Panerai PAM 587 Marina Militare Acquisition Story

I have arrived a few hours ago back home, after a two weeks vacation with my wife which took us to Milano, Venice, Como and Bellagio in Lago di Como, Paris, La Rochelle, and finally Paris again, to return to my home city of Buenos Aires.

This particular trip has also been a bit of an horological pellegrinage for me, because my visit to Milano, besides meeting my lovely nice and her husband and childs who live there, I was taking delivery of my JLC Geophisics which was waiting me at the JLC Milano Boutique.

And a nice and long awaited meeting with my good friend Nicolas was another main purpose of my trip to Paris!

And of course I was also behind another watch I desired so much: The Panerai Marina Militare!!

I wish to share a little story here...

I visited the Panerai Boutiques in Milano and Venezia, and I was assured that it was very difficult to get an example of the Pam 587.

Only 1000 units to be produced, had to be distributed among the 50 or 60 Boutiques de marque has along the World. A lot of Panerai enthusiasts are already in the waiting lists.
To fill and sign a form is the usual procedure in this case, and then the long waiting without warranty to get it.

In Milano I was informed that their waiting list was of around 50 people at present, and they showed the only example they had at the moment, full paid by its happy owner and waiting to be picked up in the next hours. I could try it on the wrist, but no way to convince them to sell it to me!

So... I filled the form, and asked to advice my nice in Milano if I was fortunate to be assigned one soon.

I tried the same in Venice and then the same in Paris, not only in the official Boutiques but in some AD´s. The answer was exactly the same.

Then last Friday I had the pleasure of meeting Nicolas in Paris, and while talking watches with him, he adviced me to insist again in the Rue de la Paix Boutique (the first and largest one) .

Regretably, I only had a chance the following Saturday, as on Monday 24th (yesterday) a car was picking me at 12 o´clock to take us to the CDG Airport for our return flight!

On Saturday morning I was received very cordially at the Boutique, but again was assured that it was a very difficult task to get that watch.  Almost impossible before Monday noon. I was offered a couple of other references, but I explained that it was the Marina Militare the one which was haunting my mind for weeks!

Again I was requested to fill a form, and to explain how many and which Pam references I already own. (actually four)

They assured me that they were going to make their best effort to get it, but I should understand that it was very difficult to find it for me.

On Saturday afternoon I was very enthusiastic with a very nice Parisian GTG: hours passed flying and with such a delightful experience for me that I almost had forgotten about the Panerai.

But when I returned to my Hotel that afternoon at 7 PM, and I checked my mail, I found one from the Panerai Boutique telling me: Congrats! There will be a Marina Militare waiting for you here next Monday morning!!"

I´m sure my Purists colleagues here can understand my surprise, my emotion, my excitement and the thrill to read that mail! I had to read it twice to convince myself that it was true! What a great news!

Finally, yesterday Monday morning I was standing at 10:25 AM in front of the Panerai Boutique waiting for its opening! I had not slept well the two previous nights thinking if some last minute problem could arrise meaning an impediment to have my watch in time. I needed to be at my Hotel again at 11:30 to reunite with my wife and pick bagage and head to the Airport! Wow! What a thrill!!

My adorable daughter which accompanied us during the Paris part of our trip was with me sharing that unique magical moment standing there at my side. The store opened on time and they found with surprise such an early customer waiting there! My smile was literally from ear to ear as we say here!

All paperwork was done in a hurry, and I took my new watch on my wrist for the trip back to the Hotel and then in the flight to Roma/Buenos Aires.

It was a great experience which I double enjoyed sharing it with my dear daughter who knows so well how passionate her Dad is about these things!
That made that Parisian morning unforgettable and unique to me!  And I´m sure that my MM will remind me of that day everytime I will enjoy it on my wrist.

I arrived to the Hotel in time to get the taxi, but with no time for some classic Paris background pictures I wished to take. At least I could make a few shots by the charming Pont Neuf, just crossing the street in front of my Hotel. And a few shots later in the airplane while getting airborne.

I promise some better pictures soon, but I wished to share this story as soon as possible with my dear friend Nicolas, and with all my friends here at Purists just a few hours after my arrival home.

With best cordial regards, Abel.