Officine Panerai

 



PAM00587




PAM00687

If you had your choice, which one would you acquire, and why? 

MM on the dial and the solid lug 1940 case are hard to pass but I would give the edge to the 687 because of the thinner case. Truth be told I would probably go 685, even if the 687 looks stunning I'm afraid I'd get bored of the dial over time.

As much as the Marina Militare dial is a huge pull I much prefer the wire lugs and lovely crown on the 687 as those features are what makes the Radomir special IMHO.

I ultimately had to move it along because I didn’t enjoy it on the wrist.  Point is that if you can try on first then you should.  The alternative with the wire lugs will surely wear nicer.

687 if  you prefer contemporary piece

Is nice but only 44mm

Regardless of case shape, lugs, and dial, a Panerai with a water resistance of only 3 bar - like the 687 or the Due models have - is simply out of question and always a BIG ... missing point for me.

Like a cap without a head covering.



LOLL

Although I’m not a serious diver, just a 47mm Panerai lover! If one was to swim in it or any other Panerai, which leather straps for these can hold up in fresh or sea water?

buying a Panerai with only 30 m water resistance feels like buying a Ferrari with a 100 hp engine – even if the speed limit is 130 km/h, it just doesn’t feel right. 😉

As for straps: I have learned that leather and salt water don’t mix well. They’ll get stiff, brittle, and ugly in no time.

Therefore for pool or sea or pool I always switch to rubber.

Cheers
Thomas

So I had to have both (both of which arrived today). I have to say that I absolutely adore the sunburst dial on the 687, as well as the history surrounding the “deadly” * dial of the original watch of which the 687 is an homage (sin the radiation of the original radium dial). Now I need to keep telling myself, no more Panerai’s, no more Panerai’s. My 47mm collection is now complete, with the 127, 249, 368, 587, 662 and 687!  

....derives from the merger of Radio=radium and Mire=targeting devices. Those were the original products, supplied by Officine Panerai to the Royal Italian Navy. Devices painted with radium (radioactive) to aim at targets, in the dark of the night, and bomb them. When Panerai was requested to supply, waterproof watches for mainly night operations, they used the RADIO to obtain luminous dials. The name RADIOMIR, was created, for the timepiece. The radium used on the dials, however, although still "active" has depleted (in the near 80 years of use) to a great extent, I wouldn't hesitate, even for a second, to use a vintage Radiomir, But hey, I used to drive without outside rearview mirrors, safety belts (cars didn't have either of them) and other things that are considered "indispensible" in today's society