New 233 . I need some help.

[Enzo thecat]

So I've taken the advice of many here and decided not to get the 320,
but instead a new 233K. It arrived today. This is my first GMT and the
instructions are not very clear so I thought I'd ask for some advice. I
have several questions.

I have a question regarding the GMT function. Is the irregular hand the
time zone that you are currently in or is it the time zone of a
different location?

So say I am in NY and want to have my GMT hand set to LA time. Which
hand will be LA time? The irregular hand or the normal one?

Also, I assume the dot is for the second time zone, correct? So which
hand controls the dot, the irregular one or the normal one?


Also, can you set the date by just changing the date or do you have to
adjust the hour marker through 24 hours to get the date to change?

The thing that is really confusing is that the instructions say not to change the date between 10:30pm and 1:30am. But to me it looks like you can't change the date without changing the hour hand. (ie you change the date my moving the hour hand through a 24 hour increment) So why would they out that in the instructions? It doesn't make since....OR IS THERE A WAY TO CHANGE ONLY THE DATE LIKE IN MY ROLEXES?

Thanks for the help.

e

[B. Doggy]

GEEZ! We must have the highest per capita of PAM 233's on the entire WEB. One day I will give in to the 233 love....

[Enzo thecat]

Yeah. I'm not even bothering posting "MY new watch arrived...blah, blah, pictures, and more pictures." It is sure a stunner though.

[argee1977]

I don't know how others set it up, but the main hour hand i use for current location, the black hour hand is used for the second timezone, on my 233 the dot rises and falls like the sun going by the GMT hand, so it is white at around 8am and black by 7-8pm.

Never really bothered with it much as i'm not too interested in second timezones, except at work but we have big clocks on the wall giving us Afghan/Iraq/US times

[Nica64]

Originally Posted by Enzo thecat

Yeah. I'm not even bothering posting "MY new watch arrived...blah, blah, pictures, and more pictures." It is sure a stunner though.

Congratulations on your new 233, we all know it's a stunner...... by the way nothing bad by posting some pictures and saying that you're excited, we all love Panerai here!!

Anyways I will like to see some pictures of your new 233!!

[Enzo thecat]

Originally Posted by nica64

congratulations on your new 233, we all know it's a stunner...... By the way nothing bad by posting some pictures and saying that you're excited, we all love panerai here!!

Anyways i will like to see some pictures of your new 233!!

Well OK then.

[Nica64]

Thanks Enzo!! B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

[gmt master x]

The main or "regular" hour hand is set for my current time zone. When i am not traveling the second "gmt" hand is set for military time....
You tube it if you have any other questions....

[brainbizz]

This is where some common sense prevails even if not obvious. The primary hour hand is set to your current time zone. You can look out the window to determine am or pm. The dot refers to am or pm of the secondary hour hand since you may not know and can tell instantly by looking at the watch. Common sense does not apply the date function there is no easy set.

[rotan]

Nice watch! Nice strap too!

[Trurolexer]

Originally Posted by B. Doggy

GEEZ! We must have the highest per capita of PAM 233's on the entire WEB. One day I will give in to the 233 love....

Yes, 233 is like Daytona in Rolex land.

[Bernard]

When traveling, the home time zone is the large black hour hand under the white our hand. When you change time zone the white hands move and the black hour hand stays on the home zone. The DOT, white or black shows day or night in the home time zone.

You want to show the reverse, set the black hand to the remote time zone with the day / night indicator set to that zone. Keep moving the hour hands until the day night indicator is set to the remote zone. You want to communicate in at the right time of day. Now set the white hands as if you are the remote zone. Works like a dream,

Hope this helps

Benio

[Zed]

Originally Posted by Enzo thecat

Well OK then.

It looks like all your questions are answered.. but let me say... CONGRATULATIONS.. and WELCOME to the FANG club... she is a beauty and a georgious stappy too...

you must be excited... she is a smashing baby.. I guess you will be giving away your ferrari pam now since it has done its job???? .. or is it staying???

Well done again Enzo.. great choice.

and i can confirm.. never looked at the manual (leave it for the wifey to do that.. i am an engineer)

the dot is linked to the GMT.. u usually set the main hands to where u are.

to change the date you have to go all the way around and around and around.. around.. to do this pull the crown all the way out.. it also resets the second to zero when tou do that

to move the main hand .. GMT will not move with this) pull half way on the crown and the main hand will jump in one hour increments while the watch is still running.

