lol.

I was on a cruiseship last year in the Greek Isles. A five star cruise. Out of 7 Pams spotted on board, 6 were fake!

I too (sadly) am a wrist voyeur :-)

I love complimenting people on their gorgeus Panerais, especially when they are bogus.

[mfer]

In the mid-west, it is still all Rolex and Breitling (and tons of fakes).

I'm not as much worried about many people owning them as I am worried that they are releasing too many models too quickly and their distribution method seems flawed.

[karmatp]

I am starting to think watches blow. I started wearing the brand to get away from the Rolex crowd. I still never see another Panerai in Arizona, well, very rarely, I have seen a few. Rolex watches are all over the place, and it pushed me away from the brand. It kinda saddens me to think that they are getting more mainstream, I like being a individual.

Maybe I should just stop wearing watches, because wearing a brand that everyone else is wearing makes me feel like a follower. When I was a die hard Rolex guy I would go to a party and spot Rolex watches all over the place. Every time I started to talk watches with a guy, he had no idea what I was talking about, made me sell all my Rolex watches and burn every Rolex polishing cloth or other goodies that said Rolex on it.

Maybe it's time for me to go back to IWC or branch out to brands like JLC or Blancpain.

[eric23]

I have seen a lot of Panerai in my town now (in the last year), in fact the one and only AD cannot keep them in stock they had 60-70 in the summer and now they have less than 20 in stock, most of the new ones that come in get sold before they even make it to the display case.

For me I will get whatever I want, If I want a Rado I will buy one. I don’t care what other people ware or think.

[B. Doggy]

Man, I never see them. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought Panerai was keeping total production at 50,000 annually?

[rulessapt]

Where I live, I'm lucky to see anyone wearing anything more exotic than a Seiko, usually. That is if they're wearing a watch at all.
Must be the company I keep!

Having said that, I purchased a JLC Grande 8 Day from a fella who after owning the watch for three years and having noone notice it, bought a Rolex and put the JLC away.
He commented that plenty of folk noticed the Rolex, so the JLC was sold.
Noone has noticed my JLC either, so if you don't want to be seen to be wearing an expensive and exclusive piece, consider a JLC.
You won't be needing to burn the polishing cloth anytime soon.
I sold my first Panerai, a 177, to help fund/justify the JLC.

Cheers
Richard

[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.

[mmancari]

Yes, many fakes on the streets here. It all depends on the part of town you live, what train you ride, what stop you get off of. Panerai's are popular. Remember, this is a fashion capital. I teach at the new school, parson's (The same place they film project runway) it's not too uncommon to see brand names everywhere! The new IWC boutique is opening soon just down from Panerai. Cheers

[DD GT3 RD]

I also see Panerai up for sale more than any other brand. Tons on this forum, teamspeed, Timezone etc...

[andrew79]

I was at an alumni party last night, and saw at least 5 -6 persons wearing pam beside me. True that it is getting more and more acknowledged in public...

[elevensheep]

In Hong Kong Panerais are literally everywhere. In my office, out of 50 or so on people on my floor, there is at least 5-6 Panerais.

[psv]

You can't go into a hair dresser in NYC without spotting 5-10 Panerai (who know if they are fugazzis or not). They are not uncommon here in the DC area, nothing like Rolex, of course, but still they are not unique or "individual" by any stretch of the imagination.

Interestingly enough, the only ones wearing them with suits are the AD sales people in Tyson's Corner, VA ;-)

Net/net: the days when Panerais were worn by paneristis/aficionados are long gone. Your average Joe with an attitude or fashion-junkie have been wearing them for quite some time. However, the whole notion that wearing a special type or brand of watch makes you unique, more individual or stand-apart is just a mental justification we make up in our mind. In the grander scheme of things, it really doesn't matter at all, of course.

[Fearsome Puppy]

Originally Posted by elevensheep

In Hong Kong Panerais are literally everywhere. In my office, out of 50 or so on people on my floor, there is at least 5-6 Panerais.

Agree, was on the airport people mover - train last week in HK and there were three others sporting PAMs (in addition to myself)...

[dannyjak]

Yeap agree, its becoming more mainstream now, the "in" thing for a few years now
Like with all good things, as they become popular, you'll see more of it
Still enjoy mine, however dont think I will buy another. Would rather branch out to other brands and keep a varied collection.

Cant blame people though, there is something about its simplicity that makes them so attractive, and always good to run into a WIS or paneristi that shares the passion.

[hng]

Increasing in the wild yes but not as mainstream as Rolexes.

[Rolex Junky]

The market is flooded with made in China fakes. The quality is impressive. Open case backs with real ETA movements! On the wrist I could not tell the fakes from the real deal. Got to handle a few from a guy that was selling them at €250 a pop. I declined when offered of course.

[watk69]

it shows people are starting to have good taste in an easy to wear and see watch

[Andad]

Hi Greg,

Pams are not mainstream in my neck of the woods but...

I am so bloody 'confuwsed' with all the Pam model NUMBERS.

I will just stick with my sole Pam 231.

ec

[RolexWatcher]

I think there are lots of fakes around though as it is quite a popular watch.

[Cru Jones]

common, not common, whatever, it's all good, in the sense that i like it on me, so, that's enough for me.

that, and, with all the strap makers and looks out there, the chances of running into someone with 100% the same watch as me is pretty much zero.

also, here in paris, i have seen one PAM in MONTHS....i'm not a wrist watcher by any means, but, PAMs do kind of stick out....so, i guess i haven't been confronted with the PAM-wearing "fashion victim" just yet.

[ExpII]

Outside of the Boston GTG, I've seen 2 PAMs in the wild. I work in the Back Bay, ride the T to work and am an avid wristwatcher. I don't think it's catching on here just yet. Everyone and their uncle has a Rolex though!