Boris
919
This is the closest I have
Jul 03, 2020,18:09 PM
It's not this exact watch, but bear with me for a moment.
Early in this hobby, in 2001 to be precise, I bought a Panerai Luminor Marina PAM 1. It was quite a bold choice at the time, as virtually no one knew about the brand, and wearing a 44mm watch was met in equal measure with amusement and consternation. Anyway, fast forward a couple of years, and I was deep into Rolex, having bought my first 16570, and a couple of vintage Submariner's (a 5513 transitional and a 1680). It was also the year my brother was turning 30. He wasn't making much at the time, not that I was either, but he couldn't afford a really good watch. I thought it was a bit unfair that I could enjoy 3 Rolex while he had none. So I sold the PAM 1C, and with the funds collected, I got him a late serial (R) 5513, that he's been wearing since. For his 40th, I offered him a full service of the watch at his local AD in Nantes, who were great as they didn't insist to change the hands and dial. He should be good to go for a while with this now, especially since he has it in rotation with his Sinn, Eterna and TAG - I'm afraid I gave him the watch bug, and to my cousin too, for good measure (I gave the latter an Oris, and he is now an avid watch collector).
This also illustrates my on / off relationship with Panerai. Sometimes I am absolutely fond of the brand, and spend a great deal of time (and money) buying and changing straps, which is half the fun with these watches. At other times, I completely lose interest and find them too impractical and heavy. I am through one of those phases now, and hardly wear the PAM 22 in the picture. Still, it is a nice reminder that a Panerai allowed me to get my brother a nice present. Fun fact, that PAM 1 was a series C, like all the Panerai's I ended up owning subsequently (PAM 25, PAM 22). There must have been something about the year 2000.
Since I just received this, I can't resist posting a couple of pictures of my latest acquisition. I've put it on a pebbled box calf from Camille Fournet, which is lined with rubber, as the original Serapian strap would not last the summer in Hong Kong - it's stupidly hot and humid this year.
And since we are talking about the heart, here it is on my favorite picture. This was on my wedding day two years ago, with my Mom and my bride. Best day of my life.
Have a great weekend, fellow Purists.