I think it was done this way to facilitate the following operation:
you are at home. you set the watch man hand and GMT together.. u do not use the GMT.. you leave home to a new time zone, you can very easily change the main hand by hourly increment to where you are without stopping the watch while the GMT will remain at you home time zone.. letting you know when to call the wife nite nite..

[DanP]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!! NICEEEE
pardon my french LOL

[JF23]

Congrats on a great piece ENZO. What is the watch on the upper left corner of your winder? Looks interesting...

[Enzo thecat]

Originally Posted by JF23

Congrats on a great piece ENZO. What is the watch on the upper left corner of your winder? Looks interesting...

THANK YOU EVERYONE...for the advice, instruction and the compliments. It is greatly appreciated.

Top Left: Carl F. Bucherer. The watch and I were featured in a local magazine. I inherited that one from my grandfather, a WWII hero. It is an interesting story that got around and a publisher heard about it. I wa interviewed and that was my fifteen minutes of fame (locally anyways). But the story became a tribute to my grandfather and touched a lot of people.

[Enzo thecat]

Originally Posted by Zed

I guess you will be giving away your ferrari pam now since it has done its job???? .. or is it staying???
.

Oh no, The Ferrari is staying. It is an incredible piece and it has a very specific duty in my collection (wink, wink). Like other Panerais, it just has to be seen in person and on a wrist. It has a presence like no other and you know it is something special from far away. Watch out. These Ferrari Pams may be shunned now, but they will be appreciated someday.

[JF23]

Originally Posted by Enzo thecat

THANK YOU EVERYONE...for the advice, instruction and the compliments. It is greatly appreciated.

Top Left: Carl F. Bucherer. The watch and I were featured in a local magazine. I inherited that one from my grandfather, a WWII hero. It is an interesting story that got around and a publisher heard about it. I wa interviewed and that was my fifteen minutes of fame (locally anyways). But the story became a tribute to my grandfather and touched a lot of people.

Enzo, thanks for the explanation.

If it's not to personal, any chance of PMing the article? Would love to read it.

[Enzo thecat]

Originally Posted by JF23

Enzo, thanks for the explanation.

If it's not to personal, any chance of PMing the article? Would love to read it.

Its personal, but I'll scan it and may even post it here. Check back in a couple hours. I'm going to exercise now and then I'll have to learn how to use the scanner.

[5onic]

Hi Enzo,

Come on then what do you have ?

I guessing at a 328 GTB/S, Tessa or 355 GTB/S or maybe even a F40 and if you have the car of your profile name Im never speaking to you again LOL


Cheers

Sonic

ex FOC UK

[Enzo thecat]

PM sent

[Enzo thecat]

Trying to get the scanner to work. In the meantime, this is a journal I made of the watch. My wife's friend read it and it got attention from there.

25 Years ago or so:

My Grandfather and I were talking about his upcoming trip to Europe and he mentioned that he wanted to get a “Porsche Design” watch. Someday, he’d get a Rolex, but for now a Porsche watch would be grand. Porsche Design was popular then and he thought it would be a great deal in Europe. Upon his return, he called and boasted that he purchased a “Porsche Watch”. I couldn’t wait to see it.

The next time we visited him, he showed me the watch. I was disappointed because it didn’t say “Porsche” anywhere on it. But Grandpa told me that when he perused the watch shops in Europe, he was persuaded to get this. The dealer assured him it was every bit as good as the “Porsche Design” he sought. It was an automatic day-date chronograph with a black dial, black bezel and case, and a black metal band. It was labeled “Bucherer.” I assumed grandpa’s economical senses got the best of him and he ended up with this.

Over the next 25 years:

Over the next 25 years, I started appreciating horological time pieces. One of the finer timepiece manufactures I learned about is an extremely expensive brand of watches; Carl F. Bucherer. They are rare and coveted by collectors. I thought about Grandpas “Bucherer” and realized his is probably a replica like his “Peeng Eye-Too” Golf Clubs. Through the years, I would often ask Grandpa to let me wear the watch whenever we were together. Every car ride with Grandpa ended up with us looking for mile-markers so we could use the Buchere’s tachymeter function to gauge our speed. We even tried it on a plane ride once, guessing our speed and trying to figure out how quickly miles were passing. Without mile-markers in the sky, it was merely an exercise in our imagination. I would often try to correct Grandpa and tell him he was wearing the watch on the wrong wrist. He would remind me that he wore the watch on his right wrist to exercise his wore ravaged-arm; an injury that defined him.


