Hi all
I had a chance to photograph the new Panerai PAM390 today. I was able to get a PAM 000 and a PAM 232 to contrast and compare.
Originally Posted in 2011.
What we know so far about the PAM 390 is that is a Special Edition of 2000 pieces. This comes in a special edition presentation box (larger than the standard issue) together with the famous "Scroll" that accompanies all Panerai Special Editions. These will be "only" available through the boutiques worldwide. As we have seen there are many owners who have been kind enough to share their new acquisition with us. This watch was little know around the Panerai community and as with many of these micro edition sprung out of nowhere to "now here" (the love guru) and blindsided most. However as many have also noticed there where catalog pictures last year but no mention till they hit the streets. Mr. Bonati played this one very close to his chest and was able to keep the surprise and the lid on this release as the internet buzz has once again beaten the street with Ad's scrambling to find out about this beauty. This is a keeper and is sure to find it's place with collectors like the PAM 249 and too many to mention … You can fill in the blanks
The Panerai 390 is a real beauty with the famous "chocolate" dial and aged patina application for the numeral and index application. The watch sports the classic OP1 movement with a highly polished case reminiscent of the PAM 000. In fact it is very similar except for that gorgeous brown dial and aged patina that give a more historic feel to it. And yes Gold hands that pop unlike the subdued hands of the PAM 000 which almost blend into the background. OK I won't bore you with and more fluff and take you to the pictures. On a side note the brown dial is almost impossible to represent in photos with using artistic license "photoShop", the pictures here are sans photoshot but with the reference of a black dial and a brown 232 you can get a feel for the color.





Now we start to compare and contrast. The PAM 000 and the PAM 390. The difference in dial color is pretty obvious. The "Zero" looks great also but the combo of aged patina, brown dial and gold hands make for nice showing.




Next the Pam 390 VS the PAM 232 that sports a similar brown dial and gold hands. At the base the colors are not too dissimilar however the sandwich dial and greenish markers tend to shift the color somewhat vs the yellow in the aged patina markers that lend themselves very well to the making the brown somewhat richer. Again both dials look great I just trying to best describe the brown dial.




Finally all three put together is very revealing for the dial colors. I hope you enjoy the photo review and good luck catching one.
Bill


Trust you guys are well.
Just love all the base models. wish there is a pvd next to them
Regards
John
More and more I read comments that this 390 was made for the real paneristi around the world.
A year a go they had this 360 micro edition and those who got one were very happy but with only 300 made, a few thousand were not that happy
The 390 looks like the watch for all the panerisit. I'm not going to name 100 different watch forums but when you take all the Japanese, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian .... there are so many different sites and I think the 390 will become the Paneristi watch for the world ( not only the .com)
I think it's a nice move ( some call it gift) but one thing is sure, it is a nice watch and the price is VERY attractive
Now, 2000 is not a micro edition butI know quite a few waitinglists at the boutiques are already closed. So once again some people will not get one. But with 2000 and such a cheap price I guess finding one on the secondhand market for an acceptable price can't be a problem.
A lot of people still buy the 232 and 249 because they were unable to get one in 2006. So even if the 390 would be 50% above list ... it would still be a watch most Panerisit can afford
And yes,,,,,, it"s freaking awesome
Except the fact that it is available at the Boutiques only, which makes me smile when it is such a large LE... It seems that more and more, the brands of the Richemond Group want to favour the Boutiques... Not the ADs...
But that is another tiopic.
Thanks for sharing your first thoughts on this watch, Bill.
Best,
Nicolas.
the EU....assuming Hellas doesnt crash taking Italia, Espana and Portugal with it...

The zero is a classic example of Panerai DNA
If you are late to the game but still what access to beautiful Panerai heritage the PAM 000 is within reach of everyone. You may have to sit on the waiting list but you will land on one. Beautiful lines with a classic feel.
The zero is the watch that will let you fever catch very quickly.
Bill
One of the killer is the 2 liners, simply the best !!
Tuscanii
You know I am still a student of you photo skill. I think I have taken less photos in the past years than you in the past weeks. So I have a long way to go mon ami.
I will be seeing you soon any way.
A+
Bill

and that 390 is looking better and better...
something about the brown dial/patina/gold hand combo...
Thank you!
Your pics clearly show the beauty of this piece, and we've now got a new masthead picture!
The PAM390 has a solid caseback right?
Cheers,
Anthony
PAM 390 Solid caseback the hallmark of classic Panerai. Thanks for the masthead.
Best
Bill