Officine Panerai

For many Panerai enthusiast size matters. Panerai simply means “big”. And again for many enthusiasts, Panerai means simplicity. But then, there are some Panerais which are not that big and not that simple but still can win hearts. I’m talking about 42 mm chronographs.

 

Being a chronomaniac and not so crazy about oversized watches, a few 42 mm Panerais have always deeply impressed me. Yes, when it comes to beauty, I believe size doesn’t matter. What matters is the harmony; proportions and balance. Add rarity on top, you find yourself in a world of unreachable beauties, which by many enthusiasts were underestimated in the past.

 

I just wanted to share with you two 42 mm chronographs, which to my opinion are two marvels on the wrist. (There is actually a third one I would love to share, but unfortunately it is in Switzerland for periodic maintenance at the moment; so no chance to take a wrist shot.) 

 

Mare Nostrum, you all know. But Slytech version with polished bezel is another story. Only 31 pieces in the world, if I’m not mistaken.

 Once you put it on your wrist, you hardly take it off.

 

 

The other one is a Radiomir in platinum: PAM218. It was specially made to celebrate the 100 Jahre Wempe Chronometerwerke.

 

Panerai in precious metal had always confused my mind. But in time, I came to a conclusion that platinum deserves an

exception. Feeling the weight and novelty of the beautiful metal on the wrist, is an experience that can hardly be expressed.

30 pieces worldwide. Well, it was never easy to get one, even if you were a good customer of WEMPE.

 

 

I love these watches not only because that I find them beautiful. It is also the hunting pleasure I once experienced to get them.

 

The next watch I hope to add to the 42 mm family in the future is a ………(?)

 

A Zerograph (I hope)

 

This was just for sharing with you the joy of wearing these beauties. I hope you enjoyed.

 

Best

 

Ahmet

 

 

So what is the third one that is out for maintenance.

I am dying to know.

Very nice watches and very nice pictures.

 

Best regards,

 

George

 

This one is the third. I will send a nice wrist shot when it comes back.

Cheers

Congrats!

So will the zerograph become the 4th?


Best,


Sam

...if I don't get a pam338 before it, it will be the fourth. Not easy to find a nice Zerograph though. Hunting will take some time.

Best

Ahmet

Do you know when will the 338 be released? I've been curious waiting for it.

And for the zerograph, definitely not easy but if there's a will I'm sure you'll be able to find one

best,

Sam

No message body

Absolutely doesn't matter at all.. Especially if you're talking about the preV Mare. And yours, the SLYTECH version with smooth bezel is one rare example.

And yes, if you're saying that your next target is the ZEROGRAPH. Its gonna be a perfect addition to your collection

Best,

Sam

I'm a big fan and I will be totally biased here, lacking of partiality.

The Mare Pre V Slytech Ref 5218-304 is THE Mare, THE Panerai Chrono, THE Ref to get, THE watch to cherish, THE keeper.

Am I clear enough?



No?

Ok:

The proportions are excellent, the look is so clean, so powerful, the smooth bezel is so sexy, the blue dial so fascinating, and the 4th line os balanced with the rest of the dial that I don't even care the " Slytech name ", which refers not only to the actor, but to the " Projetto ".

A piece of History, a piece of ( BIG ) love.

Thanks, my friend. You reminded me some very happy days with mine.

Best,

Nicolas.

I know what you feel about the 304 Mare. As I told you before, you  should have kept yours. Anyway, at least it is on a friend's wrist, isn't it?

By the way, will you be in Basel this year?

Sincerely

Ahmet

And wear it, too!

I see that you laso have a Pam 8!

This is a dman watch for me.

Several times I was on to get one, and it always escaped me!

Best, my lucky friend.

Nicolas.

now back to watches,

gorgeous watches you have esp that Slytech with plain bezel, wonderful

Imran !!!!

Gule gule kullanin saatleriniz oldukca basarili...

Nice to hear somebody from Turkey.

Cheers

Ahmet

size matters, in the absolute. It does matter in the relative, though. I think that a 42 or 40mm 127 would be a travesty, a 42mm 372 would be bought by...nobody.. Having said that I think the 304 (of which 50 were made, 12 given to Cartier and 38 sold to the public) you're sporting on your wrist is good enough to eat, even though I've never been a chrono chap, myself.

Cheers - Sergio

 ps I prefer to think of Panerai watches as....bold....watches, rather than just big or small...

42mm Radiomirs are great dress watches IMO.  And the Zerograph is my favorite 42mm Radiomir of them all for those 2 years where Panerai put vintage movements in these 42mm beauties.

Cheers,
Anthony

Please forgive my curiosity but I'm seriously planning to get a pam338, which to my eyes looks as one of the most beautiful watches in the range. So I hope to read a review on it.

Best

Ahmet

which is the black dialed version of the PAM338.

Cheers,Anthony

Love the 42's....

Bill

I flirted a lot  with the temptation to get one, several times...

A great one, for sure!

Thanks for these superb pics, Bill.

Long time no speak!

Best,

Nicolas.

Cheers,

B

I mean, all the nice ones.

Superb pictures, Bill.

Tha,nks for sharing them here.

Nicolas.

Those early  vendome Radiomir models are quite charming! I always think that they have an originality to their design..

Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures

Best,


Sam

And this Zerograph kills me. Definitely the winner.

Best

Ahmet

a Zerograph has appeared on the Collectors Market section. Talk about Big Brother watching us...

Cheers - Sergio

I saw the ad Sergio. I wish it had a more considerable price)

Sincerely

Ahmet

I know it's a Zerograph but 50K it's a bit excessive. There was one on the "other" website, couple of months ago, for about 35K (in Japan). I have to admit I thought about it, for a while, even not liking chronos...

Cheers - Sergio

A friend of mine tried to buy the Japan Zerograph as 35K is well under market.

Just never could get a deal done that was "secure".

Never have seen posts from the seller before or after.

You just never know what is going on with the buy/sell posts.

They can be and are used to manipulate the market price of items, up and down, and to scam, and to buy/sell watches.

So just beware.

Bill

pitfalls of buying on line. I've been "duped" once.. But I've also bought 12 or 13 (discontinued or limited edition ones) watches through Collectors Market posts. If the Japanese Zerograph was a oax, I'm happy I don't like chronos and didn't pursue it...haha

Cheers - Sergio