Officine Panerai

The PAM448 (47mm Radiomir California 3 Days) & PAM449 (47mm Radiomir S.L.C. 3 Days) are 2 of this year's highly sought after special editions. 

PAM448

 

PAM449

They are Boutique-only watches, meaning you can only purchase these 2 watches through one of the Panerai Boutiques and not through an authorized dealer.  This is the 1st year that Panerai has done this - all special editions this year are boutique-only.  I'm not sure how the authorized dealers feel about this, but I'm pretty sure they aren't that happy with Panerai's decision to make special editions boutique-only.  Either way, I guess it's Panerai's way of having a tighter control on who gets to purchase their "hot" special edition pieces, so hopefully we'll see less of these beauties going into the hand of flippers and grey market dealers, of which is always a good thing IMO.

The retail prices set for both PAM448 and PAM449 is $9,100, and both models have blue hands.  Originally at SIHH 2012, there were going to be only 500 pieces made for each but Panerai has bumped up production to 750 pieces each.  Both watches will also have word engravings on the rehaut ring (the inner bezel wall of the watch - these prototypes do not have the engravings).  I forgot the exact word engravings (something like "California" for the PAM448 and "SLC" for the PAM449) but they will be relevant to the models and located centered above 12 o'clock on the rehaut ring.  I don't know if these engravings are a good idea because I feel they detract from the clean dials and even more so when strapped to your wrist since you'll always see the engraving since they will be in plain sight.  If the engravings were at 6 o'clock, that would work better design-wise since then they won't be in plain sight while the watch is on your wrist.  I guess we'll have to wait for the final production watches to come out to determine if the engravings will work well with the overall design.  You know how I feel about these engravings, so hopefully I'm proven wrong when these watches make their way to retail channels.

In terms of the movement, both watches house the in-house manual wind Panerai P.3000 calibre, of which you can see through the sapphire backs.  In the below videos, you'll see that this P.3000 movement is mostly covered up with the 2 large plates.  Hopefully we'll be able to see a more skeletonized version of the P.3000 in the future ...pretty please Panerai!

And for a quick cheat sheet for the P.300X movements:

P.3000 - no power reserve
P.3001 - power reserve on back
P.3002 - power reserve on front

Below is a video of the PAM449 Radiomir S.L.C. 3 Days

Both PAM448 & PAM449 have plexi glass crystals, not sapphire glass.  I personally don't like plexi glass and prefer sapphire due to the hardness of sapphire, so if you decide to get one of these, you should be a little more cognizant of where you're arm is dangling whenever you walk near a wall or near your spouse's diamond ring!!  I've had a watch with plexi glass and it's not a pretty sight when you get it scratched.

For the strap addicts here, the name of this brown thick calf strap is called the "Ranger strap" which matches well with the ecru vintage looking super luminova.  It's the same strap that is on last year's PAM372 model.  Thick, supple, and very comfortable to wear on the wrist, the Ranger strap is currently only available in 26mm x 26mm for 47mm Luminors, but it will be available in the near future at 27mm x 22mm for 47mm Radiomirs.

Below is a video of the PAM448 Radiomir California 3 Days

I didn't bother to take photos of the watches since there are already plenty of photos on the web already (and thanks to SJX for these 2 photos I used above), so I hope the above videos give you a better idea of the curves and how the PAM448 and PAM449 look in real-life instead of photoshopped pictures with no shadows or reflections.

The PAM424 & PAM425 are the regular production versions of the PAM448 & PAM449, but those are priced at $8,700 and have gold hands instead of blue hands. I'll talk more about them in a later post, but I want to point it out that the limited edition versions are only $400 more. 

For those who love vintage Panerai's from the 1930's and can't afford one or find one at a good price, the PAM448 and PAM449 could be your answer as I feel they are good reissues using today's movements.  You have 2 choices of dials to choose from.  I prefer the S.L.C over the California as I find the SLC more interesting but to each his own I guess.  They're priced at $9,100 each, so it's not too bad given Panerai's pricing for stainless steel special edition models using their P.3000 movements.  Will these 2 watches satiate Panerai collectors?  I think they may but many already have the California PAM249, so I don't know how many would want to purchase another Panerai with a Cali dial.  And so, I think the PAM449 will be a more popular model than the PAM448.

Cheers,
Anthony

 

 

  This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2012-04-10 19:59:43

Hey  Anths,

Thanks for these beautiful videos of the pair.

