Officine Panerai

Sometimes a calendar shows more than just days...

It also shows dreams...How so???

Well, you see, this past Christmas I received what could be described as the most meaningful gift yet, and it was courtesy of my older brother. A 2009 calendar with the image of a blue dialed PAM 273. Meaningful because he went trough the trouble to making it, and because it showed what had become since early 2008 an everyday obsession of mine: To one day become the proud owner of a Panerai.

My brother and I work together and share an office, so whenever we find ourselves with a little too much free time on our hands we chat on our passions. Watches and travel for me, and Opera and good coffee for him. I am fluent in Rigoletto if anyone is wondering .

Anyways, ever since I started playing with the idea of owning one I had a phase of going from one model to another. What first started out as love for the Pam 50 in a visit to an AD back in Jan. '08, evolved to the Pam 287, then the Pam 183, and by Spring '08 my mind was set on a Pam 210. Perfect I told myself, but then a couple of Rolexes got in the way (I admit it, I have the Rolex bug), and thus postponing my date with the Italian icon. By July I had it perfectly clear that sometime before Christmas I would pull the trigger. However, another vintage icon came across my way (JLC Polaris) and could not let the opportunity pass, leaving the 210 for another day. In the meantime, I did some research and got more and more acquainted with the brand (Thanks, to all Paneristi Purists) and discovered the 190. WHAT A WATCH!!! Just perfect and sublime!

I started my quest for the 190, and eventually came across one in Dec. of 2008 at an AD. Sadly once I saw it I discovered a piece that had been mishandled by someone and showed signs of abuse, making me very sad that my dream had to wait a little longer. I hesitated but decided to pass on the opportunity.

I was back to square one. For the following weeks I played with the idea of the 210 or the 190, mainly because of either one's availability thru AD's. The 210 being much easier to get a hold off, of course.

So, in Christmas my bro gave me my present which was a calendar showcasing a Panerai, and it made me ever so committed in making 2009 my Panerai iniciation year. He also gave me The Thomas Crown affair with Steve Mcqueen (a fellow Rolex lover, and who during the movie sports a JLC Memovox). Sorry, I digressed...

So, by mid January 2009 I walked into an AD (not to look for the watch) but for an ink replacement for one of my pens, and as I was looking around at the Panerai case I spotted the infamous Pam 000. The logo watch. The one Panerai that cannot be accounted for (hence its reference) but that conveys all the values that made Panerai what it is today. An icon, a legend. Lucky me, I said to myself. I tried it on, felt the heft, and as a Base lover, I couldn't but resist falling for this one as well.

A couple of weeks passed and once I made up my mind I called the AD, asked about it, and they told me it was still available. Without any further hesitation, I said "I'll take it!"

Want to hear a funny coincidence? The day I phoned the AD to verbally purchase the watch was also my brother's birthday! Feb. 6.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and I made the trip to pick up my watch, as there is no Panerai AD where I live (which I still don't know if it's a good or bad thing).

Here are the pics!

In the end I realized that there is no logic in Panerai. Only heart and passion, and as well all know, we cannot reason with those.

Cheers,

Alejandro