Officine Panerai

I have always admired the PreVendome Panerais because of the purity of the design the fat tritium indexes and of course their significance in Panerai's history. But I always looked down on their Mare Nostrum series.

I love the concept of the watch, but my thought on the watch, that Panerai downsized the case from the original 52mm to 42mm always bothers me.. The tachymeter on the bezel also bothers me.. A lot of things bothered me about the watch..

Until last Saturday that I finally saw one in metal.. I realized that I have underestimated the Mare Nostrum.. I saw a 5218-302/A, the Slytech Mare Nostrum.. And what can I say? I couldn't stop looking at it.. Those who have never seen it in metal, might have the same thought as my thought before last Saturday. But I have to tell you, it is an absolutely charming piece.. I have never thought that I would be looking at this more even when there's a PreVendome logo also sitting in front of me..

Those small things still bothers me.. But those small things put together as this whole watch made it very special...

Just look at the dark blue dial... It changed color from black to dark blue from different angles..

And on the wrist, it was just perfect.. To me it felt like wearing a royal oak chronograph.. Only with stronger character and more comfortable

So I wanted to hear your thoughts or experience about the PreVendome Mare Nostrum... On the 301/A 302/A or even 304/A..

Could this be my first chrono panerai / watch...?? (err.. if I have more money)

Best,



Sam
This message has been edited by samrotandi on 2010-12-14 00:58:31

But I'm curious:

You mentioned you didn't like the PV MN due to the downsizing from the original, but isn't it the same thing for the PV Logo and others?   They're all downsized/modernized version of the original piece right?    Why do we love them more than the PV MN?  

I guess you're not the only one feeling that way and I'm curious as to other's take on this as well.

 

The slytech wording is still disturbing me... sigh....

Okay, this is my take on your question... The first Panerai I've known, is the 44mm luminors.. I really think that most people are exposed to the 44mm luminor first, before they know about other models... The PV MN on the other hand is special, very special that not a lot of people can appreciate it..

I honestly don't know what I'm talking about... I'm still curious... And can't answer your question...

Best regards,

Sam

The 2 Slytech ( smooth bezel which is now on Patrice's wrist and Tachy bezel which is now in Australia on a very good fellow's wrist ), and several 301/ A.

It is indeed a very special watch from the Panerai Family.

Smaller than the others, with its 42 mm case, but so special!

To me, it is the only Panerai Chrono which is legitimate.

Yes, it is much smaller than the " original " proto, as you said, but the original is almost unwearable, so the Pre V is the perfect compromise, to me, and a very strong watcdh, despite its smaller size.

A GO, for me.

Best,

Nicolas.

This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-12-14 05:56:28

I agree that it is THE ONLY legitimate Panerai chrono model...

So which one is your favorite out of the 3?

Best,

Sam

All the Pre V including the Blackseal Slytech...

less the 209/ A and the 210 /A.

Out of the 3, the smooth bezel 5218-304 is by far my favourite, as it is the closer to the original.

But I'm deeply in love with my 301/ A, too.

Best,

Nicolas.

Did you have them all at the same time??

Actually out of the three, my favorite is 301/A and 304/A.. 301/A simply because it's the only one without SLYTECH bradning and 304/A because of the smooth bezel.. A combination between the two would be PERFECT...

So thank you for sharing Nicolas.. Always a pleasure to hear your point of view and stories...

Cheers

Sam

There is no " / A "... So the exact reference is 5218-302, and 5218-304, while on the current Mare the Ref is 5218 - 301 / A...

Don't ask me why, I don't know.

The smooth bezel is a monster, a very rare piece ( only 31 were made under the Pre V era ).

I'm sad to have let it go, but happy to see it on a friend's wrist.

Best,

Nicolas.

What about the 205 and 207?

It must've been hard to let them go... But I believe it's good to know that your ex-watches are in good hands!


Best,


Sam

The most problematic for me was to let go the 202 /A Non Matching, as it was a really special watch, and I can even say that if I regret having let one go, this is this one.

But now, it is in England.

Best,

Nicolas.

If I had all those watches, I don't know if I would be able to let them go... Such rare beauties...

Best,


Sam

What is the PAM 300, or the original Mare Nostrum vintage?

Fakes?

I'd say that all these PreVs are "wannabes" , not being able to live up to the legend, thus having to compromise.

