A return to the watch that began my collecting journey nearly three decades ago…
Thirty years chasing an ideal… Not the 5218-202/A Pre-V that started it all… not vintage… but the modern heir to its legend — the PAM05218. There would be no WSW, no deep dive into horology, maybe not even this entire collector’s journey, without that mor...
Hermano, if anyone understands why this piece sings… it’s you.
You lived with the originals — the true Pre-V soul — and if this modern MM is calling to you, I can promise you: it carries that same quiet gravity on the wrist. Different execution, of course… but the spirit is unmistakable. And if it does end up joining...
When this one lands on your wrist, it’s going to feel like catching an echo of the old days.
You know these shapes, these proportions, this attitude better than almost anyone here — and the way the new MM wears, the way it sits… the mismatched lume... it carries that same quiet weight you remember. I can’t wait to see your photos when you get you...
Three decades! You're an early beginner!
This website is 25 years old! You started before the internet era!
Every watch has a story to tell, and now we can add that the strap also has a story.
And we can add a welcome back as your last post was six years ago.
Thank you, Bill. That strap has lived its own life for fifteen years… today felt like the right moment for the stories to meet.
And yes… it’s been a while. Feels good to be back and sharing again.
Fantastic post
... and congrats. Strap is great too, both objectively and in its history with you. Loved, among other things, ' Designed, perhaps, by a toddler with too much espresso'.
Thank you, John — truly appreciate it.
That strap has lived more of my collecting life than almost any watch I own… putting it on the 05218 felt less like an accessory choice and more like introducing two old stories to each other. And that “toddler with too much espresso” line… I meant it wit...
Thank you so much, Miranda — feels great to be here again.
It’s been a very long time since my last post, so in a way it does feel like joining the club all over again… even if I’ve been quietly orbiting this world for decades. Truly appreciate the warm welcome.
Thank you, Armis — truly appreciate the kind words.
As for the Panerai that stayed with me… the ones that endured weren’t the rarest or the most complex, but the ones that marked the important moments. My 124E has been with me since my early twenties — it was my first Panerai, my first mechanical watch, an...
Also, your mention of the 312 brings back memories…
that was a popular piece that contained so many cool features. I tried to get one but couldn’t find at my AD, so I went with the 320 which was a great experience.
Congrats. I got mine recently and
total agreed it.does not try to be a PreV. To me is one of the best release in recent times. Btw I almost forgot the strap maker name Ted Su...those were the days . Thanks. Regards John
Thank you, John — and completely agree.
The PAM05218 doesn’t try to be a Pre-V, and that’s exactly why it works… it carries the spirit without pretending to be the past. And yes — Ted Su… those really were the days. That strap has lived a long life with me, and seeing his name again brought bac...
Great and insightful post Miula! Welcome back!
Absolutely agree with your feelings about watches and this new Pam 05218. I felt this is a most desirable Panerai in years! Keep enjoying and loving yours. I’m honeymooning with mine since past week. Best cordial regards Abel ...
Abel, thank you — your words mean a great deal.
And your photos are beautiful. They capture exactly what makes this release special… that warmth on the dial, the simplicity of the case lines, and that unmistakeable Panerai presence on the wrist. Seeing your shots only deepens my appreciation for the pi...
Hello dear Enrique! Thanks a lot for your kind…
… and warm answer and words which I completely agree with again. Let’s raise our glasses to a long lasting love for this Pam 05218 and for the Panerai brand!! 🥂🥂 With my best cordial regards! Abel
Beautiful watch, pictures and story!
I picked my 5218 up recently. Really a lovely watch. I started my love affair with Panerai while living in holland and Singapore in the 2000’s. I fell out of love with them for a while but find myself strongly attracted to them again! Congratulations on y...
Thank you so much — truly appreciate your kind words.
And congratulations on your 5218! That’s a fantastic piece, and hearing your story brought a smile to my face. So many of us had those early-2000s chapters with Panerai… life pulls us away for a while, and then one day something calls us back. It’s a good...
Lovely looking Panerai, congrats...
...however, I don't necessarily agree with your assessment that "the PAM05218 is not vintage, and it doesn’t pretend to be", because they've basically copied the original 5218-202/A design, including the non-matching hands/dial like for like.
Thank you — and your point is well taken.
The PAM05218 absolutely draws from the 5128-202/A, no question there. Panerai echoed many of those early cues very closely, and that familiarity is a big part of its charm. When I said it isn’t ‘vintage,’ I meant it more in spirit than in specification. F...
WoW...looks like this one made quite an impact....
...I'm glad, for you, that 30 years were rewarded and what we Italians call: the peace of the senses...finally pervades you That is some "ode to the 5218-202A Mamma Mia (as Nico would call it). I don't want to rain on your parade but, I'll be the picky on...
Thank you, Sergio — and no rain at all.
You’re absolutely right: the 201/A is where the modern Pre-Vendome story truly begins. It’s a foundational reference, and for many collectors that Logo dial was the spark. In my case, the 202/A was simply the first Panerai my eyes ever landed on — I was 1...
My comment about the 201A was just......
for the record (WatchProSite, in my opinion, is one of the most "civilized" forum, on the net, no fanatics, no factions, just pure unadulterated passion and objectivity!. It's important for me, that people that read us should depend on our...information I...
Sergio, your story about the 202/A made me smile…
Especially the “apartment in Italy” comment. I remember those years all too well. I chased the 202/A for a very long time as well… until the prices reached that supercar altitude where I would’ve had to pawn a kidney, rent out my body, sign a Faustian con...