Officine Panerai

So I was at a Panerai Boutique to try on the PAM233 which I am considering as my first PAM because it is considered versatile.  I got a bunch of exotic straps already, stingray, super scaly croc, kangaroo, "football" pigskin, and I am so excited to make the switch after years of wearing a rolex oyster bracelet.

because my main focus of the watch is an excuse to wear the exotic straps, I want the new push button lug cases which unfortunately eliminates most of the base models, including the beautiful PAM390.  I love the PAM372 but at 47mm, its just too big for my small asian wrist, even though its pretty much the platonic ideal of Panerai.  a 372 in a 44mm 1950s case would be my dream PAM for SIHH 2012.

So anyway, Im trying on the PAM233 and I notice a PAM275 and PAM311 and I try them both and wow! The brown dial on the PAM311 was just beautiful.  As I transition from my 20s to my 30s, I noticed that I am gravitating towards brown and trying to stay away from stark blacks, in everything from interior decor to clothing to watch dials.  I used to be one of those futuristic modern minimalism guys who wore monocrome black vneck sweaters and kenneth cole square toed shoes and lived in a black and white ikea apartment.  Now that Im in my 30s, I like more natural colors and a interior decor that is less staged and more curated.  At first I thought this was a trend thing and not a personal transformation, but I still see a lot of young kids going with all black, even with business suits (awful)

My question with the PAM311 specifically and the monopusher chrono series in general, is why isnt it more popular or respected with the paneresti crowd and with WIS in general?

I kind of get the paneresti aversion to the 311 because of the cluttered (though tastefully arranged) dial and over-complications but still, the PAM311 has the Panerai DNA, if you exposed that DNA to radiation, and it mutates, and gives the Panerai DNA super powers from the mutation.  If the PAM372 is peter parker, the PAM311 is spider man.

What I really dont understand is why this watch is not acknowledged or respected by WIS in general.  It has a monopusher in house column wheel chronograph with GMT function with a 8 day power reserve in a silky smooth fun to wind manual movement!  As a thought exercise, if such a movement were cased and signed by Patek Philippe, it would sell for 150k and it would sell out in pre release.  The GMT and chronograph complications rarely appear together, but they are an extremely practical combination, not at all useless like say a moonphase + repeater + tourbillion.

The PAM311 should be the clear winner in the bruce wayne-ish 30 year old billionare software mogul/investment banker turned catamaran yacht racer demographic vs the nautilus, royal oak offshore, IWC bigpilot/aquatimer, rolex daytona, etc. but most people in this demographic pick the royal oak offshore.

Why?

Wear a Royal Oak Offshore and find out for yourself!  They're fun watches with serious internals. 

The style of the watches is something people love or really don't like.  Panerai certainly has a large following, so I am not sure why you think people in your stated demographic are not buying Panerai pieces.  As far as I am concerned, I don't like the styling of Panerai, just not for me.  It has nothing to do with the movements/mechanics, I just don't care for the casing.

Stewart

because it has a more "busy" dial which Panerai fans seem to dislike.  A vast majority prefer a non-cluttered and simple dial such as the PAM372.

The PAM311 is a great Panerai but for me, I think the look of the monopusher activator sort of ruins the simplistic look of the Luminor case.  That's my guess as to why monopusher models aren't popular PAMs.

Cheers,
Anthony

...317.  It is also one of the most worn watches in my collection.

I generally don't care how the other Panerai collectors think, and am not into straps or Pre-V PAMs either.  If you like the 311, go for it.  I went with the 317 cause I wanted a scratch resistant sport watch.  I just love the dial.

Blue

I think they are both practical watches; I acquired the 311 and 317 came later. As frequent traveller, I travel to different timezone, and hence the GMT, and the long power reserve really come handy. I do agree with Anthony that the dial is busy, and somehow the 30mins counter is not really practical but I think it is more for balancing the dial.

As I have few Panerais, it is just another Panerai that I would like to collect and use them when I travel.

Personally, I think the movement is nice too, and the Column Wheel is nice to watch when I am boring enough waiting at the departing gate.

Cheers!

Nien 

PAM311 is not popular.  I personally know of at least 5 owners and it's certainly not an UNPOPULAR watch by any stretch of measures if I apply the similar analysis within my limited sampling space on other Panerai models.

It's true that the dial might be a tad busier than your average Panerai but there're definitely collectors who can appreciate the horological achievement done there.    I personally love the PAM311 and would have been all over it if they didn't come out w/ PAM317.  

True that some old skool panerai fans would not tolerate anything beyond the minute, hour & second hands plus a minimalist dial but to each his own.    I certainly wasn't thinking of how some others would view my purchase when I dished out my credit card for the PAM317.