Gave up a Panerai PAM 048 for a Planet Ocean 22015100. The Panerai is 6 years old and the Planet Ocean is brand new. Made the trade at an Omega AD on the SF Peninsula.
Some background: Other watches. Rolex Two Tone Datejust White Face 2004. Panerai was from 2005; OEM strap was wearing badly and time for a service; Ball Engineer Arabic 2006, Hanhart Sirius 2005.
Reasons for giving up the Panerai: Too bulky-can't get it under shirt cuffs. I did wear it swimming and in the shower at times and the strap would dry in about an hour. But I don't like to have to take off my watch to put on clothes or take a shower on a daily basis. I am someone who is likely to lose or drop it..... The Panerai was the only leather strap watch I owned - that does add a classy element to it and it is a good conversation starter at business meetings (especially in Japan where I bought it and do a lot of work).
Why I bought the Planet Ocean. Clean big face- don't like clutter......I commute from SF to Boston to Asia every month. I am often grabbing sleep whenever I can and often jet lagged. Need to see my watch at night. The PO lights up better than my tritium Ball; can't see the Datejust at night. The Hanhart lumes well but is sometimes too serious of a geek watch (Pilot chrono) for me..
I do like the new, green dial Submariner but I feel that 9K is too much now that I have a family and the PO seems to have a similar build quality. I also like the bracelet on the PO a lot; the Seamaster 300M one to me has a cheaper feel.
For now, my watch requirements are: Doesn't need to be taken off, lumes well without looking like a Paint By Numbers set, is bombproof, works with a suit and at the gym, and has a very high quality bracelet (my Ball disappoints in that regard and the Hanhart excels in that regard.).
Would anyone else make this trade?