Officine Panerai

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admiring these marvels and your pics...

This 322 and the 198 (watch that I had the pleasure to admire ) are a great duo.... and if you had the Cali.... Ummmm.

I started my walk in the Panerai´s world with a Logo 005 (two years with me) and, after, with a 112. This Luminor case is the most recognable case for the fans and no fans of Panerai...

After, I had the pleasure of buying a Cali, a Radiomir case..... for me, one of the more sexies and beauties cases in the watches´s world....and if you had a History like the one of the California, you have a Hit. If I only could have a watch, probably this watch would be my Cali.

These watches are true examples of a nice case.... probably no the most famous... probably the most beauty and sexy.

thanks for sharing this amazing pics and watches with us.

Best

Emilio.

PS: I think that I must add, again, a Luminor case (or a 1950 case) in my collection....LOLOL. The 312 is the winner....

And too many great Rads, too.



A Story without end, indeed.

Thanks for your nice words, Hermano.

Best.

Nicolas

However, such a wounderful report deserves forgiveness! Thank you for your photographic skills.

Best!

--

Richard.

This message has been edited by =RWK= on 2009-03-07 14:49:08

Sorry, mate, but it looks like I can't live without it...

A very special watch, to me.

The feel and weight of the platinum, this brown dial and the fine JLC movement elegantly ticking contribute to the special appeal of this Rad...

Sorry,



Nicolas

Cheers!

The marriage of that dial with the gold hands is bliss. I can't opine on the Minerva movement housed beneath, but it sure is pretty.

Best,

Jed

The owners of the 232 feel the same happyness, too.

Sure this is a superb combo, my friend.

Best,

Nicolas

Similar to the 292, I first had my reservation when OP announced blackened/PVD/Ceramic or even brushed finished radiomir case.  I guess for me the good old Radiomir should always have polished finishing.     

Needless to say my knee wobbles when I saw the 292 in real life, although I'm still having trouble finding the perfect strap for her...

While I'm still patiently waiting for my 322, I must say your wonderful pictures really brings out the essence of the brushed finish.  While the finish is very different and might not ressemble our typical Radiomir, it seems to be in perfect contrast with the inner gold ring.

I especially love that picture of 322 + your wonderful 198.  Tx again my friend.

This message has been edited by Jester on 2009-04-11 12:05:06

Agree with you on the fact that the perfect historical Rad comes with a polished SS Case, like the 232...

But the combo Titanium case, inner gold ring, and brown dial is really awesome.

So you're on the 322, my friend?

Thanks for your nice words, Jester,

Best.

Nicolas

now the 198....that's a DIFFERENT story...  ;-)

It was the first watch you saw in the flesh from my collection, if I remember well...

Always on my wrist, Eric.

Best,

Nicolas

I wore mine yesterday.

Craig

Love this watch...its an stunning piece. Much more beatiful than the 232!

I had the opportunity to try it personally in one event organized by Panerai in Spain...and its simply gorgeous watch!

Let me share some pics of them...

The Three Tenors. My 232 in the center

The Big Brothers

Tourbi Wrist Shot. WOW....48mms!!! Super Thick! awesome ...

And the one I like the most. really love Ti in Rads! Wish those are not the last coming in Ti

The back is also stuning.

 

 

Wouldn't say that the 322 is much nicer than the 232.

The 232 is less sophisticated, with its SS case, and its rough movement, but maybe more coherent than the 322, which plays on 2 grounds: The Tool, and the Horological Watch, with the Minerva movement.

Therefore, the 232 is a base ( without second hand ), which gives Purity and strenght to the Rad.

So, things aren't simple..



Thanks for your pics, my friend!

Best,

Nicolas

Not saying 232 is ot beatiful...IT IS...but 322, its stinning...wherever you look at it. The case, the dial, the movement, the details, the material...

;-)

Especially the first one, looks like a magazine ad.=)

The Minerva movement is much better finished than the traditional Unitas-based movement, the anglage is clearly visible and well-done. This makes the movement much more pleasant and interesting to look at, not to mention the satisfaction that it houses a thorough-bred high-end movement.

Should Panerai's movement be finished better? With more finishing comes with a higher price tag and  I believe the market is segmented regarding this, just like everything else.

For the complicated models, a finer degree of finishing is a must, as it makes the brand more honest in justifying the high prices, and also serves to further catapult Panerai's top models higher into the realm of fine watchmaking.

Thanks Nicolas for sharing and bringing up this topic.

Jon (Z3)

 

I agree on the appeal of this 322...

The only thing is that between a 322 and a PP 5712, which is priced quite the same, or a PP 5196P, on which would you go?

And I don't even speak of a Lange...

That's the only reserve I have about this watch.

But Love has its reasons that the Reason ignores...

Or something like that.



Best,

Nicolas

There are easy comparisons (such as comparing this watch with an iced-out Jacob & Co), and there are hard comparisons, like the one that you raised=)

These three are all very different watches with different positionings and "feelings", all of them are excellent pieces. 

If I had to pick one, I probably would pick the 5712 because of the functionality and better finishing.

But then again, we Purists sometimes are animals of passion, not reason=) There are some pieces that just "SPEAK" to us like the murmuring voice in John Nash's head.  And when that happens, you just have to make a decision.

After all, passion, not pure reason, is what makes us going. (Although I hope that the passion is supported by some objective measures, and some conversation with other Purists).

I myself have quite often fallen prey to strong passion, regardless of all that price-value ratio analysis...

The degrees in which other people think that we are crazy are all relative to their starting point.

After I flew back to Taipei to pick up my Survivor and then showed it to my watch buddies in NY, they shook their head and told me that I could've bought a fancy Lange or Patek in precious model, but they could understand my passion.

When I showed a "non-watch" colleague the Survivor, told him the extent that I went to get it, and then told him the price, his eyes widened immediately in disbelief, shook his head, and wanted me to take a photo of him with the watch so he could email his mother and show her "how to wear a brand new BMW on the wrist"=)

Jon

 

 

 

 

 

You're right, Jon...

Comparison doesn't work with Passion, and I can easily follow you on this way...

The most important is, for the potential buyer of this watch, to know if it sings loudly to him.

Of course.

Best,

Nicolas

The PAM 203 movement is not all that decorated either and looks equally mundane although I do realize the scarcity on the movement is the main issue for the 203. Great post. Where'd you pick up the strap on the 198?

As it is a Vintage Angelus movement, which was used in the Vintage Pannies.

As for the strap on my 198, a friend of mine made some very nice ones, this is one of them, but don't dream, this is a Proto, an unique piece.

Best,

Nicolas

Wohhh!!

I´d love this couple!!