Officine Panerai

The Pam 36 is one of the legend Vendome watches, with some few others like the 40, the 21, the Pre A 1,2,4,9, and the Mare 6,7 and 8.
This watch has an interesting story.
When Panerai Firenze was sold th Vendome, in March 1997, the Cartier Vendome group recieved some stuff from OPF, and with the stuff, some projects, like the watches which belonged to the Project Slytech as the Black Seal Slytech...
So, Panerai Vendome had the idea to launch a watch which was conceived in the end of OPF, a titanium watch.
The 1st watch, in titanium to be launched is the Sub Pam 25...
The 2d is the Pam 40, which was launched as a test for some markets like Germany, France, USA, and Japan, in 1999.
The Pam 40 is considered as a pre Pam 36...

This is a Luminor Marina, with tritium indexes and a black dial in a titanium case, hence.



This Pam 40 is a mystery, and loved for that, as it's not a referenced watch...Yes go on the official website, or make a search in all the catalogue, you'll never see the Pam 40 reference...It's presented like a Limited Edition of 200 pieces, but not packaged like a LE...

So came the Pam 36, the 1st Marina Militare after the legendary 5218- 202/A pre v, with its stunning PVD and its matching or non matchind indexes and numbers...And after the Marina Militare gorgeous Vintage watches...

Here comes again a mystery....
The Pam 36 is referenced as a LE from the Year 1998, have a look on the official website, or in the Limited Editions Catalogue, you always will see it presented in 1998, which is a mistake, as it gets a B production which is the evidence that the watch was launched in ...1999, presented during the SIHH of the same year.
Yuo will notice that the pic on the official website is also a wrong pic, as the Pam 36 is resented with a Lumniova dial I never saw in any Pam 36, and with a wrong BB number...

So, let's come back to the Pam 36, and the watch in itself...

This is the 1st Luminor Marina to get the name of Marina Militare by special authorization of the Marina Militare Italiana...
Just Before the Pam 82 Amerigo Vescpucci, which is the name of one of the ship/school of the MM italiana, in 2000.
Note that I never heard ( but I may be wrong) that the 3rd MM Vendome, the Pam 217, was made by special authorization of the MM...

The Pam 36 is the one and the only one to have:
A Titanium case ( Grade 2 ),
Combined to a Brown dial,
And tritium indexes.

Here are some pics of this beauty.









The Brown chocolate dial is something amazing, subtile and beautiful...Depending on the ilght, the color change from an evident brown to a grey brown till a black dial...
The combo with the creamy indexes is a gorgeous show!







The Case Back lets show the movement, which is, as a lot of Panerai, a reliable and accurate ETA, which is the ost important for a tool watch like this one...



You will notice an interesting thing, on this movement...It's obvioulsy inspired from the Rolex Cortebert look, which is clever, and well done!

The packaging is complete, with a big LE box, the scrolls, the libretto, ...Wow, that's a presentation!.



And, on the wrist, it's perfect, very legible, and comfortable...



Well for me this Pam 36 is a real MM, like its legendary ancesters, or mother, the 202/A:





Yes, this Pam 36 is much more desirable than the 82:





Or than the Pam 217, MM Destro...( Credit: La cote des montres ):



It has this charism, this part of legitimity and History that many other Panerai Vendome watches don't have...
Useless to make complex when the simpler is always the better...
Here are the true Panerai roots, and one of the rare specimen of some beautiful and dream watches...
Hope you had pleasure reading and seeing this topic.
Best.
Nicolas

NB: I want here to credit Yves O. and Dirk G for all these informations about this Pam 36, and the Pam 40...They are true gurus!  LOL

added to Editor's Pick This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2008-02-20 10:54:28

Hi Nicolas,

It is like going to school on every visit. Just when I thought I knew enough to swim the waters here. Bam! Back to square one.

We are lucky to to have your knowledge and passion around here.

Now I going back to my lessons.

Thanks as always.

Bill

Thanks for the nice words, this Pam 36 is one of these true Panerai, indeed!
Nicolas

When you wrote the below, what did you mean?:

"You will notice an interesting thing, on this movement...It's obvioulsy inspired from the Rolex Cortebert look, which is clever, and well done!"

Below are pics of the 21 and 36.  Are you just referring to how this ETA movement has roots back to the Rolex Cortebert movement?  Or are you referring to something else?  Thanks!

Cheers,
Anthony

PAM21 movement

PAM36 movement

I'm referring to how this ETA movement has roots back to the Rolex Cortebert movement...Look at these 2 movements, they are pretty close designed...And even closer when you see the Cali movement, which is the same base than the ETA/Unitas of the 36 and the pre v...
Best!
Nicolas

Interesting !! It;s the first time I've realized, that these Unitas-ETA
movements must be from the same Cortebert base.
Look at the wheel axes and screws, they all are at the same place.
The Finish and shape has changed but the base design is still obvious

 

Thanks for illuminating us all !!

 

 

This is more obvious on this pic with a Vintage Rad Rolex Cortebert Movement , and a Clai re edition case back with its ETA movement than with the ETA movement of the Pam 36, but it's exactly the same location for the wheels and screws, jewels, etc...
The inpiration is obvious, and that's clever from Panerai to have done it...IMHO.
Best.
Nicolas

a good friend, Konrad, suggested the following scenario -

Cortebert was taken over by Omega in the 70's, Omega is Swatch and so is ETA/Unitas.....

Not sure if the timeline fits in, but a nice theory that Unitas 6498 and derivatives, is a reworked Rolex/Cortebert Cal. 616/618.

 

Cheers,

~Asi~

nt

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This watch deserved a post, didn't it???
Best.
Nicolas

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Very in-depth report of the 36....and also some knowledge sharing on the PAM82 and PAM217. The 36 is always the grail to me as it's got everything I love....the titanium case, brown dial, sub-seconds, tritium indexes, see-through caseback, and the "Marina Militare".

I wonder if Panerai, in the future, try to make this special kind of watch but with the Destro? I don't know this would sound great or not but it will hit the market more or less.

thanks for sharing all info and pics with us. You are truly an amazing watch collector.

Cheers

I don't see Panerai launching a Pam 36 Destro, as they already made the 217 which is a Destro...
More, Panerai, as the others, can't use anymore tritium on their dials, so, even if they want to make another Pam 36, but in Destro configuration, it will certainly be less attractive than the 36.
BUT, Panerai can launch a Rad Marina Militare....
Best.
Nicolas

is here, with some rare others...
Make your choice before all these watches go to heaven ( financially speaking, of course! ) LOL
Best!
Nicolas

And no doubt the three best titanium ones.

 

Thanks for the report that bring back fond memories of long train trips,,,,,

 

Asi

It was a nice and good trip...
What we laught!!!
I still have this pic in front of the Cheese Shop...in Swizerland, but where did I put it???LOL
You had them all ( 36, 40, and 82), Asi, if I remember well?
Best.
Nicolas

I did.

the MMs are wonderful....

 

 

But the 40 is my absolute favorite!

 

 

Cheers,

 

~Asi~

commandment.  While I don't covet your "ass", I am definitely coveting your PAMs, both the 36 and Marine Militare.202/A. 

Beautiful watches,

-David

Nicolas,

Now,you are hot on both side?I hope you are not taking over somebody's seat here?LOLOL.....joking k.

Very well writen and very well explain....

Thanks such a nice job done.

BHK9

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