It is a special piece, and you know i love my 249!
I guess for me and Panerai, while I do respect and love their historical authencity very much, i also do not mind and infact welcome with great pleasure these sorta " modern" interpretations of their watches! Because honestly speaking, this is way much better than a Chronograph panerai, than a tourbillon Panerai, and definitely way better than a Minute repeater panerai, all of which they have done since they entered the vendome era, and probably will do soon in the not too distant future.
In their stance to be a manufacture with all the mandatory innovations and complications, this is one i do not agree from the start since p.2002 was launched. I really wished that even if they decided to make their own movement, they would really just stick to time only piece. But you have to remember that not many companies can stay strong and alive with time only pieces, but i personally believe that Panerai could do. I don't know about the other markets of the world, but here in Tokyo only the bases are selling. At most the chronos, nothing else. In fact the Ferrari line sells so badly that they boutique here even took it out of their store, they don't even have 1 FER right now!
Once again mon ami, the movement is NOT NOS! Lol
So a proto with an extremely beautiful finished movement ( remember how in my 1st review of my 309 i called it "Panerai's Lange" ? ), the MOST beautiful IMHO among all movements that ever made it to being encased into a Panerai.
That's alright mon ami, wait till you see live photos of my piece, then let's see if you might be convinced?
If not, then well to each his own as always, but i do believe you will at least "feel" for it!
A beintot
Stephen