Officine Panerai

This was to day one of these lucky days.

A good friend, who is fortunate enough to own this 322, called me to ask me to take some pics of his new Baby.



A nice cushion shaped case, with elegant, not to say sexy curves:





The watch has a very clean, sober look, with a nice retro touch due to the combination of the inner ring, the brown grey dial, and the golden hands:







As we speak of the dial, the brown color is really awesome, and gives a superb depth to the watch:





You will notice the golden writings, and the sandwich indexes, which pleasantly complement the beautiful brown dial.





Without doubts, the combination of the titanium case, the size ( 47 mm ) and the shape of this same case are some very strong points.

The weight is really surprising, as the Titanium is very light, warm and comfortable to wear, at the opposite ( in terms of weight ) of the Pam 198, with its heavy, very heavy platinum case...

Now, let's see the movement.

As you know, Panerai used a Minerva movementon th Pam 309 / 322.

What to think about it?

I have mixed feelings about it.

This is obviously a nice movement, but I expected from Minerva a nicer, a better finished movement, like the one which is housed on the Ferrari Chrono, which shares the same base with the 309 / 322...









Here is maybe the problem: This movement is a bit swimming between 2 waters, a refined one, and a more appropriate one related to a tool watch.

Does a Radiomir need a excellent, outsantading movement?

Why not, but in this case, it should have been finished without compromises, even more when the watch is priced so high, IMHO.

That may be the biggest problem of this watch, but, intrisequely, a very nice watch, which belongds proudly to the great family of the Rare and awesome Radiomirs...

Here, in excellent company, with the 198, which shares the same gilt brown sandwhich dial ( did I forgot something? ) :







This comparison is interesting...

The dial of the 322 is simpler than the 198 one, with less writings, which is, to me, a nicer solution.

But the movement of the 198 is, to me, much more interesting, as it offers a 8 Days Power Reserve, and maybe a bit more coherent, in terms of finish.



To each his own, at the end.

The Radiomir Family is a great one with a wide choice of superb offers...



Best,

Nicolas

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This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-03-07 07:51:38 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-03-10 09:59:22

Hi,

I love this 322!

Thank oyu for sharing these pics.

I agree that the architecture of the calibre is unconventional for a Minerva calibre, but I could do with the finish.

Cheers

Dje

A nice, sober and pricey piece, indeed.

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

And loving my 309 and rads family too!

Cheers

Stephen

I'm wearing my 198 while typing these few lines, and yes, can't agree more with you on the appeal, the strenght and the beauty of the Rads.

Best,

Nicolas

...photos with the coral, Nicolas!  Both are lovely watches that combine refinement with a legible tool-watch type dial.  My slight preference would be for the 8 Days (but only verrrrry slightly!)...and with such an excellent strap choice too!  Awesome!

Daos

Thx for sharing

Alepos

They all have their own personality, indeed, and charm, too.

Best,

Nicolas

The magic of a very elegant case, combined to a brown dial, and a coherent, accurate and reliale movement.

What else, except Pleasure, a big real pleasure to wear this Beauty.

And the smoothness of the crown, when you wind the 8 Days movement...

This 198 is a big HIT!

Best,

Nicolas

and collectable.

Just to add that reserve de marche for 322 is more than 55 hours and we have 2 possibilities to know when the watch stops:

- the second hand do not move (like on 198)

- the typical "tic-tac" of the old minerva calibre do not sound near the ear (only back RdM indicator for 198, as the JLC calibre is silent)

Thanks for sharing,

Best my dear friend,

Patrickh

The 322 is as noisy as the 249 with its ETA movement ( the 249, of course, with the ETA ).

It's really ticking very loud!

It was a very pleasant experience to see it once again, since April 2008!

Best,

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-03-07 05:02:01

Thanks for showing us how it should be done.

But you know the saying: " When the watch is nice ... "

Taking pics of the 322, 249 and 198 together was an unforgettable experience...

It allows us to feel the differences, the good and negative points of each of them.

Best,

Nicolas

and I'm very happy to see a comparison of 3 great Radiomirs - PAM322, PAM249, and PAM198.

Great post!

Cheers,
Anthony

PS.  I would love to take extreme macros shots of the Ferrari FER24 w/ vintage Minerva movement someday to compare the finishing with the PAM322 (brown dial) and PAM309 (black dial).

It was a spontaneous post, nothing prepared, as I didn't know I would have the opportunity to put my hands on this 322.

As for the macros of the " Ferrari Minerva ", it is obviously a nicest and better finished version of the same movement, which is, IMO, very sad.

The Ferrari Minerva movement is indeed a very nice one, but I would sum it saying that I love the movement, but not the watch...

sounds like I'm never happy...



The best would have been to see a superb Minerva movement housed in the 322 / 309.

If I have the opportunity, I won't miss taking some macros of the Ferrari Minerva.

Best,

Nicolas

used in the PAM309 & PAM322.  I remember confirming this with Panerai last year.

- AT

The same than the one housed in the Ferrari , but without the Chrono parts...

And with this bloody inferior finish...

But someone here may have stronger infos?

Best,

Nicolas

I understand too that the movement in the 309/322 is Minerva's chrono movement without the chrono parts, but they didn't state it clearly whether the "chrono" is the chrono used in the Ferrari watch, or another chrono from Minerva as you know Minerva creates lotsa chronos!

Stephen

Chad, Beverly Hills Boutique Manager, says the Minerva movement in the Ferrari Panerai is a new old stock movement while the Minerva used in the 322 and 309 is not a NOS movement.  Hence, this means they are 2 different movements.

I don't know which movement the 322 and 309 is based on but it's not the same base as in the FER24.

- AT

Hi,

The PAM 322 calibre is based on the Minerva calibre 16-15.  This calibre is modified so that the small seconds is at 9 on the Panerai (at six on the Minerva Seconde Grande Authentique).

This calibre is 38.4mm wide and is in no way linked to the Ferrari watch Minerva chrono calibre which is a Minerva 13-20 that is just 29.5mm wide.

The 13-20 is a very old calibre from Minerva but I don't think it is a vintage piece in the Ferrari watches as Minerva still produces it in the 13-21 version that is just the same with a higher degree of finish (meaning that the calibre in the Ferrari watch doesn't have a finish to the level of the same calibre in the Minerva watches offered today).

Cheers

Dje

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I'm not a huge Pannie-fan in general. But the Radiomir remains THE most beautiful design there is (case is amazing ). These three together make a stunning trio !!!!

Filip

Yes, when I saw these 3 beasts side by side, I was thinking the same...

These Rads rule.

I was a bit amazed by the fact that the 322 and the 198 shares the same color ofr their dials, a kind of brown which may turn to grey depending on the light.

Best,

Nicolas

It reminds me that I still need to get an elegant Radiomir as I only have the 292 which needs a more traditional companion (in terms of material)
I do agree with your relevant questioning of the noblesse of the movement or treatment of it. It is a rather important brand philosophy issue.
Thanks
Luc

Along the 232, 249, 190, and these 309 / 322...

An embarassing choice, at the end...

But waht an exciting experience to live!



Best, and thanks for your nice words, my friend.

Nicolas