Officine Panerai

jmah
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2 year fight

It took me just over 2 years of serious collecting (August 2010), to finally make the plunge and join the PAM Gang.  I've always been interested, knowledgeable on the brand's history, evolution and transformation following Richemont and since the mid 2000's, towards in-house movements, as a closet fan.

My very first experience with Panerai was in 2007 when getting married in Maui.  The wonderful wife wanted me to pick out a watch as a wedding present from her. So up until 1.5 hours before our ceremony was to take place, I finally decided between a Rolex Cellini Dannos WG vs. PAM 241 Power reserve. I sucked myself in (albeit with no regrets) to go with white gold and to be completely honest, the Rolex cache, relative to a favourable $1,500 price difference that the Panerai could have been attained for.  I still remember how cool it felt to see my first PAM's in the flesh, learn about the Italian history, know about the small annual production runs, the beautifully large case and specifically to the 241, the Clos du Paris - Hobnob Dial and how it felt alive on my wrist due to the large size and movement.  From that day, the seed was planted. 

The reason for the long wait was that, I knew it would be impossible to only own one or even two Panerai.  They remind me of the G.I. Joe toys I had as a child of the 80's.  You can't just own one.  In fact, you want to own everything. 

After picking up the 498 in October, I also grabbed the 424 California in December.  I know many people on the Fourm primarily dislike the deviation form 100% vintage replication for the 424 due to the added date function and OP logo at 6 O'clock (not that much fuss about the blue hands apart from the date and OP logo), but not having a date function actually bothers me. 

I see you have several PAM's and am interested to know what most people on the Panerai Forum's collecting style is?  My hunch is that it would be similar to my G.I. Joe theory of trying to get all that exist in the universe.  Is this the sign of a true Panerisiti vs. a Bandwagoner [perhaps me... oh no...]

Ceramic and gold are next in my Panerai strategy, which you have already conquered!  Congrats! 

Prices are much better in HK due to luxury taxes in China.  I find service is still better overall in HK and they're more knowledgeable.  I buy mostly from AD's in HK and Las Vegas, with my hometown in Canada being 3rd. 

Beijing is a blast, I was just there in September last year, and October of 2010.  The only thing that sucks apart from the traffic is that Beijing is colder than most parts of Canada in the winter, due to humidity and lack of central heating in certain spots still.

Kind regards,

Jmah