As decades passed, the Bucherer became more and more dilapidated. The finish was wearing off, the crystal was becoming more scratched, the band was becoming more worn, and the entire piece was becoming heavily soiled. But the watch never lost time. And to my amazement, it never stopped running and it never needed servicing. It outlasted every watch he ever bought, including a gold Seiko that he admitted spending several hundred dollars on when we traveled to the Carribean with him and Grandma.

Good Friday, 2008.

On Good Friday, 2008, Grandpa joined Grandma in Heaven. While planning for his funeral, my mother asked me if there is anything that I could think of that I would want to remember him by. I mentioned that I would like the watch if no one else does. I assumed there is no chance of this and that my Uncle Phil would inherit it.

But, the next day my mother gave me the great news that Grandpa willed the watch to Dad and Dad would trade me the watch for a diamond ring that Grandpa left to me. The ring may have its own ironic story. Several days after the funeral, I wanted a moment with my Grandfather. So I sat down and cleaned and scrubbed the debris from the Bucherer. Without Grandpa around, it appeared tattered and weary.


Mid August, 2008:

I delivered the watch to my jeweler and friend, Bradley Gough. I met with him and his watchmaker, Alfonso and explained that I would like the watch refurbished. I expressed that I would be willing to spend a realistic amount to get it wearable and serviced; however, I realized that it is not worth much and it is purely for sentimental reasons I am doing so.

I admitted that the lens must be a plastic and not crystal because of all the scratches and that the movement must be generic. As I was downplaying the value of the watch, I notice Brad and Alfonzo becoming more animated. Brad took the watch from me and walked to the window. Alfonzo followed behind, also taking in the watch. Brad then told me that the lens was indeed crystal. I objected, it’s too scratched up. Moreover, he revealed it’s probably a very expensive watch. Alfonso agreed. Could it be the coveted Carl F. Bucherer? I asked Brad if there is any chance it’s a Carl. F. Bucherer. He nodded his head in Alfonso’s direction. I spun around to see Alfonso struggling to get the back off. It wouldn’t budge even in Alfonso’s machine; as if to say, “I’ve survived this long without the maintenance and attention I deserve, and I am going to endure without any now.” Nevertheless, Grandpa’s old watch finally relented, exposing a beautiful movement. Alfonso said, “There you go.” Brad nodded and said, “There you go.” An earlier, genuine Carl F. Bucherer.

I arrived home and immediately started researching how this can be true. I find that historically, Bucherer is the largest retailer of Rolexes in the world. That had to be what initially attracted my Grandfather. Decades ago, they started designing their own watches and selling them under the name Bucherer. Today, unbeknownst to me, they are labeled as a famous watch manufacturer; one in the same, Carl F. Bucherer and are renowned in the world of horology and timepiece collection.



Late August 2008:

Bradley Gough called. They are having a new crystal custom cut, stripping the watch down to the bare metal and completely refurbishing my Grandfather’s watch. Oh, he would be so proud; of himself, of me, and that wonderful watch that will always tell much more than just time. I can’t wait to see it again.

[JF23]

Enzo, thanks for sharing the history behind your grandfathers watch. How special the great memories you have using the watch with your grandfather. Thanks for introducing me to the brand as well as I was not familiar with it. I've done some research and Bucherer offers some beautiful timepieces.

Cheers Enzo.

[Enzo thecat]

Originally Posted by JF23

Enzo, thanks for sharing the history behind your grandfathers watch. How special the great memories you have using the watch with your grandfather. Thanks for introducing me to the brand as well as I was not familiar with it. I've done some research and Bucherer offers some beautiful timepieces.

Cheers Enzo.

Thanks, Still working on th escans. Hav eto go to dinner now. Will get teh scans done tonight so you can see the story that was published. It was a better tribute to the man (my grandfather)

[Enzo thecat]

Originally Posted by JF23

Enzo, thanks for the explanation.

If it's not to personal, any chance of PMing the article? Would love to read it.

My name is all over the article. Send me your email address and I'll email it to you.

[bodybump]

Now to save some cash..that 233 is growing in me...

[Nica64]

Great story Enzo, thanks for sharing!