Officine Panerai

If you had to choose between the 232 or the 249, which one would you choose?  And why?

(picture by Asi - PAM249 on the left & PAM232 on the right)

Cheers,
Anthony

It's one of the only Panerais I really like.  Not sure why

While the 249 has some novelty in design, I personally prefer the simplicity of the 232 tobacco dial.  The dial and arabic numbers are the original reason I was drawn to Panerai.  I think it's the dark horse and the let people follow the crowd.  If you go on the 2ndary market now, you can also get a nice discount on the 232. 

Wasn't the Cali dial originally designed by Rolex or am I wrong here?

-David

Both are very nice, both are historically correct, and even , a good re edition of these 2 Vintage rads.
I'd say....Both! LOL
I'd have, if I had to choose only one ( what I made), the 249.
Because it's the 1st ( except the proto).
Because of its esthetic dial.
Because of its plexy, which gives a very sexy look to this Cali.
Because of its thickness, much more important than the 232.
Because of its blue hands.
Because no writing on the dial.
Because the 232 is the Poor man's 21.
IF only it could have an Original Rolex Cortebert movement....
Because I'm in love with it!
Nicolas

No message body

the 249 had a solid caseback and I wish the 232 had Plexiglas.....

 

In any case, each one is very strong on it's own merits.

If I had to choose on aesthetics alone - my choice would be the 232. If the choice is down to uniqueness, the 249 is the winner. It was very bold of Panerai to come out with a blank dial and plexiglass. I'm glad they did.

 

Asi

 

it comes with rolex movement as its ancestor.......just my 2 cents.

Cheers

Me too, but the name of this watch is...PAM 21!
In platinum, true!
I also regret that the Plat Cali, the Pam 262 doesn't have a Rolex Cortebert movement...If it was this movement that came with the 262, I'd go on it, rather than the SS version...

 

…and loving every minute of it.

 

 

What wins me is the uniqueness of the dial, with mixed Arabics, Romans and markers, and as Amanico says, the lack of any superfluous branding. It is also a throw back to an earlier time, but in a  - errrr….timeless way.

 

Cheers,

pplater.

 

 

Each is unique in its own way and initially I preferred the 232 but later the 249 went ahead in the popularity stakes. Also, I think the 249 looked better on my 6.5" wrist, the dial being smaller.Therefore, it got more wrist time.

 

Fernando HAGWE

Not because the 232 is not a good watch, but I'd rather see it with the clear caseback. For the 249, I think Nicolas cover every single point why most of Panerai lovers prefer to own one out of 1936 pieces.

I haven't take a photo of my 249, but believe me...with my poor photo skills, the pics will still  come out just fine....

Cheers,

Krieng

I wonder why the price of 232 in the secondary market, or even some BNIB are moving somewhere around (or even below) its listed price. This is quite interesting and it's provide a very good opportunity to add one in the collection.

Even I prefer 249 a bit more, I'm still searching to own the 232......This couples look stunning in on frame! But give me a break to enjoy my 249 ... just quite a while.... 

Anthony, I know my post is a bit related to $$$ but hope this is not against the rules of posting. Just want to share my humble point of view.

Cheers,

Krieng

I also like the 232, but I would much preffer it if it had a clear caseback. I like the 249 for the same reason listed by Nicolas. The dial, blue hands, and plexi cyrstal made me really lust for this watch.

The 249 is a great watch and looks 1000x better in person, but I think I would get tired of the watch after a while.

Cheers,
Anthony

The 249.  It just looks sooo cool!

No message body

The dial and the watch have grown on me for all the reasons Amanico listed. It's at the top of my list as my next Panerai.  Now if only the planets would align in such a way as to make one available. I just visited the boutique in Los Angeles and stopped in at the AD in Carmel hoping to find a 249 this week, with zero success of course. But the hunt is part of the allure

Cheers,
Dom

I love the 249. It has got a very antique look and unique dial. Love to look at the movement behind...can't see the 232 movement. But way too over-priced for me to own one.

I'm not a big Panerai fan but I like them enough to buy one.

Since I would buy only one it had to be something special.

the 232 is nice but they have a lot of similar radiomirs while the 249 looks really 'special'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

but the 232 is also very hard to resist...

Simple question but difficult choice.

Asthetically, each has its' merit.  232 for its' simplicity & 249 for its' unique combination of arabic & roman numerals.

Price wise, 249 is close to 1.5 times of 232, with the same case & movement (if I'm not wrong).

I would choose 232 in terms of value for money. Just my humble input.

In an ideal world, I would want both.

Cheers

Dino

 

First reason, I really love the Cali BUT, I can't accept such a watch being only water resistant to 30 meters, even if I don't dive with it. It is a non sense for me.

Second reason : I already own the 232.

 

 

but only slightly.  I wonder how everyone will feel 2 years from now!

Cheers,
Anthony

As my answer is constantly evolving!

At the beginning, it was a simple one: 249.  It was a love at first sight back in SIHH 06:

Mate with a vintage strap and it just transformed!

But over the months, I've started to appreciate the simplicity of the sandwiched dial of 232, obviously the brown colour help!

Now I have badly torn between the two. 

Why you might ask.  I had the chance to get one a while ago from an AD.  the one reason I didn't go for it was that it has such a poor depth rating, this from a company that prides itself on its ancestry.  It just felt to me that there was too much of a cashing in element to the design without the engineering to back it up.  To me the 249 would be fine with a decent crystal rather than the plexi to get the depth rating up to reasonable levels.  Swinging the balance futher to the 232 is the lovely antique dial colour, fabulous.

Just my two penneth

Cheers,

Tim

249 is a beautiful shock but... 232 is the right Panerai way ( in my opinion )

Its a tough call, but I know which kid I'd pick... also about the watch, I lean towards the 232 !

Sexy plexy!
Absolutely fantastic, less is more dial.
I guess it would partner my incoming baby Rad338 perfectly.
Depth rating? I stay at home watching movies when it rains...

Best

Rob.
This message has been edited by peregrino on 2010-05-09 22:27:56

I had not had a chance to really wear the 249. It certainly looks historic and gorgeous in pictures but a plexi glass? To those who own it, how does it feel on the wrist and when you touch it... does it feel like a 12K USD worth of watch? I certainly hope so as it commands for 11-12K but I wonder if it does have what it takes to ask for that much. I am contemplating on getting one myself... but at a steep premium.

249 is great, but too many "hommages" etc. also IHMO, lacks the PAM DNA, thus the 232