My 2 yens,

Stephen

I really think that they compromised the size because not everybody can wear such large watch..

To me the original is still the better if you compare it to the preVs.. But in the real world (at least my world) the PreV mares are simply better because of the practicality...

My 2 rupiahs..

Sam

But for me maybe it is because of my principles that all PAM should be historically accurate, especially with respects to their sizes. Which means STRICTLY only 47mm, 52mm and 60mm.

DOn't look down on the rupiah! It is getting stronger day by day, that cunning bugger!

Ciao

Stephen

And I salute you that you have principles and you hold on to it...

You're right... So it's a bit cheaper to buy panerais nowadays... (hope that panerai don't read this or they will increase the price much higher next year)


Cheers

Sam

Panerai's eyes can be a little bit far-reaching for our own goods!

Or bads!

Stephen

And if you stick to History, so why going on a Cali with a small second???

Size doesn't make all...

Best,

Nicolas.

Then you'd see me getting loads of vintages.

Alas i am but too late to the passion.

So i have to live with the modern!

BUT, for me, towards Panerai, the size makes it all. I know about the 349, a very controversial piece. But don't forget, so many things are not known about Panerai, especially the real vintage pieces. Who would though we would see a 2533 with a seconds hand, that IMHO ruins the dial? But Panerai has done it in the past, and which means if they were to release a 2533 homage piece WITH a seconds hand, and just base it on the same Minerva or P. 2002/7 movement, we really cannot blame them.

Maybe for me the dial doesnt have to be historically correct? May i be allowed to be pardoned in this case?

A beintot

Stephen

If you sell all your modern Panerais, you could go on a Vintage, don't you think?

It is a matter of choice, which is your absolute right, indeed.

Best,

Nicolas.

All my moderns, and then some vintages!

Although if i did go for the vintages, i'm not sure if they will agree with my skin, as i have highly sensitive skin and you know how with vintages they are often "dirty".

And they might not live up to the environments that i intend to bring them to!

Stephen

I am confused!
This message has been edited by PoyFR on 2010-12-14 09:52:30

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Just look at what our friend Marc acquired today!

If that is NOT history, lol, what is?

More of history than the PreV's for sure!

A bientot

Stephen

Whilst I do like and appreciate PAM 300 and PAM 341, there is only so much I will wear on my 'tiny' wrist.
To re-write a new chapter, should we go about with a medallion? ;-)


This message has been edited by PoyFR on 2010-12-14 17:54:52

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Because so few 47mm were ever created, whether in the past as the vintages, or in the modern, in the likes of 249, 232, 127, 217, 309, 322 and so on and so forth.

But, i am just trying to say that Panerai's real history laid with the 47mm's, so why did they change?

Stephen 

But for me i find only those pieces that salutes TRULY the Historical vintage panerais, those up till 1993 are the true ones. These are of course just my very humble opinions. ( I think mon ami Nico is going to get to me about my 349's dial for this, hoho)

But, if you all want to, in my objective analysis i would divide Panerai into the Period from 1935~1993, and 1993~. The PreV mare's would be allocated to the latter group. But as you all know very well by now, Pam made their later pieces "Smaller", because they had to conform to the market situation at that time, where the average of 38mm was considered a giant already, unlike today's 41mm plus. So in a way ( although OP might never admit this) is that they had to "compromise", because if you are so proud of your DNA, why go small? OP did nothing under 47mm up till 1993, when it was for the CIVILIAN market, not the GENUINE market that Panerais were originally even created for, a real TOOL for war.

My humble 2 yens

Stephen

 

No controversial at all, history is history and it is here to remain.

 

If you wish to split Panerai ‘watches’ history in parts, then your statement is not correct.  

Under Giuseppe PANERAI 1935-1972, All vintage pieces 2533, 3646, 6152, 6152-1, 2/56, 6154 were destined to military use; Under Dino Zei 1972-1997,  Pre-Vendome pieces, Luminor double crown 1982, 1000 Meters 1985, and in 1993 the 10 watches referred as Pre-Vendome pieces, all destined for both military and civilian use.

 

In Mai 1997, The Vendome-Cartier group took over to write (the) a new chapter.

As for a tool for war, nowadays if you need a tool for war you are better buying a calculator (currency converter, they even come bigger than any watches around ;-)

Teacher?

Best,

Nicolas.