I will be getting the 449, and cant wait for it to arrive.

Cheers

Stephen

" I'm not sure how the authorized dealers feel about this, but I'm pretty sure they aren't that happy with Panerai's decision to make special editions boutique-only.  Either way, I guess it's Panerai's way of having a tighter control on who gets to purchase their "hot" special edition pieces, so hopefully we'll see less of these beauties going into the hand of flippers and grey market dealers, of which is always a good thing IMO."

  

anthony, I spoke several dealers and I know how they feel. And I feel the same way .... VERY pissed off !!

I like these watches but I can't stand this arrogance.  I can give you SEVERAL examples of bad experiences with SOME boutiques. 

I know 2 or 3 persons who send mails for a 390, they send several mails under different names. They got their watches I was told I made no chance because I already got a 41x.

Maybe a next time I need to sent 10 emails too. I can use the name of my girlfriend, parents, brother, friends ..... why not my dog's name

I still have my 41x , the guys I was talking about with their 390's sold them. I think it took them less than 1 week. Great job that 'tighter control'. My AD knows me very well and he also happens to know the flippers and secondhand dealers. the greymarket dealer and the flipper   won't get the 'sought after' pieces.

Patek has sought after pieces too, so do AP and Zenith with it's montre d'aéronef .... But all of these are pieces one  can order at his AD. They don't tell me the bullshit story that I need to buy a lottery ticket at a boutique. A boutique where they don't know me. A boutique at 450 km from where I live.

 

I just need a little extra push and I won't buy Panerai anymore. I'm the client and I want to be respected. They should be happy we want to buy their watches. Forcing you to say goodbye to your AD who you know for 15 years is disgusting

 

Nice watches Anthony and I do like your post but don't get me started about the 'boutique only' editions ... 

Bruno and I know each other for many years and I can only agree, the boutique -only system is certainly not the solution Panerai wants us to make believe ! I'm afraid they will loose a lot their 'core' clients but they probably don't care about them any more, they made Panerai what it is today, just like their AD's and most of them will put in the waist bin as they hope the 'new money' clients are a so much bigger market to play on. I can only hope for them that the bubble won't explode.

I have the feeling it is not a specific strategy to Panerai, but to the Richemont Group.

More and more Boutiques, less and less ADs.

Best,

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-04-12 23:13:36

Nothing new here.  In fact, I found this 'new' business model not only for Richemont but for general watch industry:   Established brands are all demanding huge retail spaces within dealer or opening their own boutiques.    They want to raise brand awareness via this huge retail spaces and will settle for nothing less.       In fact, around Asia, I would dare to say you can find the most obscure brands with their own 'boutiques'.

In the meantime, the dealers are having hard time defending their turfs while these boutiques pops up all around them.   Some of them chose to go w/ the flow by working w/ the brands and opening boutiques FOR the brands, while increasing their cost hugely.   Some smaller guys sees no future w/ watch retailing and simply get out of business.   

What does all that lead to?  For consumer like ourselves, I see higher & higher prices for sure.    Interesting thing is that I see this concept migrating to other products as well:  Boutique for rimowa luggage, boutique for leica camera etc etc.   Everyone's reaching out and trying to cut out the middle man but are we necessarily improving the efficiency MUTUALLY?  I'm not so sure.

This message has been edited by Jester on 2012-04-13 03:39:13

tell us how you really feel!  lol!

No message body

just adds so much to these two dials...

While I do question the re-issue of previous SEs (448), I do find the original Cali dial irresistable.  I sold the 249 and I may be back on the Cali with the 448!

When the 373 was released last year, I was hot and heavy on the dial.  I love it in this new release.  However, it would be tough to decide between the two. 

Looking forward to seeing them in person...

...feels like an also ran.  Been there, done that from a design perspective.  The use of this movement is nice though.  I like the SLC better.  What is particularly nice on both models is the blued hands, but then again, that is a real soft spot for me personally.

Cheers,
Daos

Panerai has great style...... Issues I've had with Panerai's movements......  Issues with the professionalism with Panerai Reps.... Panerai is becoming more and more less attractive to me. My AD's have always taken great care of me.... I will never stop supporting them and will not jump into the list fighting at a boutique. First I thought Rolex was just an advertising watch with high quality movements.. Well after having one now and loving the quality and durability I want more.. Thanks Panerai for helping me try Rolex

I agree with your remarks.  The 449 is quite appealing too.