pkonos
2649
Some thoughts on the controversial, and peculiar, PAM790…
The PAM 790 and its fair-dialed sibling (the PAM791, not pictured here) are, by most Paneristi measures, decidedly poor raconteurs of Panerai’s (admittedly resurrected) military connection and utilitarian identity.
Let’s take a good look at the PAM790.
While not exactly effete, it is undeniably
prettified in the Panerai order of things: the dial forsakes all luminous material and is
served sans “sandwich” of any sort; rhodium plated daggers, styled and shiny, tell
the time in lieu of broader, lumed, more legible hands; smallish (but arguably charming?) Art Deco
numerals and a fine railroad track insouciantly round the dial’s periphery, further
snubbing both practicality and a visual sense of toughness. *
Whither the well-loved, tool-like, rough-hewn aesthetic?
With a lot of show, but no resulting practical go, the PAM790 certainly isn’t going to pass any legibility tests in good standing or be the watch of choice for any off-the-beaten path adventures (whether real or as desk-bound reverie), or be mistaken for imparting the brand’s iconic flavor in a head-to-head taste test with any of its brethren in the Panerai stable.
So, on the one hand, no one can be faulted for dismissing and disparaging this seemingly poor fellow (a.k.a. the “Radiomir 1940 Art Deco,” introduced in 2018) as AWOL, for its want of proper Panerai DNA (and ahem, it often is 😅), but, on the other hand, the PAM790 does have reasonable (100m) water resistance, wears well, and its hand-wound P3000 movement is anecdotally quite robust, keeps good time and has an ample power reserve of 3 days. The watch does also retain Paneraian case-size massivity which, when combined with its anomalous design elements, exudes an undeniably unique presence on the wrist with a cool, ‘Deco flair, making it a lot of fun and surprisingly versatile to wear, especially on weekends and related (mind you, not overly wayward, rough or raucous) festivities.
Perhaps, one can rightfully (at least charitably) think of the PAM790 not so much as a rough and ready Panerai in army fatigues, but one taking leave and a lark, decked out in a snappy dress uniform.
===
* (The dial design was purportedly inspired by a historic pendulum clock hanging in Panerai’s original boutique in Florence.)
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Some thoughts on the controversial, and peculiar, PAM790…
The PAM 790 and its fair-dialed sibling (the PAM791, not pictured here) are, by most Paneristi measures, decidedly poor raconteurs of Panerai’s (admittedly resurrected) military connection and utilitarian identity. Let’s take a good look at the PAM790. Wh...
Not an expert at all…
But as you say it takes the design cues and rearranges them somewhat, while keeping a decent WR, should you fall into the pool 😁 And nice looking at that 👌🏻👍🏻
Caveat noted ... Take neither the Luminor Due nor the (Reverso) Duo in for soak ! : )
Conversely. I suppose no flipping the 790 over for polo either, with its large display back😁
I guess the polo story…
Was more of a nice story 😉 Something tells me that a polo ball shot in anger would probably damage any mechanical watch it hit quite badly - maybe not break the crystal in this case but the movement would never be the same 🤷🏻♂️
I am sure the idea behind it is genuine…
But playing sports like polo or golf with a mechanical watch is asking for trouble. And the marketing ran with the story. Reminds me of the story of a British official in pre WW2 Shanghai, who poured a dram of his whiskey into the clubs goldfish aquarium ...
Agreed re the white dial, which was actually my first preference.
Thanks for looking ! 🙂🙏
But why "Radiomir"?
Lacking any luminous material (especially radium), wouldn't it have been more fitting to use only the "Panerai" signet? Marcus
I always liked this one and its sibling...
Ok it would be better to have luminous indices and hands, but as it is, I find them very appealing, and the story of the inspiration of the Pendulum at the Firenze Boutique is the cherry on the cake! ...
Much appreciated, Nico! 😀🙏
The cream-colored version has a California-cool?Havana? vibe that I find very appealing.
Hello Pkonos! Thank you so much for your post and sharing…
… your thoughts on this most controversial Panerai model. And with great shots to boot. I like it even if it doesn’t follow the traditional Panerai details: sandwich dial, high lume, 3-6-9-12 numerals, etc. Even the use of Radiomir in a non lumed watch ca...
Hello there, Abel! Thank you so much for your kind feedback and shots of your beloved 791. 🙏
Be still my heart! I must in all honesty to myself say that I do prefer the 791! (When hunting for one or the other in NOS condition, as such luck and timing at the time would have it, I landed the 790, though I pined most for the 791). So, I hope you'll ...
Hello again Pkonos! Thanks a lot for your so kind answer. As a matter of fact it was not an easy decision for me to choose between the black or the creamy dials as both...
... are really stunning. But I finally opted for the creamy and I don´t regret. I ordered it just a few days after it was launched. I`m happy you liked my shots and I wish you´ll enjoy viewing them as many times you wish. Yours is a big compliment which I...
Thank you for your very gracious reply 🙂🙂
Yes, indeed, let's both continue to enjoy our beautiful variants together, Abel ! Wishing you a great week ahead !
Hello Pkonos! Thank you so much for your post and sharing…
… your thoughts on this most controversial Panerai model. And with great shots to boot. I like it even if it doesn’t follow the traditional Panerai details: sandwich dial, high lume, 3-6-9-12 numerals, etc. Even the use of Radiomir in a non lumed watch ca...